Camp Journal
Red, Blue, Green and Yellow group – Session One ÛÒ Goodbye and safe journey home!
11th July 2014
Yesterday all the campers joined together like one big family, it was Camp Suisse Olympic Games!
Each camper was put into a country and given a new group of friends to compete with. At the start of the day campers and staff were given the opportunity to get creative and patriotic for their given country – there were face paints, banners, chants and flags!
Shortly after the opening ceremony, there was a torch relay with each countries national anthem playing.
There were six different activities set up and the countries rotated around the games and competed against one another. The activities included the classic ‘Egg and Spoon Race’, an obstacle course and the ‘Three-Legged Race’..oh and don’t forget the Tug-of-war!
All the campers got very involved in the games and you could hear chants all around Camp Suisse!
During the evening the campers dressed in their best for the disco! Everyone had a good dance to the music and at the end were given their awards for what they brought as a person to Camp Suisse!
Goodbye our camper friends! We have had a great time and we wish you all the best! See you soon!
Red and Blue Group ÛÒ Gladiators, are you ready?!
9th July 2014
The campers in Red and Blue Group enjoyed an informative tour by Activity Leader Fearghal around the Martigny Roman ruins – the students were given a fun and educational introduction to the history of the region. The tour ended in the amphitheatre with the gladiator battle between the Group Leaders, after a fierce battle the campers decided on which Group leader won and which lost.
During the evening the campers put on an amazing Camp Suisse Talent Show – it was great to see everyone do an act in a language they have been studying with the tutors at Camp Suisse!
Green and Yellow Group – Survival Skills and Team Building!
After a great night up at the Alpine Outpost where the campers played Sardines, card games and a quiz, the Yellow Group hiked back to Camp Suisse to begin their afternoon activities.
The campers from Yellow Group played an indoor 5-a-side football match until the rain cleared. Soon it was a walk into the forest for the Bush Craft Hike, the campers set up hammocks and survival shelters! Top survival skills demonstrated by Dena and Zahara!
The Campers in Green Group went to the indoor climbing wall – the campers here really have a head for heights! Afterwards everyone got involved in the team building exercises, it was great to see the campers develop their communication with each other during problem solving tasks!
During the evening the campers took part in the Camp Suisse Talent Show – they showcased their new and improved language skills!
Great fun!
Green and Yellow Group ÛÒ Out into the wilderness!
8th July 2014
In the morning the camp had their language lessons and it was all about the rehearsals for the Camp Suisse Talent Show! The acts are looking to be very entertaining!
After lunch the campers put on their waterproof jackets and climbed aboard the Camp Suisse coach which took them up to Plan de Croix where the campers began their hike up to the Camp Suisse Alpine Outpost. The hike is a challenge any time but especially on this occasion as the weather was drizzling and even some cows got in the way! Every camper took it in their stride – kudos!
Soon everyone arrived at the outpost for their camping adventure and had settled in nicely. The campers were given a few hours free time to play some card games or ping pong whilst waiting for dinner to be ready.
The Alpine Outpost Chef had cooked up some great burgers and sausages which was just what everyone needed whilst sitting by the cosy stoves. Afterwards the campers played a game called Sardines and then had a real treat – Banana s’mores!
After some camping songs and the banana s’mores were everyone was ready for bed.
Green and Yellow Group ÛÒ Who fancies a splash around at Aqua Parc?!
7th July 2014
In the morning it was time for the campers to board the Camp Suisse coach to make their way to the Aqua Parc.
There are several pools and many fast slides the campers can whizz down!
Soon it was time for lunch in the sunshine (in between the sunny spells) and then back to the pools and slides.
Some brave campers even took the mighty Butterloop slide which involved speeds up to 80 KMPH and a completer loop!
Back at Camp Suisse the evening entertainment was Countdown which is words and numbers game (the idea is a famous British Television game show).
Blue and Red Group ÛÒ Camping, Arts and Craft and Climbing!
Blue and Red Group – Camping, Arts and Craft and Climbing!
Monday 7th July
The campers in Blue and Red Group kitted up in their waterproofs and headed up to the Alpine Outpost! The weather wouldn’t allow for the camp fire to be lit but that did not dampen the camper’s spirits.
The camper raised the outpost roof with some great renditions of some camping songs and played lots of fun games!
The Alpine Outpost Chef soon had dinner ready which was burgers and sausages – they went down a treat!
Don’t forget the Banana S’mores! Every camper loved them and it was an extra special treat!
Tuesday 8th July – Arts/crafts and Climbing!
Today was a day to be creative! The campers had their arts and crafts activity with plenty of paint, glue and chalk. There was some great art work ranging from postcards and chalk pictures, all inspired by Camp Suisse.
In the afternoon the campers enjoyed a climb on the indoor climbing wall where so many of them achieved personal bests and conquered fears of heights!
The blues are invincible!
Lazy like Saturday morning?
6th July 2014
The middle Saturday of Session One means a lie-in and a late breakfast at 9am for all campers. After breakfast the campers had time to tidy their rooms and once they were done they had some well desrved relaxation time until photo hour! All groups had some great snaps taken which will soon be available on the Camp Suisse photo site for all to see! There was a little time for games in between the photos which led us straight into lunch! After lunch each group was shuttled up to Plan de Croix where they then got the chair lift up to the ridge on the French-Swiss border. A long and beautiful afternoon stroll back down led to some very tired campers. They were all soon re-energised with a delicious dinner of tortellini and peach upside-down cake back at camp. To finish off the day, all of the campers made their way to the football field to take part in the DRACULA HUNT which scared and enthralled each and every camper involved!
Blue and Red Group – Chocolate and cheese!
The campers in red and blue group were in the mood for chocolate and luck was in their favour as they were heading to the Callier chocolate factory.
During the tour everyone got to see how the chocolate is made and the history of the cocoa bean. Afterwards the campers even got a chance to have a taste!
Afterwards it was all aboard the Camp Suisse coach to go to the next excursion to the Gruyere cheese factory. A great time to learn about the cheese making process!
Soon it was time for lunch and everyone enjoyed their packed lunches outside the Gruyere castle.
Next up for that day was a trip to the Montreux Jazz Festival and everyone sat near the bandstand and listed to some great music!
Green Group – Orienteering
Green Group
The campers in Green Group had a great day ahead of them and it began with the language lessons!
In the afternoon everyone enjoyed some orienteering, this is where the campers get to improve their map reading skills and put them into practice. There was also sports at the football field afterward. The weather was great – the sun was shining and it was lovely and warm.
During the evening all the campers put on their dancing shoes for some dance classes – some great moves!
Yellow Group – Rock climbing!
After some more language lessons in the morning the campers enjoyed an afternoon rock climbing in the sunshine.
The campers supported each other and made a great effort to get to the top. A special well done to Erie for making it to the top and overcoming her fear of heights.
In the evening everyone enjoyed a boogie during the dance classes!
