Swiss Alps Teens Summer Adventures Camp - Swiss Alps, Verbier. Switzerland

Campers play on an 18 holes course at an altitude of 1500m with stunning views over the mountains. There is also a private practice area, driving range and an approach (pitch & putt) golf course. Our professional golf instructors will coach players of all levels during our sports day or during private lessons. Campers can book additional private lessons on top of the basic sports program

BALL SPORTS

We propose all kinds of different ball sports: tennis, golf, minigolf, football, volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball (streetball), table tennis, squash, badminton, pétanque.

TENNIS

Practice, private lessons and tournaments on the tennis courts directly next to our campus (2 minutes walk).

Campers can book additional private lessons on top of the basic sports program. Please contact us for extra tennis lessons.

HIKING

Campers go on the marked trails with our trained counselors. In the Verbier area, 950 km of footpaths are waiting to take campers to the heart of nature. Each skill level is welcome to go hiking. Campers will discover colorful and impressive landscapes, massive water dams, natural mountain lakes, wild forests, traditional villages and nature reserves. Exceptional view of the treasures of the Alps guaranteed! Maybe, campers will even get a glimpse at Swiss wildlife, such as the marmot or the chamois, an excellent climber in high altitude.

2 DAYS HIKING TRIP

During the first week of each session, all our campers will leave for a 2 day hiking trip and spend a night in the mountain. Discoverers and Explorers will sleep in traditional mountain huts while Pioneers will do camping in wilderness. This is just a perfect way to discover the Swiss Alps and to enjoy stunning views and nature. During the evening, campers enjoy a relaxing atmosphere around the camp fire!

SPORTS ON ICE

Ice skating, figure skating, ice hockey, curling at the sport center. Only a 2 minutes’ walk away from the campus.

WATER SPORTS

With our boat on Lake Geneva: swimming, sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, banana boat. An indoor and outdoor swimming pool with a big garden to relax is located next to the campus (2 minute walk).

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Mountain biking in the Alps and particularly Verbier mountain biking provides you with thrilling downhills, natural single tracks (for all levels). The downhill trail and the hundreds of kilometres of cross-country provide endless opportunity to explore some of the most spectacular scenery in the Alps.From challenging to leisurely, there’s plenty of mountain biking that is suitable for our campers who want to discover Verbier and its surrounding villages without having to furiously pedal uphill or kit up in full body armour.

ROCK CLIMBING

Professional mountain guides supervise this activity.

On the climbing wall at a natural rock, which has varying difficulty levels, our instructor ensures that all campers make good progress and gain confidence in the safest conditions. Campers will learn different skills and progress from one age group to another.

ROPES COURSE

Our campers will go with their counselors to the rope course in Sion. It’s always an exciting day. This activity is a high forest adventure of rope bridges, tarzan swings and zip-lines, all set high up in the tree tops. Campers will be fitted by professional experts with a climbing harness and supervised during the whole time of this activity.

HORSE-RIDING

Just next the campus, the stables of Verbier allow youth to experience riding or practice this activity with professional riding instructors (extra cost activity).

ARTS & CRAFTS

In addition, our campers can choose between several arts clubs, which they will attend during the session. At the end of the session we all join together and present what we learnt! We will do vast amounts of different aspects of arts and crafts. Each time a child attends those clubs we will give them a chance to expand their artistic side. The main aim of those clubs is to give a new and fun aspect to arts and crafts while involving environmental and cultural aspects.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Billard, trampoline, cards games, music instruments, drama, campfires, picnic, bbq, boat trips, disco, talent show, photography at the campus, shopping in Verbier, Geneva, Italy during excursions. The Summer Camp ensures active participation, a very broad choice of exciting activities and a high degree of learning in a fun and very international environment, all by guaranteeing maximum safety through our caring & experienced staff. Campers will return home with great experiences, fantastic memories and lifelong friendships.

ARTS CLUBS

In addition, our campers can choose between several clubs, which they will attend during the session. At the end of the session we all join together and present what we learnt!

• Arts & Crafts: Meet the artist in you
• Dance Academy: In the flow with Hip Hop & Street Dance!
• Hollywood: Bring out the actor in you
• Mountain Orienteering: Discover the beauty of the Swiss Alps
• Music Video: Create and play in a cool music video clip
• Photography: Pictures say more than words
• Rockstar: Learn instruments and rock the stage
• Tapas: For our gourmets

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

These dynamic and interactive workshops will enable our students to develop a toolbox of teamwork skills which will help them to build mature lasting relationships with friends and colleagues, create imaginative and complex solutions to problems and focus on their Emotional Intellegence using theories and practices from a range of academic scholars in the field of experiential learning.

The leadership and careers courses at the Camp are designed and facilitated by professionals. Our courses aim to equip our students to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and to apply that knowledge when leading others and preparing for the world of work. Managing their expectations, motivations and reflection processes can enable students to further understand the concept of success. It is one thing to learn how to become an organised, calm or articulate individual but to understand the fundamental concepts affecting your experience will allow you to lead others to achieve more.

