Camp Journal
Session 1 – Day Twelve – Yellow Group
8th July 2016
The last full day at Camp Suisse was Mission Day, and it was definitely the best yet! Our campers were divided into mixed squadrons with all the other groups and followed a team leader, or ‘sergeant’. They applied camouflage make-up, invented a team chant, and then listened to their mission briefing.
Throughout the day, they completed different activities: climbing, mountain biking, archery, sports and a scavenger hunt, in order to win points for their squadron. After a quick afternoon tea, they made their own water rockets, which they shot across camp, each team hoping that it would be their rocket that went the furthest.
After the rocket launch challenge, our campers then packed, showered and got all dressed up for the prom!
The prom began with a glass of lemonade, photo opportunities, and a walk down the red carpet. Our campers had their last dinner together, in the decorated dining hall, and award winners from the various evening challenges were announced to rapturous applause.
After dinner, it was time for a viewing of the three minute movies that our campers made last week. Following the screening, it was finally party time! Our campers danced until they could dance no more and ended the night with a final Camp Suisse chant.
What a fun-filled, exciting and emotional last day at camp!
Camouflage face paint was worn by all!
Some of our campers, dressed to the nines for our Hollywood-themed prom!
Session 1 – Day Twelve – Green Group
As Thursday was our last full day of camp, there were a few very special things that our campers had to. To begin: Mission Day! The Operation: Black Socks commenced in the morning, mixing the whole camp and dividing them into squadrons. Then each squadron was briefed on their objectives and off they marched.
The mission consisted of several tasks, all of which were designed to put our campers’ acquired skills to the test… The Camp Suisse centre was buzzing and filled with changes and laughter! Our campers finished their mission with an epic rocket launch race. Afterwards, it was ‘decontamination’ time and our campers headed to get washed up, ready for a formal dinner, followed by a Hollywood-themed prom!
After dinner, the winners of Mission Day and other activities were announced and given their awards. The dance started soon thereafter and everyone danced, enjoying themselves on their last night at camp. To finish the dance, our campers did one last Camp Suisse chant, loud and proud. It was most definitely a great end to a great camp session!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it…
Take off!
All glammed up for the 2016 Camp Suisse Prom!
Session 1 – Day Twelve – Red Group
Red Group woke up to a bright morning at Camp Suisse. It was a special day for all of our campers: it was Mission Day and the night of the prom! All of our campers were mixed up and divided into different squadrons under a sergeant. After a quick morning debrief with the General Chief, each squadron set off on their respective missions.
Some of these missions included archery, an assault course, marching in rows and creating squad chants. The campers also enjoyed vertical infiltration training (otherwise known as the climbing wall) and mountain biking.
After the final activity, the rocket launch, our campers washed away their camouflage face paint and put on their finest clothes for the official Camp Suisse prom.
The theme was Hollywood and it was appropriately glitzy and glamorous! Awards and prizes were given out to our Session 1 campers. A disco followed the lovely formal dinner and the campers got to say their goodbyes, knowing that they would be jetting off home the following day!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it…
Squadrons had to create their own chants!
Session 1 – Day Eleven – Red Group
This morning Red Group started off the day with mountain biking. Everyone received one-to-one tuition and displayed considerable improvement. Our campers played skills-based games and then biked back down to camp via a very steep hill!
In the afternoon, our campers took part in Mountain Adventure Day, which is day based around survival skills. Our campers enjoyed themselves immensely and they learned about water pollution, fire lighting for survival and shelter building. The afternoon was rounded off by a spot of afternoon tea- from the kitchen, not sourced from the wild!
The evening was rounded out by the Camp Suisse Talent Showcase 2016, in which our campers performed their songs and plays in their language groups. A great amount of talent was displayed, and our campers eagerly await the results, which will be announced at prom tomorrow night!
Practising our mountain biking skills!
Mountain biking and blue skies are a great combination!
Session 1 – Day Eleven – Blue Group
7th July 2016
Blue Group kicked off the day with Mountain Adventure Day for the morning session. The beautiful weather helped to create a great atmosphere for the campers as they learnt about and experienced lighting a fire in the forest, boiling water on Trangias and setting up hammocks.
The afternoon session comprised of mountain biking activity and some very impressive skills were showed off. Everyone did so well and had no fear. Well done to the Blue Group!
Learning How To Build A Fire!
