If you have further questions of your own or if you have any uncertainties which you would like us to address, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone or drop us an email at any time and we will be delighted to help.
If you are interested in registering your child for 2008, there is also an information sheet ‘Camp Information 2008’ available inside the brochure or for download from the ‘Registration’ section of the website.
Travel to and from Camp Suisse
How do children arrive at Camp?
Can you organise or suggest a flight for my child?
If I fly to Geneva with my child, can I come and have a look at the Camp?
If I accompany my child to camp, can I stay the night nearby?
Are accompanied transfers to and from Geneva airport (or train station) included in the price?
How does Camp Suisse transfer Campers to resort?
Are there any preferred arrival or departure times?
What if my child is travelling alone?
Should my child arrive on the first day of camp or the day before?
Payment
How do I pay for the camp?
Can I pay in Euros?
Can I pay in Swiss Francs?
I paid the required deposit amount but my confirmation document shows I have paid less. Why is this?
About the Camp
Is it possible to enrol for four weeks? Is the program repeated and would it be boring the second time round?
Which countries do Campers come from?
Are Campers divided up into groups for activities?
What is the ratio of staff to Campers?
Can my child email or call me from Camp? How can I get in touch with them?
What is the accommodation like?
What if my child becomes ill or upset during the night?
What if my child becomes ill or homesick during the day?
Is the night-time accommodation manned? Is it secure?
If my child is coming to camp with a friend or sibling can we request they be in a room or group together?
Can I visit my child during their stay?
Is there a set programme which the children follow?
How is a typical day divided up?
How much language study is included and what level are the classes?
Are Campers able to choose which activities they do?
Is there any facility for laundry of clothes?
Will Camp Suisse return items of lost property my child leaves behind?
Travel to and from Camp Suisse
How do children arrive at Camp?
We collect Campers from Geneva Airport or from Geneva or Aigle train station, and then accompany them to Camp Suisse. If travelling by TGV (only) we can arrange pick up from Lausanne train station. Alternatively, you may drop your children at Camp in person.
Can you organise or suggest a flight for my child?
No. Camp Suisse does not offer flights, nor are we affiliated with any airline. You should arrange your child’s travel to Geneva airport. If your child flies with British Airways from London it is highly likely that there will be other Camp Suisse Campers on their flight. Your child will be sent a Camp Suisse t-shirt in the post and if worn for arrivals day, it will enable them to easily identify other Campers on their way to Camp Suisse.
If I fly to Geneva with my child, can I come and have a look at the Camp?
Absolutely; you are more than welcome to travel on to Torgon and drop your child at Camp. You may have a drink and a bite to eat courtesy of Camp Suisse and have a look around our facilities. Unfortunately we can only offer the airport pick-up service for unaccompanied Campers (no grown-ups allowed) so you should make your own way to Camp if you wish to do so.
If I accompany my child to camp, can I stay the night nearby?
Sure. The most convenient accommodation for you is in Aigle which is approximately half an hour from Camp by road.
Are accompanied transfers to and from Geneva airport (or train station) included in the price?
Yes. We simply require that you provide us with your child’s travel details at least three weeks prior to the camp. This will ensure that we are able to meet Campers and transfer them to resort in a timely and efficient manner. You will be issued with a ‘travel details’ form to complete and return in the months leading up to Camp.
How does Camp Suisse transfer Campers to resort?
We will transfer your child either by car, minibus, coach, or train; depending on timings and numbers. In all cases Campers are accompanied by friendly Camp Suisse staff. If Campers are required to wait for any length of time (over an hour) for other Campers to arrive, they will be taken to a café for a cold drink or hot chocolate courtesy of Camp Suisse and will be accompanied throughout their wait. Of course we aim to keep such waits to a minimum.
Transfers from Geneva airport to Camp Suisse in Torgon can take up to two hours by train or 1 and a half hours by road.
Are there any preferred arrival or departure times?
By plane (or train)
Arrivals day: arriving in Geneva between 8.30 am and 2.30 pm.
Departure day: departing Geneva between 10.30 am and 4 pm
These are ideal times only and if it is inconvenient or impractical for you to meet them, we will of course still collect your child. If you are travelling from a destination with limited flights available, please contact us to discuss your options.
If you do have a choice of flight times it is preferable for your child to arrive earlier rather than later.
By car
Arrivals day: between 10 am and 4 pm
Departure day: before midday.
Again, these are ideal times only. You are more than welcome to arrive with your child at any time on arrival day and collect your child at any time on departure day. If you plan to arrive (or depart) outside of the above times, please just let us know.
What if my child is travelling alone?