LEADERSHIP FOR 12-14 YEARS

Our leadership programme is split into five main focuses to develop a well-rounded leader:

• Adventurous Leaders: Developing bold techniques in Leadership. Daring to be different and applying these skills in Outdoor Adventurous Activities.
• Innovative Leaders: Finding creative solutions to challenges and using complex strategies in leadership.
• Aspirational Leaders: For those students who are driven to succeed and intend to apply their leadership skills in a business contexts. Setting clear goals to perform above and beyond.
• Inspirational Leaders: Using existing experiences to inspire others to achieve their true potential. Guiding othes in new activities, through new experiences and developing the compassion and communication skills to work effectively with others.
• Progressive Leaders: Adopting reflective practces and setting clear targets to develop a leadership style which is adaptable and ever-evolving.

CAREERS FOR 15-17 YEARS

Our careers programme combines a practical development training model with components designed to equip students for the world of work. We have inspirational guest speakers to enlighten students about the range of different opportunities and paths for reaching their goals and a first aid course, run by a professional trainer, in which students can take away a valid first aid certificate as part of the professional development portfolio for universities or colleges.

ARTS & CREATIVITY FOR 7-11 YEARS

For our youngest students we offer a diverse range of activities designed to give students the opportunity to express themselves and to explore their creative talent. Our programme combines art classes with a local art school, cooking and food preparation workshops, theatre and improvisation sessions and a chance for public speaking and group presentations to build confidence and team working skills.

ETIQUETTE & WEB IDENTITY

Perfecting your personal brand to become more successful in professional and social situations. For our students aspiring to run their own business, become directors, CEOs or prominent public figures or to conduct themselves in a confident and comfortable manner in a range of social situations our Etiquette and Web Identity classes are the perfect starting point.

Etiquette

We focus on dining etiquette, first and last impressions and European etiquette for dealing with a range of social encounters. Interview technique, entering and leaving a conversation gracefully and strategies for managing difficult interactions or finishing the dreaded conversation with the person who never seems to stop talking!

As part of the course we offer dining courses for hosting formal dinners at the prestigious Chalet D’Adrien luxury hotel and restaurant including place settings, modern etiquette for serving and how to avoid some common hospitality faux pas.

Web Identity

A new branch to our personal branding workshops, which makes it a truly modern finishing school experience, is our web identity focus. In addition to the more traditional arts of finishing school we also focus on managing interactions and movements in the online arena.

It is becoming much easier to access personal information about people through their social networking page and this may be a blessing or a curse depending on how you build your personal online identity. We guide students to think about the content which is public and the content which is private to build a respectable online identity.

Social media can be used, with carefully chosen profile pictures, albums and posts to boost you personal brand but, all too often, our students’ social media pages are filled with content that would be discouraging for future employers or even university admissions.

We strive for excellence in everything we do and our language courses are no exception. To ensure we offer the best possible tuition for our students we work in partnership with a Language School to offer specialist teachers in each language for every course. Students are group according to their language levels with a maximum class size of 7 students per teacher. We offer 3 types of courses in French, English, Spanish and German. Each of our courses follows a set criteria for levels or language proficiency with detailed certificates and a portfolio of work which students may take away with them. Language programmes will be taught by the Language School.

Conversational Language Course

Our conversation course is a highly interactive course designed to get students speaking in their chosen language. The course consists of 8-hours of tuition per week, typically taught in 4 2-hour sessions.

Intensive Language Course

This course combines speaking with reading and writing and consists of 15-hours of tuition per week. It is ideal for students studying for an exam or wishing to make quick, comprehensive progress in their languages in just 1 week. The course is typically taught in 5 3-hour sessions each morning with activities in the afternoons.

Private Language Course

Our final course is for those students who wish to have one-on-one tuition. This can be added to one of our other courses or chosen alone to allow any number of hours per week. The focus is flexible and it is a great course for students with specific learning objectives.

What better way to really appreciate the culture of Switzerland than to dedicate a day to visit some of the most iconic cities and some of the famous organisations. Each of our cultural excursion days is a little different, with new options each year for those returning campers who are ready to see something new! Whether it is souvenir shopping that interests you or the science exhibitions of CERN the options are endless. Sample some of the finest swiss chocolates and cheeses at the factories in Gruyere, learn a little about global cooperation with a guided tour of the United Nations or Swiss Red Cross museum in Geneva, an interactive tour of the Olympic museum in Lausanne the home of the International Olympic Committee, walking inside a glacier at the nearby ice caves in Chamonix, visiting many of the beautiful castles in the area, experience the tranquility of the natural Bains de Lavey hot springs, take a stroll through the winding cobbled high streets of Zurich, see how some of the most exquisite and delicate watches in the world are built and many many more options.