Building Our Own Fire!
Big Smiles Mountain Biking
Session 1 – Day Ten – Yellow Group
6th July 2016
This morning, our campers had a choice of activities: half of Yellow Group chose to go outdoor rock climbing, while the other half chose to instead do some ‘art jamming’ (arts and crafts fun).
Those that chose to go outdoor rock climbing got to put into practise the skills that they’d learned from scaling the indoor climbing wall that we have here at camp. The rest of the campers who chose to stay at camp got to create some beautiful paintings, while enjoying the sun, some music and the fresh Alpine air.
The afternoon was filled with language lessons, in which our campers learned songs in the language that they are learning here at camp, ready for the big karaoke night on Wednesday!
In the evening, Yellow Group campers gave it their all in the staff v. campers football match, which the campers managed to win with some fancy footwork and impressive team work! After the game, our campers went to bed, ready for another exciting day of Alpine activities…
Outdoor rock climbing with ease!
Putting those climbing skills to good use!
Session 1 – Day Two – Green Group
Today was another great and enjoyable day for Green Group. After a yummy breakfast, Green and Yellow Groups could choose to either go outdoor rock climbing, or take part in some art jamming (arts and crafts fun).
The Green Group members who chose rock climbing were taught some useful climbing techniques by our ever-talented activity leaders. With the advice of our activity leaders under their belts, Green Group members were soon scaling outdoor rock faces and most got to the very top!
The other Green Group members who stayed at camp made some fantastic, creative masterpieces- which are now proudly displayed on the walls of the Camp Suisse Centre. Our campers got to enjoy some good music as they created their masterpieces in the sun.
After an extensive buffet lunch, our campers had their last language lessons and campers practised their songs for karaoke night on Wednesday.
Our campers had an Indian-inspired meal of korma and naan bread, followed by a staff v. campers football match to round off an exciting day here at camp. To top it all off, our campers managed to succeed in beating the staff, which was a great end to a great day for our campers!
Laughs on the way to outdoor rock climbing!
Ready for the ascent!
Session 1 – Day Ten – Blue Group
Blue Group started the day with language classes, in which they got the opportunity to prepare for the 2016 Talent Showcase, which will be taking place tomorrow night! It promises to be a fun evening that combines our campers’ natural talents, with their understanding of the languages that they are learning, as each language class will have to perform in the language that they are learning.
After language classes, our campers set off for the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Once our campers arrived at Montreux, they sat down to eat in the sun. Our campers then spent their time looking at the numerous stalls, followed by a live performance by the Urecht University student band.
After an exhausting and fun afternoon in Montreux, we had an Indian-inspired dinner, followed by a board game extravaganza! What a day…
Ready to listen to some jazz in the sun!
The fountains were fun on such a hot day!
Peter thoughtfully inspecting his caricature drawing…
Session 1 – Day Ten – Red Group
Today, Red Group started the day with their language lessons. They spent most of their time creating songs, poems and theatrical pieces for the 2016 Talent Showcase, in which each language class will have to perform in the language that that they are learning here at camp. The 2016 Talent Showcase will be taking place tomorrow night and we can’t wait!
In the afternoon, our campers went to the Montreux Jazz Festival to explore the market stalls and music. Our campers were so lucky with the weather, as the sun was shining and they were able to to spend the whole afternoon outside!
In the evening, the dining hall was transformed into a board game extravaganza, with every table covered with every possible board game, in a variety of languages! After a good session of board games and fun, our campers went to bed, looking forward to mountain biking tomorrow.
Ready to listen to some jazz in the sun!
The fountains were fun on such a hot day!
Session 1 – Day Nine – Yellow Group
5th July 2016
Today was a very tough day for the kids: Aquaparc!! We left just after breakfast, the bus journey was long enough to let us all digest before running around all day. After a quick safety briefing the campers changed into their costumes and we walked to the base camp we set up so we had a meeting point.
We sent the kids off to enjoy the different slides and pools but arranged times to check back in each hour. Every time they came back to check in we heard exciting stories of the best and scariest slides!
After lunch in the sun and some more chill time to digest they set off again for more fun.
As today is American Independence Day it is a USA themed dinner at camp: burgers, fried chicken, ships and brownies! After dinner we had an American Quiz which brought out everyone’s competitive side!
What a fun filled but exhausting day!
