Camp Journal
Camp Suisse Wants You!
1st March 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!
Where are they now – Ian Johnston
23rd February 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!”
Calling all Camp Suissers!!!!
16th February 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
Welcome to the world!!
9th February 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!
Representing Camp Suisse…
8th February 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!
Lights! Camera! Action!
2nd February 2012
Memories of camp 2011 fading? Click here to view the official 2011 Camp Video.. it will all come flooding back to you!
Beat those January blues
20th January 2012
Happy New Year to all our Camp Suisse fans, friends and family! We hope you ate, drank and were merry to your hearts’ content. As the post-Christmas January blues are setting in it’s now more important than ever to have something to look forward to, and what better than the advent of Camp Suisse summer 2012!
While it may still seem very much like Christmas here in the snowy Swiss Alps, the Camp Suisse team have put away their Christmas decorations for another year and have shaken off those winter blues as we gear up the preparations for the summer.
‘What does that involve?’ I may very well hear you ponder; well, let me tell you. For just over 3 months each summer the Camp Suisse Centre becomes a beehive of activity as youngsters from all over the world arrive in their hoards to spend an adventurous couple of weeks in the Swiss Alps. Once all is packed away at the end of the summer, however, the busy bees behind the scenes keep on buzzing, making the necessary preparations to make sure each summer is even more successful than the last. Over the next couple of months we’ll be giving you news from each of our senior members of staff to let you know what they get up to over the year and just how they’re contributing to the preparations for summer 2012!
Where are they now….?
1st January 2012
Where are they …? Read on to find out where the key Camp Suisse staff are hiding through the winter….
Camp Director Richard is up to his eyes in the powder! He will be training all week with The Ecole Suisse de Ski here in Torgon.
Camp Director Julie is up to her eyes in baby clothes!.. With less than 6 weeks to go before the arrival of Julie Junior the clock is ticking fast! The local hospital in Aigle will see the arrival of the newest addition to the team on or around St Valentine’s Day… watch this space!
Resort Manager Phil is based in Italy, teaching English as a foreign language to budding Italian linguists and works remotely for Camp Suisse from his base in Treviso.
Camp Co-ordinator Katie is working in a London Office.. staring longingly at her Camp Suisse souvenir book and crossing off the days until her return to Torgon. Hang on in there Sheps!
Activities supervisor Jim is cutting his shapes in Anzere, working as a ski and snowboard teacher until April.
Kitchen Manager Anna is running a cookery school in her home town of Bristol (UK), working as part of the kitchen team at ‘the best ethical restaurant of the year’ (The Observer) and making salads and afternoon tea for the cast and crew of Chanel 4, a UK TV channel. Phew! Anna you are wearing us out just reading about your toils!!
Head of Activities Ian is carving it up in Chamonix, telemarking his heart out.. oh yes and maybe running a chalet in between ski days..
Let It Snow!!!
18th December 2011
The winter season has begun in earnest here in Torgon! Over 80 cm of snow has fallen in the last 48 hours and it is forecast to continue well into next week. Temperatures are around -5 C making for a chilly nip in the air!
The Torgon lift system opened partially this weekend and soon as the Piste Patrol have finished blasting for avalanches, the station will be open completely ready for a busy winter ahead. The Christmas week should see lots of visitors from far and wide making the journey up to Torgon to ski the largest interlinked resort in Europe (the ‘Portes du Soleil’), all from our tiny little corner of the Alps.
After a fund raising effort last year to raise 2 million CHF in which Camp Suisse and many other local businesses and individuals participated, we are proud to have supported the installation of snow cannons for the first time this year on the local slope (La Jorette) here in Torgon – summer campers will know this area as the home to the goats near restaurant Les Caprins and the swimming pool…! The use of the cannons will ensure that the links from Torgon into the Portes du Soleil can remain open all winter regardless of the natural snow conditions.
ICC Hong Kong 2011
14th November 2011
Last week saw Camp Directors Julie & Richard attend the International Camping Congress in Hong Kong organized by the International Camping Fellowship. The congress was designed to bring together summer camps from all over the world to share experiences and ideas about camp life and to discuss industry issues from different countries both now and into the future. The congress included summer camps from all over Europe, America, Canada, Australia, Turkey, Russia and Asia. These summer camps ranged in variety from language camps to outdoor educational camps and religious camps to sports and study camps. A great time was had by all (especially Julie who feasted on the all you can eat seafood buffet!!) We met some very entertaining people, experienced some great cultural events and took away some fantastic ideas from fellow camps to bring to Camp Suisse. Preparations for next summer are already well under way and we cannot wait for Camp Suisse 2012.
