Displaying posts 10 of 85
May 16 2012
Next in this series of catch-ups with some of our longest serving staff members we head on over to UK, stopping off in the capital to hear from Camp Coordinator Katie Shepherd (Sheps) to see how she’s been keeping busy away from camp and what she’s got in store for us in summer 2012.
Katie Shepherd (Sheps)
'Hey everyone... Sheps here! I’m writing this whilst beavering away in my office in central London. Yes, a far cry from leading evening dance classes and running around the Alps in camo gear on Mission Day. I’ve spent this year working very hard for a golf travel company and while the experience I’ve gained has been fantastic, sitting in an office looking at the rain all day really makes me miss running around in the sun in Torgon!
Apart from working, I’ve been going to more Salsa and Ceroc lessons which should make evening entertainment dance sessions even more fun… get ready to move those hips!
Unfortunately, as I have a 'real job' -boring!- I won’t be at Camp Suisse for as much time as I’d like this year, but never fear I’ll still be out there for a good long stretch. I just can't stay away!
Having had a sneaky insight into what is planned for Camp Suisse 2012, it is looking bigger and better than ever which means I'm even more devastated I can't be there for the whole time! The Activities Team have got some amazing new activities planned, new evening entertainment ideas are brewing and of course what would Camp Suisse be without the best disco in Torgon... The Camp Suisse 'Disco Disco Disco'!
On that note, I've been spending rather a bit of time staring out of my London office window thinking up the next big staff performance for the Talent Show. Last year we gave you the Spice Girls, 5ive and Souldja Boy…but what's next I hear you shout?! Well you'll just have to be there to find out!
Well that's enough from me; I need to return to work, although having written this and gotten all excited about the summer it isn’t going to be easy concentrating on those golf holidays! See you back in Torgon this summer for Camp Suisse 2012!'
April 25 2012
In the continuation of this series we head to Treviso in northern Italy to see what Resort Manager Phil Haynes has been getting up to over the course of the year and how he’s been contributing to the preparations for summer 2012.
Phil Haynes
'Well, apart from filling up on pasta, pizza and all the other culinary delights this region has to offer, most of my time has been filled with teaching English to a variety of Italian learners from 6 year old beginners to 60 year old… beginners, and all that’s in between. With some of the biggest hurdles in the English language overcome, such as the correct pronunciation of ‘kitchen’ and ‘chicken’ or ‘hungry’ and ‘angry’, I’m beginning to wind down as my students prepare for their end of year exams.
In just a few weeks’ time, however, I’ll be winding myself back up with a vengeance as I make my way back to Torgon (for what will be my 4th summer) to lend a hand as the schools’ sessions begin and the preparations for the international sessions are stepped up a notch.
At the end of summer, while most Camp Suissers settle back into their normal lives, I’m lucky enough to be kept doubly busy working remotely from my trusty Camp Suisse laptop on various Camp Suisse-related projects. If you’ve ever visited our Facebook page, and if you haven’t then I strongly suggest taking a peek, you’ll see regular updates, news, photos, videos, etc. well, this, among other things, is part of what I do; keeping us up to speed in a fast changing digital/social media era.
A lot of what we do during the down season is about evaluating everything that took place the previous summer- taking on board feedback from staff and campers and their families- and looking at what improvements/changes can be made in order to make the following summer even better than the last. I can tell you now that in summer 2012 we’re on for a big year! And, although I’ll be sad to say ‘arrivederci’ to my Italian life, I cannot wait for the summer ahead!'
March 9 2012
Last summer we took a break from our usual charity (the Andrew Woinarski Foundation) to support a cause that needed our urgent help. Four year old Suranna Gleeson suffers from Cerebral Palsy Diplegia which means she has great difficulties walking. She wanted to raise £50,000 to allow her to fly to the US to undergo a potentially life-changing operation and greatly improve her chances of walking unaided.
So, during the course of the summer, Camp Suisse campers and staff - including Camp Director Rich who is still traumatised by his ‘Racooning’ experience – all rallied together to raise as much money as possible. We’d like to thank all of our Camp Suissers who contributed to our efforts last summer. With your help, we raised just under £3000 for Suranna in a matter of weeks - a fantastic achievement that should make everyone proud. Since the summer Suranna’s mum, Kerry, and her team of dedicated fundraisers have been relentless in their efforts of reaching their £50,000 target. Among the many generous donors, players from Suranna’s favourite football team - Liverpool FC - joined in the fundraising efforts, boosting the total raised to a whopping £48,629. Liverpool’s Glen Johnson and his wife Laura led the footballers’ fundraising efforts, as they pledged a massive £6,000. What at first seemed like an Everest-sized challenge is now a mere molehill away from completion. The summit is very much in view and it’s now more than ever that Suranna needs that extra little push to get her to the top. All our good luck, support, best wishes and motivational whooping cheers are coming your way Suranna…YOU CAN DO IT! You can track Suranna’s progress on her website and follow her on twitter @Surannastepping.
March 8 2012
"Amazing... One of the best times of my life" (Isaac, aged 14).
We believe in what we do and take great pride in doing it. We’re our biggest fans but also our biggest critics. That’s why your comments are so important. We listen carefully to the reams of feedback (both good and not-so-good) that we receive each year from campers and their parents.
This means are constantly evaluating what we do and always improving the experience of all the young people who flood through our doors every summer. Understanding the difficulties that parents and guardians face in deciding which camp to send their young ones to, we make no habit of hiding the not-so-positive feedback we receive – it’s about giving you the chance to fully assess our suitability.
