Norway House is partnering with the Giants of the Earth Heritage Center in Spring Grove to bring a taste of Minnesota’s first Norwegian settlement in Minneapolis! A charming and vibrant town in Southeastern Minnesota, Spring Grove is a perfect focus as we work to highlight the many vibrant historically Norwegian communities around the United States. Onsite security provided.

Peruse displays from Giants of the Earth, comic strip characters Han Ola og Han Per, and other Spring Grove organizations and destinations, and see some of the stories from the Giants Oral Histories Project.

A skilled writing instructor, Brenda Hudson, will guide grandparents and grandchildren through facilitated writing exercises, learning more about each other and capturing a shared family memory or two.

In this class you will make a summerside primstav with symbols relevant to your life and gain an appreciation of the calendar's history and the many tasks of farm life that it was used to put in order.

Six colleges founded by Norwegian-American immigrants in the 19th century came together to sponsor an annual summer Peace Scholars program in Norway, designed to deepen students’ understanding of dialogue and conflict by learning about Norway’s approach to these topics both domestically and abroad.

Students are currently elected through an application and interview process as Peace Scholars—from Augsburg University, Concordia College (Moorhead), Luther College, Pacific Lutheran University, and St. Olaf  College—to be awarded a seven-week academic experience including a dialogue-focused pre-week. The Peace Scholars program is an outgrowth of the Noble Peace Prize Forum. The forum was founded in 1988 by the five-college consortium of Augsburg, Augustana (Sioux Falls), Concordia (Moorhead), Luther, and St. Olaf.

The 2024 Peace Scholars conference will include presentations from the 2023 Peace Scholars and a keynote speech: The Rule of Law—The Path to Peace by the Honorable John R. Tunheim, U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota. The conference is free and largely open to the public—with a few private engagements—and we welcome you to join us, learn with us, and meet others with a passion and dedication for peace!

Kim Donaldson is a storyteller interested in Genealogy, History, Photography and Travel since a young girl. She has been archiving vintage photography and old family stories for years. Magnus and Gina: Unbeaten by the North Dakota Prairie is a nonprofit philanthropy project for the National Association of the Deaf. Kim is the great granddaughter of Magnus and Gina.

Påskekrim, literally “Easter crime",” is the contemporary Norwegian tradition of cozying up in the mountains or at the seaside for Easter vacation with a warm and fuzzy crime novel. A selection of påskekrim will be available all day in the Kaffebar compliments of our neighbors at Mindekirken. There will also be an opportunity to sign up for a new Nordic crime novels reading group!

Learn about the Nordic Easter tradition of decorating pussy willow switches. When Christianity came to rural Norway, Finland, and Sweden around 1200 A.D., the ancient land-based traditions were kept in families and blended with the new church practices.

In this in-person 4-week workshop, you will be guided by writing instructor Brenda Hudson to examine your past and construct written vignettes or “captured moments” of your life. Using Brenda’s “story project” technique, you’ll identify themes and pivotal moments in your life, as well as your values and beliefs, as a way to organize your work. From this structure, you will write your life story by story, resulting in a collection of memories and the know-how to continue your legacy writing, if desired. 

In this in-person 4-week workshop, you will be guided by writing instructor Brenda Hudson to examine your past and construct written vignettes or “captured moments” of your life. Using Brenda’s “story project” technique, you’ll identify themes and pivotal moments in your life, as well as your values and beliefs, as a way to organize your work. From this structure, you will write your life story by story, resulting in a collection of memories and the know-how to continue your legacy writing, if desired. 

Join Maria Wesserle, founder of Four Season Foraging, to learn which evergreens to harvest and which to avoid. Together, you will go over the identification of different evergreen species and how to use them. This class will focus on traditional uses as you make pine-infused vinegar, pine switchel, hot tea, juniper salt, and a bit of juniper butter to spread on tasty slices of rye bread. Suggested age 16 and up (those under 18 should be accompanied by an adult.)

Learn about Younger Futhark with Kari Tauring at Norway House!

As a way to bring people together and add another personal touch to our Gingerbread Wonderland exhbit, Norway House is hosting two free Community Gingerbread Decorating Days. Come anytime during the available timeslots, and leave whenever you need to. Come to one or both!

Thursday | November 16, 2023 | 4:00pm—7:00pm | Sundet Aula
Thursday | November 30, 2023 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Wedum Møterom

On these special days, families and individuals of all ages and abilities are welcome to join us in assembling and frosting pre-baked gingerbread houses. All the houses made during the event will be featured in our Gingerbread Wonderland exhibit.

A Grandparents & Grandchildren Heart-to-Heart with Brenda Hudson.

As a way to bring people together and add another personal touch to our Gingerbread Wonderland exhbit, Norway House is hosting two free Community Gingerbread Decorating Days. Come anytime during the available timeslots, and leave whenever you need to. Come to one or both!

Thursday | November 16, 2023 | 4:00pm—7:00pm | Sundet Aula
Thursday | November 30, 2023 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Wedum Møterom

On these special days, families and individuals of all ages and abilities are welcome to join us in assembling and frosting pre-baked gingerbread houses. All the houses made during the event will be featured in our Gingerbread Wonderland exhibit.

Learn about Primstav with Kari Tauring at Norway House!