Building the lodge of the future

Reaching out to the next generation online

Photo courtesy of David Moe
The members of Sons of Norway Vinland Lodge #6-159 in Temecula, Calif., love their Norwegian heritage so much that they have created a new weekly online program to pass their culture on to a new generation. The goal is to teach young people about Norway and the customs and values of Norwegian immigrants and their families.

DAVID MOE
Sun City, Calif.

Sons of Norway Vinland Lodge # 6-159 in Temecula, Calif., is developing a youth program for young people ages 3 to 18 that will emphasize cultural skills, sports, Ski-for-Light, and other creative ideas.  They plan to meet regularly via Zoom, and by using this new technology, they hope to build the lodge of the future.  

The plan includes the development of a weekly program for young people to watch to supplement their online educational programs through their public and private schools.  The goal is to teach young people about Norway and the customs and values of Norwegian immigrants and their families. By using the “Viking for Kids” online feature from the Sons of Norway and The Norwegian American newspaper, the lodge aims to keep young people informed about all things Norwegian, including the language.  

With the assistance of the Norwegian language camps and scholarships available through the Sons of Norway, they plan to offer opportunities for young people to read and study overseas, including at the University of Oslo.

The lodge is asking each of its members to become mentors in various areas of expertise.  For example, one member may volunteer to teach Norwegian cooking and offer some Norwegian recipes, while another member may volunteer to teach Norwegian music, theater, or literature.  Students can then sign up for an area of interest and receive individual instruction from their chosen mentor.

There are also plans to build a website, which will be available to the public and the school district, so young people can access their offerings online and learn what is available. The purpose is to provide a supplement to their regular studies, to inform them about Norwegian culture, and to encourage them to join the lodge.  All of this is Vinland Lodge’s way to build the lodge of the future and pass on their cultural heritage to the next generation.

This article originally appeared in the Sept. 4, 2020, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.