For this reason we publish a selection of feedback on our website every year. It’s a warts-and-all look into Camp Suisse by the people who have been there, done it and of course got the Camp Suisse T-shirt. We ask the pertinent questions in regard to our staff, food, activities, programme, facilities and even the weather. You can see it for yourself under 'About the Camp' and 'Feedback'.
In addition, since the close of camp back in August our crafty cameraman Glen has been putting the final touches to last summer’s video. It’s an action packed rollercoaster ride through some of the summer’s highlights featuring snippets of interviews with our campers. Here’s a taster of what they had to say:
What do you feel you achieved?
Succeed in more things - like archery and climbing... Staying two weeks without my parents! Being more active - during summer I’d just be sitting at home...
How was the food?
The food is three times better than at school! There are two choices, not just one...
Will we see you again next year?
I’d die to come back again!
The 2011 video is live now on our YouTube page.... check it out!
March 1 2012
Yes, it’s time for us to head back to the UK and handpick the bright, talented and motivated individuals that will make up the 2012 Camp Suisse team.
Every year we welcome back, on average, 30 members of staff. Some are returning for their second summer while other, now veteran, members of staff will be returning for their 5th and 6th years. It warms our hearts to see those familiar faces back at camp year after year.
This is one aspect that makes Camp Suisse so unique. The fact that both campers and staff return year on year means that relationships are built over the course of a number of years – not just a two-week camp. It’s also great to see the changes that occur in both our campers and staff during the off-season. With so many returning staff, spaces for new recruits are limited but we’ll be heading to Leeds and London in search of those lucky lads and lasses who’ll get the chance to spend their summer in the breathtaking Swiss Alps.
So, out of the thousands of applications we receive each year, how do we go about choosing those 60 or so individuals who will become part of our close-knit team? At Camp Suisse we celebrate diversity, both in the campers we welcome and the activities that we undertake. With this in mind, there is no ‘Camp Suisse mould’ for our employees to fit and we take a range of factors into account. Of course, team members must show skill and talent in their specialist area - whether that be leading an outdoor activity or preparing a 3 course meal - but the job isn’t your typical 9-5. No one day is the same as the next so we need highly motivated, adaptable and resilient people. But above all they must be personable, approachable and open-minded individuals who are dedicated to providing the experience of a lifetime for our campers.
You can see more details on the recruitment section of our website. Applications are open for a little while longer, so there’s still time for you to secure your place on what could be the summer adventure of a lifetime!
February 23 2012
Now’s your chance to see behind the scenes as we take a closer look at what key Camp Suisse staff get up to throughout the winter season.In the first of this series we head over to Chamonix to catch up with our Head of Activities Ian Johnston to hear how he’s been keeping busy since the end of camp 2011...and see what’s he’s got in the pipeline for our activities programme this summer....
Ian Johnston
“I’m currently enjoying a great snowy ski season - some are saying it’s the best for 25 years - so not bad seeing as I’m in les Houches, Chamonix! I’ve been telemarking to my heart’s content whilst finding some time for a touch of ski-touring with some perfect days’ skiing like yesterday in the Vallée Blanche. I plan to be here until the end of April then some ski-touring in the Swiss Alps before heading over to Torgon to finish off the preparations for this year’s cohort of campers. My preparations for Camp Suisse 2012 began back towards the end of the final session of 2011. As we began to wind down my mind was already thinking ahead to the next summer - evaluating the previous programme and looking for possible improvements and additions. With that in mind I scouted out and trialled a range of potential new activities to add to the programme. Without giving too much away one of these may include a kayak, a paddle and Lake Geneva... For me, the most fantastic thing about Camp Suisse is the flexibility of programme. The diversity of the region alone means that we can take an activity, like mountain biking for instance, and make it new and exciting each time- an absolute must given the number of returning campers. Not only that, but each year we receive a wealth of talented activity instructors who bring with them their own flair and creativity that goes in to making our outdoor activities unbeatable on both quality and variety. Just writing this is making me excited for the summer ahead. But I don’t want to wish away this precious powder too quickly. So, on that note I’m signing off, but will look forward to seeing you back in Torgon this summer for Camp Suisse 2012!”
February 16 2012
GREAT NEWS - Camp Suisse is ready to open its doors for another RED HOT summer!! AND…. if you're a returning camper we can hold a place for you (without a deposit) for a period of one month.. just in case you need more time to get your summer plans in place!! Just drop us an email at info@campsuisse.com.
Get ready for more thrills, spills and the usual mix of outdoor adventure and languages as the Camp Suisse team prepare for a full three international sessions.
Given the success of last year’s first ever 3rd international session - and with places limited for all 3 sessions this year - demand is higher than ever. So, to guarantee the summer of a lifetime, make sure you don't miss the Camp Suisse boat and BOOK NOW!
Here are the dates:
SESSION 1: Saturday 30th June - Friday 13th July
SESSION 2: Saturday 14th July - Friday 27th July
SESSION 3: Saturday 28th July - Friday 10th August
ONE WEEK PROGRAMME
Saturday 28th July - Saturday 4th August
February 9 2012
Introducing Maisy Boutin-Tyler.. Camp Director Julie is proud to present the newest addition to the Camp Suisse team! Maisy was born on a very snowy 9th February in Aigle, Vaud. Mum and baby doing well!
February 8 2012
This week has seen Camp Suisse attend summer camp expos at the American School London and the ACS Cobham International School. A good time was had by all, despite the snow and cold weather the expos gave us a great opportunity to meet new campers and parents before summer 2012 gets underway, as well as to catch up with some familiar faces from summers past!
February 2 2012
Memories of camp 2011 fading? Click here to view the official 2011 Camp Video.. it will all come flooding back to you!
Displaying posts 10 of 85
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