20th Annual Russian-American Language Camp at St. Scholastica

DULUTH, MN - The College of St. Scholastica will welcome 23 visitors from its sister college in Russia for its 20th annual summer language camp July 5 through July 29.

The camp is sponsored by St. Scholastica and the Karelian State Pedagogical University (KSPU) in Petrozavodsk, Russia, one of Duluth's sister cities. The camp, begun in 1990, features Russian students of English visiting Duluth and American students of Russian going to Petrozavodsk in alternating summers. Since its inception, over 500 students and faculty have participated.

This year's group includes 20 Russian students, two faculty members, and one sponsor. Eight St. Scholastica faculty members are teaching this year's camp on the theme "What Does It Mean to be an American?" Three St. Scholastica students will serve as teaching assistants.

Tom Morgan of the St. Scholastica faculty created the exchange program. Morgan teaches Russian at St. Scholastica and directs the College's Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice. Igor Krasnov, a visiting Fulbright professor from KSPU, will assist Morgan in coordinating the camp.

This year's group is led by Vadim Pavlov and Nadezhda Shablikova, professors of English at KSPU who have each visited the College several times over the years. Pavlov also spent a semester at St. Scholastica as a visiting professor. Accompanying the group this year is Anton Senichev, a graduate of KSPU and a Petrozavodsk businessman.

The visiting students will spend their mornings in courses that include, among others, "American Language and Literature," "Justice in America," "American Indian Culture," "All That Jazz," "The Financial Mess," and "America at the Movies." Classes begin each day at 9:15 a.m. in Tower Hall, room 3414, on campus. Classes conclude at noon.

Afternoons, evenings and weekends will feature Duluth events and tours plus outdoor activities including a softball game at St. Scholastica (July 21), a day on the Brule River (July 11), a tour of the Duluth Federal Prison (July 22), and a powwow in Sawyer, MN (July 12). The visitors will also spend the weekend of July 17-19 in the Twin Cities visiting the Capitol, museums, zoo, and Valleyfair. The visit concludes with a banquet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 27, in Somers Hall on campus.

The Russians speak English well and are happy to discuss their experiences and impressions.

For more information contact Morgan at (218) 723-6442 or tmorgan@css.edu.