Masse Moro is a Norwegian language and heritage camp located on the Beaver Creek Nature Reserve in Fall Creek, Wisconsin.

Sponsored by Sons of Norway District Lodge 5, the two week long camp provides campers ages 9-15 with the opportunity to learn Norwegian and develop their interest in Norwegian culture! With the lodge and District 5 paying 1/2 of your fees, this can be a great summer for your children or grandchildren. 



“Masse Moro” means “lots of fun”.  Masse Moro Norwegian Heritage Camp is for children ages 9 to 15 (as of first day of camp).  It will be Sunday, July 26 through Saturday, August 8, 2009.  It is located at the Eau Claire County Youth Camp, Fall Creek, WI (also known as the Beaver Creek Reserve), 12 miles from Eau Claire.  Sons of Norway affiliation, while strongly encouraged, is not required for participation at camp.

2010 Information:
July 25th 2:00 PM - August 7th, 9:30 AM.

The cost is $600.  But others pay 1/2!  There is a $150 Matching Fund from District Five and a $150 Matching Fund from each camper’s respective sponsoring lodge.  A $50 nonrefundable deposit and processing fee must accompany the application form by the early registration deadline of May 17, 2010.  The local lodge Matching Fund Endorsement and District Five 2010 Matching Fund application must also be sent with the camper’s application.  If campers want to receive additional monies from the Draxton Fund toward their cost of camp, this application must be received by May 17, 2009.  Final payment is due on or before June 20, 2010.  All forms and payments are to be sent to Sheryl Hall, Rockford, Il, the District Five Youth Director, postmarked on or before May 17, 2010.

Activities include Norwegian language sessions with dialogues, songs, and games, special evening programs of Norwegian holidays, handicrafts and folk dancing are also planned at the camp.  Sports activities and programs at the Beaver Creek Nature Center and the University of Wisconsin Observatory are also provided.

NOTE:  The Masse Moro website address has changed and now is:
 http://massemoro.org/

Click on pictures for a larger version (Klikk på bilder for storre versjon).

3 of our younger members share some of their experiences at Masse Moro.

<Click Here> To See "Slideshow" of their pictures.
   
**Diedre**
We arrived at Masse Moro at two, when registration began. There was already a long line to get to the security, if you could call it that. A counselor would simply check to see if you had any contraband - American books, music and candy. After waiting in line for a considerable amount of time, and all of our bags and suitcases and baskets had been searched, we set them down and chose a Norwegian name, which would be the names that everyone in camp would call us by for our stay. Once the name was chosen, a counselor would burn it onto a circle of wood that still had bark on it with a wood burning tool. The nametags were called "navn skiltes." We had to wear them at all times.

We were then assigned cabins - I was in Svalbard. I picked up my stuff, with assistance - and moved towards the cabin. It was the most secluded of the six cabins; it was surrounded by woods. Behind the cabin, there was a forested area with a path that led to two other cabins. The path had two particular roots that I tripped over nearly every time I passed by. There was a large clearing that the cabin sat in, complete with a fire pit and benches. We never used the fire pit, though. We used a different one. The next closest cabin must have been a good fifty feet off. Inside, there were still several bunks open. I chose a bottom bunk, not wanting to be on the top, and stuffed my things under the bed.

I went to the "Spisestue," the mess hall, to cash in the thirty dollars I had - mainly to spend it on candy and shirts and figures. Using the current exchange rate, I had a total of one hundred eighty kroner in the bank. Past the tables, by the kitchen window, there were drinks and cookies. Eventually, Mom and Dad left for the five hour drive back home. I wandered back to the cabin.

Almost all the girls were there, so we played name games to familiarize ourselves with each other. Every camp does this, except most don't do it in Norwegian. I was the only 'first year' in my cabin - everyone else had been there for at least once before.

For dinner, there were hamburgers. The buns were homemade, and they were absolutely delicious!  All the bread served at camp was baked there, and was delicious.   For activities, I rosemaled a clock, took knitting, drawing and drama.  Everyone in the cabin - nine girls, including me, and the three to four counselors that resided there got along fine. Masse Moro was a new experience for me, and I enjoyed it immensely.

**Sara**
Hi!  I just came back from Masse Moro.  I really enjoyed what I did there.  I got to pick a Norsk name.  I chose 'Solveig'.  I did lots of fun things, but, my favorite thing was when the kids in my hytte duct-taped a counselor.  It was simple.  We got the counselor in the hytte and we duct-taped him.  I wish I could do it again.

In my hytte, I met new kids.  I learned Norsk names and played Viking games.  One of them was where the Vikings used swords and heads as bats and balls.  We used whiffle bats and balls, and tried to get the ball on the other team's goal.  I also danced in a folk dancing group.

In språktime, I learned Norwegian with the other kids who were there for the first time.  One day we went to the creek, which was a lot of fun.  We found wild raspberries, and we ate every ripe berry.  I used up all the bug spray that I brought with me.  There was a kiosk where we could convert our money to Norsk krone and buy treats like Daim and gold bears.  I would love to go back to Masse Moro next year.
     
**Dana**
I had a lot of fun at Masse Moro.  Litt av Hvert was one of my favorite things.  Interessegruppe was another .  Språktime was my all-time favorite.  This is what I did in those 3 things.

Litt av Hvert was something we did 4 times.  It means "little bit of everything".  I tried fitness group and costume making but I liked baking the most of all.   Interessegruppe was something we did 2 times.  It means the group we're interested in.  I tried folk dancing and nature group.  My favorite was nature group because we went hiking.   Lastly, I had språktime.  It means "language time".  We learned a lot "på Norsk" (in Norwegian).

So, all in all, I had a great time.  My top favorite was Litt av Hvert.  Then came Interessegrupe.  Last place favorite was Språktime.  I hope to go back next year

Picture credits: Pictures by Diedre.