The Danish American Cultural Retreat (DACR) is an annual opportunity to learn about topics related to Denmark and other Nordic countries. A true Pacific Northwest tradition, DACR has been held every year for more than 40 years at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.
DACR offers:
- A rich program to illustrate the significance of Denmark on the global stage
- An annual opportunity to learn about Denmark and its links to the United States, today and in the past
Registration Open Now!
Danish American Cultural Retreat in 2026
at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center
September 18, 19, and 20, 2026
Early Bird pricing is available until June 18th. Registration will be open until August 20th.
Members always get a discount. Become a member today!
A registration perk is access to all the DACR 2023, 2024, and 2025 talk videos. Access will be linked in your registration confirmation email.
Still not sure? You can view Katia Johansen’s 2023 talk Working with Royal Dress: Royal Danish Collections at Rosenborg Castle:
DACR 2026
The 2026 conference will be September 18th through 20th.
2026 Program Overview – Subject to Change
- Sojourner in a foreign land & Jørgen 4 sal til højre (Books Talk) – Flemming Oppenhagen Behrend
- Danish Geology – Scott Burns
- Inge Lehmann, Pioneering Seismologist – Shaking Up the World – Kyle Dittmer
- Nordic Travel Log – Christian Holtz
- WWII Family Stories and Photos of Danish Jews – Bodil Jelhof Jensen
- Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark – Benny Nybo
- Darn Cute, Dam Things: The Origin of Troll Dolls [Part I] – Britte Rasmussen Marsh
- Dam It, They’re Everywhere: Troll Dolls Go Global [Part II] – Britte Rasmussen Marsh
- Saturday Evening “Mostly Kim Larsen” Concert by Danish Troubadour, Flemming Oppenhagen Behrend
2026 Program Abstracts and Titles – In Progress and Subject to Change
Sojourner in a foreign land & Jørgen 4 sal til højre (Books Talk) – Flemming Oppenhagen Behrend, Olympia Washington
This talk will focus on the two most recent published works of Flemming Oppenhagen Behrend.
Sojourner in a Foreign Land This is the story of my first forty years, of my experience as an immigrant and the life-long impact of childhood trauma, lack of parenting, and sexual abuse on a human soul. It is like a fairy tale although fairy tales most often end with the prince marrying the princess and inheriting half the kingdom. I did not have such luck although I did experience success. The meaning of sojourn refers to a temporary condition, it reflects my experience in America as an immigrant, as well as in my life. I am still on a visit as a sojourner. This journey is but a temporary experience, and my soul will always belong to Copenhagen, Denmark. Out of respect for family and friends, some places and most names has been changed.
Jørgen, 4. sal til højre fortæller den fiktive historie om Jørgen’ liv, en omhyggelig og lidt ensom mand, der boede i København i 1976. Historien dykker ned i hans daglige rutiner, relationer og indre kampe, og maler et levende billede af hans verden og indre uro. Den udforsker temaer som isolation, søgen efter forbindelse og virkningen af uventede begivenheder på almindelige menneskers liv. Gennem Jørgen’ livsbane og hans relationer inviteres læseren ind i den foranderlige og spændende verden i København i 1970’erne. Historien minder os om dette transformerende årti, samtidig med at den fremhæver universelle temaer om kulturel identitet, samfundsmæssige forventninger og kampen for personlig frihed.
Danish Geology – Scott Burns, Oregon Coming soon.
Inge Lehmann, Pioneering Seismologist – Shaking Up the World – Kyle Dittmer, Battle Ground, WA
Learn how Inge Lehmann fundamentally transformed our thinking in how the Earth’s interior is structured. Her early 20th Century groundbreaking work provided the basis for modern seismic imaging techniques, which have become essential for exploring Earth’s interior. Inge’s work would later be highly valuable during the Cold War with the monitoring of nuclear blast tests. She often faced fierce resistance from male geophysicists in her 40+ year career but persevered and helped pave the way for other women entering Physical Science professions. Inge’s life story is as interesting as her science discoveries.
Nordic Travel Log – Christian Holtz, Seattle, WA
As of late, Chrisitan Holtz has embarked on Adventure Travel which has taken him north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland to mentor Greenlandic children, to Tasmania to skipper a whaleboat with crew in the 2025 Tawe Nunnugah Raid, to New Zeeland to experience its incredible railway journeys, and off the west coast of the U.S. crewing aboard Norway’s largest tall ship on a voyage from Seattle to San Fransico. Christian will share images and stories of his summer travels by rail and sea throughout the hinterland of Scandinavia.
WWII Family Stories and Photos of Danish Jews – Bodil Jelhof Jensen, Quebec Coming soon.
Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark – Benny Nybo, Det Grønlandske Hus i Odense, Odense, Denmark
Greenland has garnered international attention in recent months. Greenland is a majestic country that has a rich culture and natural beauty. 17,000 Greenlanders live in Denmark and many of them visit The Greenlandic House in Odense, one of four houses in Denmark. Some visit for educational reasons, some for socializing in the café, some for getting some help to cope with the Danish welfare system (nogle for at navigere i det danske sociale velfærdssytem) and some for big events like Greenlandic National Day. Many Danes come to learn about Greenlandic culture, art exhibitions and lectures. Schoolchildren come to learn about Greenland and climate change. This talk will highlight the work of The Greenlandic House in Odense, as well as discuss the multitude of political, governmental, and economical ties between Greenland and Denmark. It will also touch on the history of settlement and rule over Greenland going back to Eric the Red in 986 CE, priest Hans Egede’s arrival in 1721 signally the start of Danish rule, and Denmark’s declaration of Greenland under Danish suzerainty on May 21, 1921.
Darn Cute, Dam Things: The Origin of Troll Dolls [Part I] – Britte Rasmussen-Marsh, Portland, OR
In the aftermath of World War II, Danish baker Thomas Dam found himself sans flour, sans shop, sans job. He had a wood carving talent and a family who supported a career change, but how did one Jutland man take his unfortunate situation and launch it towards transforming the world of children’s toys? Namely, by selecting one infamous, mythological Nordic creature–the fearsome, loathsome troll–and by applying a shock of hair too bright to ignore, and by casting a smile too sweet to resist for his Good Luck Troll Doll. How did Thomas Dam come to design these decisions: what were his inspirations, materials, and methods? Who were the lucky first customers? In Part I: the origin story.
Dam It, They’re Everywhere: Troll Dolls Go Global [Part II] – Britte Rasmussen-Marsh, Portland, OR
Thomas Dam’s Good Luck Troll Dolls were a sell out success across the European continent thanks to the invention of [drumroll] PVC, baby! That’s polyvinyl chloride–plastic–which allowed the Dam family to broaden their production horizons to foreign shores. In Part II: the troll doll diaspora reaches 1960s America. Don’t you remember the proverb? “Ask not what your troll can do for you—ask what you can do for your troll!” Discover the apex and nadir of the Danish Invasion: rabid consumerism via Sears catalogue; Life (magazine) imitating art; troll doll factory blues; patent problems; counterfeits. And finally: their ‘80s resurgence.
A typical year at DACR:
DACR is typically held in person in Oregon each year. DACR is now held in September.
Program Features:
The rich DACR program has included presentations by CEOs, presidents, or other representatives from key players in the Danish American community, such as:
- Museum of Danish America
- Nordic Museum
- Scan Design Foundation
- Embassy of Denmark, USA
- Novo Nordisk
- WWII and the Danish Resistance Movement -Author Nathaniel Hong\
- Hans Christian Andersen -Dr. Marianne Stecher, UW Scandinavian Studies Professor and Head of UW Danish Program
- The Golden Era of Danish Silent Films -Kristian Næsby, UW Scandinavian Studies Visiting Danish lecturer
- Vikings in Denmark -Author William Sullivan
- Falck: Danish Emergency Services -Peter Jorna, Falck USA
- Danish Cheeses -Dr. Lisbeth Goddik, OSU Dairy Processing Extension Specialist and Associate Professor in Food Science
- Nimbus Motorcycles –Nimbus Motorcycle Club, USA
- Danish Defense Policies –Niels Ulrik Olsen, Royal Danish Embassy
- The Greenland Ice Sheet and Climate Change -Dr. Christina Hulbe, Portland State University
Learn or Practice Danish. DACR offers optional classes for those who would like to learn some Danish at the retreat! Many Danish speakers attend DACR allowing ample opportunities to speak the language.
Nature Walks
Experience waterfalls and lush green surroundings at DACR. We take a field trip to one of the waterfalls each year and to the nearby vista house with spectacular views of the Columbia river.
Evening Entertainment
Each year we have evening entertainment for guests to enjoy before ‘Kro Aften’. On Friday we celebrate Sankt Hans with snobrød and traditional Danish midsommer songs around the fire.
Kro Aften
To wind down from all the daily activities, guests are invited to join us in the ‘Kro’ each evening for beer, wine, and bar snacks.
Conference Schedule
Friday check-in: Begins at 11:00 am followed by Menucha orientation and then lunch at 12:00 pm.
Friday programs: 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 am to 1:15 pm
The Menucha Retreat and Conference Center
DACR is held at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett, Oregon. Menucha Retreat offers a variety of amenities and lodging options. Lodging options include rooms that are private, semi-private, or dormitory style.
The beautiful grounds at Menucha have so much to offer, including:
- Panoramic views
- A swimming pool and courts for a variety of sports
- Hiking trails, fire pits, and much more
Getting to DACR
The Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett is located right on the Washington-Oregon state border.
Approximate travel times:
- From Seattle: Less than 4 hours by car
- From Portland: 30 minutes by car
For those who need a ride from Seattle or Portland, we can help arrange carpools. Guests can also fly in to Portland International Airport. We can help arrange rides from the airport, if needed.
Watch for mailed postcards, website information, The Little Mermaid, and e-bulletin announcements with updates! To receive the most up to date information on DACR and other NWDA programs, events, and activities, sign up for our e-bulletin mailing list.