Open-Air Living

Summer Programs

ASI members can register in advance for ASI’s summer programs beginning March 19 before they go on sale to the public on March 22.

Get outside with ASI this summer

In the mid-1800s, Norwegian poet Henrik Ibsen popularized the idea of friluftsliv, or ‘open-air living’ throughout Scandinavia. Ibsen described how a person’s spiritual and physical well-being is improved by spending time in nature. To this day in Sweden, the idea that you should get enough time outdoors remains an essential component of people's lives, and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy outdoor activity, whether it’s hiking, camping, trail running, skiing, fishing or just taking a walk in the woods. Whether Swan Turnblad was familiar with Ibsen’s concept of friluftsliv or not, he was no stranger to the outdoors. And when he constructed the Turnblad Mansion, special attention was paid to ensure the outdoor spaces were as beautiful and functional as the Mansion’s interior rooms. Over the decades, these outdoor spaces have been the setting for many important moments for our community. Countless weddings, celebrations of culture and heritage, and more than a few fikas have brought all corners of the ASI grounds to life. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted ASI to explore new ways to use its outdoor spaces, whether for programs, cultural celebrations or as exhibit spaces. Many ASI members perused the exhibition Swedish Dads which was presented outside on ASI’s campus fence, or explored our 2020 Holiday exhibition through the outdoor story path. The grounds have allowed ASI to uplift visitor safety while carrying on a tradition of offering cultural experiences we can all enjoy. This summer, community members of all ages can explore their own open-air lifestyle with ASI as some of our many cultural activities head outdoors. Practice your Swedish while on a hike with a small group of fellow language learners. Let creativity and curiosity collide during outdoor Summer Camps for youth. Celebrate the cherished traditions of Midsommar with a week of outdoor activities. Or just swing by for coffee and a cardamom roll in the courtyard. Virtual programs and activities will continue to offer those unable to participate in person an opportunity to connect from wherever they are. With the museum reopened and enhanced safety measures in place, indoor experiences including ASI’s exhibition series will also continue. This summer, uplift the values of an outdoor lifestyle embraced by Swedes, Scandinavians and, yes, by Minnesotans, too. See ASI’s full summer programming calendar when it arrives in Catalog later this month.

SWAN TURNBLAD FACT

It is said that in 1901, Swan J. Turnblad once returned from a hunting trip with: 2 moose, 15 deer, 1 bear, 21 partridges, 14 spruce hen, 17 rabbits and 1 wolf. We wonder if he brought them all home in the trunk of his 1899 Waverly electric car.