Once a week the students will go on an excursion to visit famous Swiss cities such as:

• Lausanne: A trip to the Olympic Museum with its wealth of memories will keep your passion for the Olympics burning, followed by a walking tour in the old town to one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe.
• Geneva: With its humanitarian tradition and cosmopolitan flair, the European seat of the UNO and headquarters of the Red Cross is known as the “capital of peace”. Visit the old town, the heart of Geneva with its shopping and business quarter.
• Bern: The capital of Switzerland – the old town of Bern has been entered on the list of UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites. The Houses of Parliament (Bundeshaus) rise above the city just a stones throw away from the railway station. Bern and bears, the city’s heraldic beast, are inseparable. When visiting the city we will take a trip to the Bear Pits.
• Gruyère: The Gruyère region, with its rolling green landscape and peaks of the Fribourg Pre-Alps, is home to the world-famous Gruyère cheese. In the famous cheese factory you will see how the tasty Gruyère cheese is made and the tour of culinary delights will be followed by a guided tour of the Cailler chocolate factory.
• Montreux: Visit the town of Montreux that nestles in the shelter of Lake Geneva, surrounded by vineyards, with the breathtaking backdrop of the snow-covered Alps, followed by a visit to Château de Chillon.
• France: Get a taste of France with a visit to Evian and the famous water factory, with also a walk along the world famous Lake Geneva.
• Italy: Discover the famous Italian city of Aosta, visit the old town and enjoy some Italian shopping.

INTERNATIONAL DAY

We have students from all over the world. Within this international community we feel it is beneficial to international-day recognize the traditions of each other. It not only gives students the opportunity to celebrate their nation or beliefs, but allows them to bring a little piece of home into the camp. Also students from other parts of the world will learn and hopefully appreciate the cultures of others. The fabrics of society are made up of many different cultures, and here we constantly strive to recognize them all, and if it means cooking some traditional dishes, or decorating the chalets accordingly, then we are more than happy to encourage students to do so and will help them along the way.

International Day will involve the students preparing a presentation during their language classes. The presentation will be on where the students are from. The students will have the morning to prepare a large poster, have access to arts and crafts, music and pictures, and will present information on their heritage, culture, beliefs, as well as the fun and cool parts of their countries and cities of origin.

Also the students will give a menu or dishes to the chefs in the days leading up to ID. The chefs will then prepare meals from all over the world, so students on this day will not only present and listen to presentations, but eat and sample the flavours and smells of the Far East, South America, Europe, the Middle East and more. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to present their culture, do some public speaking, and enjoy the food from each others countries.

SWISS EVENTS

During Summer, Verbier and surroundings will host many great events. Those events will be the time for great special excursions with our campers. This is a quick overview we would like to share with you:

• Montreux Jazz Festival: From 5th to 20th of July

The Montreux Jazz Festival will take place from the 5th of July to the 20th of July across the lake. Kids will visit this magical place during an excursion to Montreux and enjoy the music and food in a great atmosphere. Founded by Claude Nobs in 1967, over the years the Montreux Jazz Festival has become an unmissable event for music fans in Switzerland and around the world. Its stages have been graced by all of music’s greats, from Miles Davis to Ray Charles and from David Bowie to Prince. More infos: www.montreuxjazz.com

• Verbier Classic Festival: From 19th of July to 4th of August
• The Verbier Festival brings together the greatest musical talents in Verbier. Since 20 years, the Verbier Festival has built up a reputation for quality, youth and frenetic artistic activity. 17 days of music with a line-up of exceptional soloists. Every morning kids will be able to watch the training of the best musicians in the world playing Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert, Mozart, Bach and so much more. More infos: www.verbierfestival.com

• Swiss National Day: 1st of August
• The day was chosen because August 1st 1291 was the date on which three Alpine cantons swore the oath of confederation, an act which later came to be regarded as the foundation of Switzerland. Verbier will celebrate this alliance with a display of fireworks, bonfires. Children used to carry lighted paper lanterns roam the streets at night. Public and private buildings are decorated with national, cantonal, and community flags, and the bakers produce special bread rolls with a small Swiss flag on top. More infos: www.myswitzerland.com/en/swiss-national-day-august-1st.html

• Jumping International Verbier: From 16th of August to 25th of August
  Just in front of the Campus! From 16th to 25th of August on the parking of the Sport Center. 3 stars International Jumping. This horse jumping show, featuring some of Switzerland’s and Europe’s greatest riders, offers outstanding entertainment for experts and novices alike. The spectacular senery and frendly atmosphere of the village combine to create a unique experience : a glimpse of true equestrian magic ! More infos: www.verbier-cso.com

• Cow fights: August

To discover the “queens of the mountains” – the famous Hérens cows – the famous rituals known as inalpes (leading the cows up to the alpine pastures) and désalpes (leading them down again) are truly magical traditional experiences. Cow fighting is a traditional Swiss event, mostly in Valais, in which a cow fights another cow. Each year, the Swiss canton of Valais hosts a series of cow fights known as combats de reines (“queen fights”), which began in the 1920s and has drawn as many as 50,000 spectators in a year. The winner is called La Reine des Reines (“the queen of queens”) and increases dramatically in value. At the end of the year, a grand final is held in Martigny, where the six best from seven districts do battle in six weight categories.