Many of the commercial airlines (excluding budget carriers) operate very efficient and reasonably priced ‘solo-flyer / unaccompanied minor’ programmes.
In this case you see the Camper(s) off at the departure airport and we collect them from a representative of the airline in Geneva.
The airline will ask you when booking for the name and contact details of the individual who will be meeting your child in Geneva. Please give the name of ‘Julie Tyler’ and the telephone number +44 (0) 870 8034912. The contact address (where your child will be staying) is ‘International Camp Suisse, The Gold Test Centre, Torgon, CH 1899’.
Should my child arrive on the first day of camp or the day before?
Session 1 2008 arrival day: Saturday 19th July
Session 1 2008 departure day: Friday 1st August
Session 2 2008 arrival day: Saturday 2nd August
Session 2 2008 departure day: Friday 15th August
Payment
How do I pay for the camp?
You can pay by cheque (made payable to ‘International Camp Suisse’) or by bank transfer.
If you would like to pay by bank transfer please call us on +44 (0) 870 803 4912 or email us at info@campsuisse.com to obtain the appropriate bank account details.
We cannot accept payments by card.
A deposit of £500 (GBP) is due at the time of booking and the balance of £820 (GBP) is due by 31 May 2008.
If you book after 31 May 2008, payment in full (£1320 GBP) is due at the time of booking.
Can I pay in Euros?
Yes you may pay in euros either by cheque (made payable to ‘International Camp Suisse’) or by bank transfer. The price will be calculated at the Euro/GBP foreign exchange rate at the time of booking. For 2008 this will be approximately a deposit of €750 and a balance payment of €1200.
If you would like to pay by euro bank transfer please contact us on +44 (0) 870 803 4912 or at info@campsuisse.com to obtain the appropriate bank details.
Can I pay in Swiss Francs?
Yes. You may pay in Swiss Francs by bank transfer only. Please contact us for a price and bank details.
I paid the required deposit amount but my confirmation document shows I have paid less. Why is this?
Usually because you have sent a payment by international bank transfer and your bank has charged the fees to Camp Suisse, rather than to you. When sending a deposit by international bank transfer please be sure to mark ‘OUR’ in the fees section (sender pays fees), otherwise Camp Suisse will incur your bank charges and the deposit received by us will be less than the required amount of £500 (GBP). In this case we will add the difference to the balance amount due on 31 May. If this does not answer your query, please contact us.
About the Camp
Is it possible to enrol for four weeks? Is the program repeated and would it be boring the second time round?
Many Campers register for both sessions. Some activities are repeated and many are not. There are so many activities available to our Campers that it is impossible to fit them all into any two-week session. The most popular activities (Glacier day, banana boating, mountain biking, adventure park) are repeated each session. The most crucial aspect of creating the culture and experience that is a camp session is of course the individuals involved and for this reason every single camp session is unique.
Which countries do Campers come from?
Camp Suisse is proud to attract youngsters from absolutely all over the world.
The top 10 (most represented) nationalities in 2007 were: Britain, France, USA, Italy, Jordan, Canada, Cameroon, Egypt, Bahrain, and Australia.
Other nationalities included: Spain, Austria, New Zealand, Sweden, Brazil, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Liechtenstein, Libya, Philippines, Armenia.
Are Campers divided up into groups for activities?
Yes. Children are divided into groups of no more than eight people (the usual size of a group is six), based on their age. Each group is a mix of boys and girls and is assigned a Camp Suisse staff member or ‘Group Leader’ who is responsible for their wellbeing whilst at camp. The groups undertake most of the activities with groups of similar ages.
What is the ratio of staff to Campers?
Excluding domestic and kitchen staff, around one staff member to four children. There is a group leader for each group (of 4-8 youngsters). There are additional ‘activity leaders’ and ‘sports coaches’ for relevant activities. In addition there are support staff who fulfill a broad range of duties as required, kitchen staff, a camp nurse, maintenance staff and language teachers.
Can my child email or call me from Camp? How can I get in touch with them?
Campers can purchase phone-cards at Camp which can be used to phone home from the centre or from any public phone. There is no internet access for Campers but if you would like to pass an email message on to your child we will be happy to oblige. There is a policy of not allowing access to personal mobile phones during activities. Campers may request to use their phones at certain appropriate times to send or receive text messages or to make calls. You will be issued with contact details for your child in the weeks approaching Camp, including emergency contact details.
What is the accommodation like?
Campers sleep in one of two purpose-built accommodation chalets. Rooms are modern, sleep 2 to 4 people, and all have en-suite bathroom facilities. Girls and boys are housed in separate buildings each with key-coded security locks. Each Camp session includes one or two nights camping in tents at our alpine outpost.
What if my child becomes ill or upset during the night?
Each building has a Camp Suisse staff member or ‘Night Angel’ present throughout the night. The Night Angel is there to supervise the children, attend to emergencies and also to be around for not-so-urgent matters.
What if my child becomes ill or homesick during the day?
Illness:
We have access to excellent medical facilities. There is a ‘walk-in’ children’s hospital nearby and we have first aid facilities and a Camp Nurse on site.
Homesickness:
We are very astute at recognising, understanding and dealing with homesickness. We will work with your child and with you as a parent to help assist and guide your child through any difficult adjustment period. We will be absolutely open and honest with you when it comes to making the decision regarding whether your child should leave camp early as a result. We have never had a Camper who has not been able to, with our help and support, overcome their homesickness.
If you would like to discuss these issues in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Is the night-time accommodation manned? Is it secure?
The accommodation buildings are locked securely at night with a number-coded keypad. This ensures that exit is possible in the event of emergency but that they are secured from entry from the outside. There is a member of staff present in each building every night. Other staff sleep within 20m of the Campers’ chalets. It is worth noting that Torgon is a quiet, small, remote village and that aside from Camp Suisse there is little activity. The centre is private and is not open to through-traffic or visitors at any time.
If my child is coming to camp with a friend or sibling can we request they be in a room or group together?
Of course you may. Simply pick up the phone or send us an email with your requests and we will do our very best to accommodate them. Alternatively, please use the ‘office use’ space on the booking form to note a request.
Camp Suisse does, however, encourage Campers to broaden their horizons in meeting and interacting with people from different parts of the world and different backgrounds; for this reason we prefer to room Campers separately from friends and siblings, especially if there is an age difference.
Can I visit my child during their stay?
It is our absolute pleasure to receive visitors at any time and especially when we have Campers in resort. However, it can be disruptive for the other Campers for whom a parental visit is not an option. For this reason, (and especially if your child is staying for four weeks) we suggest that if you need to spend time with your child during the Camp, you collect them and take them out for the day rather than joining them at Camp. It is necessary that you arrange such a visit with us in advance so that we can ensure your child is available and prepared.
Is there a set programme which the children follow?
The programme for the camp session is set in principle prior to camp. Specific timings and the order of events will vary according to the weather, feedback from groups and of course the age of your child.
How is a typical day divided up?
Breakfast is nearly always at 8am. After this, the day is divided up into 1½ hour sessions. Language classes take place in the mornings, straight after breakfast.
After language classes, the day’s activity sessions will be made up from a long list of great activities including but not limited to: mountain biking, horse riding, mini-olympics, archery, orienteering, hiking, tennis, hockey, cooking, basketball, football, swimming, arts, crafts, music, team building & leadership games.
Approximately every second day is spent out of resort. Excursions include a selection from: a visit to Glacier 3000 at Les Diablerets for husky dog sledding, the alpine roller-coaster and snow-shoeing, climbing at the tree top adventure course, outdoor thermal spas, banana boating on Lake Geneva, camping at our alpine lake at 1400m, the cheese and chocolate factories of Gruyères, Labyrinth Adventure (games and giant maze), International Olympic Museum & headquarters in Lausanne, the ‘Aquaparc’ water park and many more.
Dinner is usually at 6.30 and an evening entertainment takes place after dinner.
How much language study is included and what level are the classes?
Classes last for an hour and a half and each camp typically includes nine classes. Classes take place in the mornings, after breakfast. We ask for an indication of ability level from parents on the registration form, but Campers are assessed by the languages team on the first day of Camp and allocated to a class accordingly. We have no hesitation in moving Campers after the first few lessons if we feel they are not suited to their original group for any reason. We offer tuition at all levels (from complete beginner to very advanced) and our methods are lively, fun and extremely worthwhile. Focus is placed on building each individual’s confidence through regular use and practise of language skills.
Are Campers able to choose which activities they do?
Generally Campers do not get to choose which activities they do, however our group leaders work very closely with our youngsters and they will listen to feedback to gauge which activities the group will enjoy. This is especially relevant for particular sports which may be incredibly popular or unpopular. A Camper will be encouraged to participate fully in all available activities but will never be forced to do anything to which they have a real objection.
Is there any facility for laundry of clothes?
Yes. Campers may send items of clothing for washing once during the two-week period. It is essential that all items are name labelled (except underwear which is washed in a net bag). We are of course unable to send to the laundry garments which do not have a name label.
Will Camp Suisse return items of lost property my child leaves behind?
If you are prompt enough in requesting return of a lost item, and if we have located it, Camp Suisse will gladly return it to you. Otherwise, items of lost property and clothing are given to a (very grateful) local children’s charity.