Camp Journal
Red Group ÛÒ Helmets on? CHECK. Bikes? CHECK. Smiles? CHECK!
4th July 2014
The campers in red group took their various language lessons in the morning after breakfast. After two brilliant lessons everyone stopped for lunch, before heading up the mountain for a mountain biking session.
First things first, it was all about safety and some practice sessions were given on the obstacle course from the Activity Leaders.
This gave the campers a chance to improve their skills and have more confidence on the bike.
Following the master class in mountain biking some of our campers headed down the hill on their bikes, while the rest of red group headed down by minibus for a special BBQ dinner!
During the evening the campers had some great rhythm in the dance class given by Kata – great moves by everyone!
Blue Group ÛÒ Bush Craft Hike
The campers in Blue Group got up bright and early for breakfast and their language classes – the tutors are reporting that there is great enthusiasm and improvement!
After lunch the campers headed out to the forest for Bush Craft hike. The Activity Leaders taught the campers how to set up hammocks and shelter -. Everyone picked up survival skills. The campers got involved by filtering water using objects found in the woods and the Activity Leaders explained about the different mosses that grow locally and how they can be used for antiseptics or even food!
Victor in particular showed great survival instincts and lots of great knowledge of the woods and rocks. An interesting and beautiful sunny day for the blues!
Back at Camp Suisse the campers enjoyed a dance class in the evening -great fun!
Yellow and Green Group – All that jazz!
The campers were really excited to go down to the lake and have some fun on the banana boat. It was much harder than it looked and everyone was bouncing around on the waves whilst holding on tight – some people fell off into the water but the campers all helped haul people back on!
Afterwards everyone needed to dry off, so the students played some Frisbee, football and volleyball – great fun!
For the evening the campers went to the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival and it was great to soak up the atmosphere!
Back at Camp Suisse the campers enjoyed an American themed dinner to celebrate the 4th of July!
Blue and Red Group ÛÒ Banana Boating!
3rd July 2014
It was a brilliant day!
After breakfast we headed to an idyllic beach on the beautiful Lake Geneva. The campers enjoyed numerous activities including football and swimming.
The most enjoyed activity was the banana boating! The campers sat on an inflatable rubber boat (shaped to look like a banana) and was pulled along by a speed boat. They bounced over waves and sped around in circles and tried their best not to fall off!
After lunch at the lake everyone headed to the Olympic Museum in Lausaunne. The campers raced on Olympic tracks, enjoyed the exhibition on the history of the games and looked at costumes worn by performers in the opening ceremonies.
Back at Camp Suisse the campers had a go at directing their very own 3 minute movies as the evening activity.
Green Group – Of they go mountain biking!
The campers had their language lessons in the morning and some even got to enjoy their classes sat outside in the sunshine!
During the afternoon the activity was mountain biking where the campers were taught how to inspect a bike before riding it. After a good inspection they cycled back to camp!
During dinner it was Chautal’s birthday so we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her and surprised Chautal with a birthday cake!
In the evening the campers enjoyed an evening doing the Torgona Hunt – this is when the camper go around the camp and village solving clues!
Yellow Group – Ready, aim and FIRE!
After a jam-packed morning of language lessons (where Polina and Zahara answered questions on what they would do if they became president in the language they were learning) the Yellow Group campers enjoyed clambering up the indoor climbing wall!
The campers were great at supporting each other and George made it to the top in 7 seconds!
In the afternoon it was great fun up on the archery range and everyone improved on their aim!
For the evening the campers had an entertaining evening running around the camp site and village solving clues!
Red and Blue Group ÛÒ Hi ho hi ho itÛªs up the wall we go!
2nd July 2014
Spirits were high in the camp this morning as everyone prepared to continue their language lessons, the tutors can see a real development because everyone is participating.
Once the lessons had been completed for the day it is time for lunch. The campers have a choice of what they would like; which could be a Jacket potato, a baguette with filling or even a hot dog!
The clouds had rolled in today but that didn’t dampen the mood because the Activity Leaders took the campers to our indoor climbing wall. Everyone had been very excited to get a chance to climb the wall and they all took on board the instructions on how to climb safely – Oh and not forgetting the great team enthusiasm! 10/10 campers!
For the evening the Pastoral Care Leaders had organised a great activity called the Torgona Hunt, this is a game where the campers follow clues and have to answer questions about Camp Suisse and the surrounding area.
Once all the activities were over it was soon time for bed and lights out for 21:30 (Red) and 21:30 (Blue)!.
Yellow and Green Group ÛÒ ‘Chocs’ away!
The campers had a great day ahead of them because it was a visit to the Gruyère Cheese factory and Callier Chocolate factory!
Everyone climbed aboard the Camp Suisse Coach and made their way to the Gruyère Cheese factory, the campers enjoyed a tour which gave some secrets into cheese making (not all of them!) and a chance to enjoy the fragrances and tastes of the cheese!.
The factory is located at the foot of Gruyère Castle and it was a perfect photo opportunity.
After lunch it was time for a visit to the Callier Chocolate Factory. The campers enjoyed an interactive tour about the history of the cocoa bean, from its use by the ancient Aztecs, to revolutionary France and finally a chance to see it being made in the current day. The delicious smell of chocolate was finally too much temptation and everyone was invited to have a taste!
Back at Camp Suisse the evening activity was the chance to have a go at being directors and making 3 minute movies!
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Red and Blue Group – Up, up and away – it’s Glacier Day!
1st July 2014
It was an early start for the campers in Red and Blue group, everyone had breakfast at 6:15am (there were a lot of sleepy but very excited faces for glacier day!). Everyone wrapped up in warm layers and then headed up towards Glacier 3000!
The sun was shining and the snow was beautiful and crisp! After taking a quick ride on the ski lift into the glacier we met a group of excitable husky dogs – everyone loved taking a ride on the dog sled.
Later there was time for some hair raising thrills up on the roller coaster, which was fantastic fun! A quick lunch looking over the glacier went down a treat and then we headed down the mountain.
The campers arrived at Villeneuve on the shore of Lake Geneva where they had a lovely splash about in the pool and the lake! To dry off the campers enjoyed a lively football game in the warm sunshine! Everyone was really well behaved and were interacting fantastically with their new friends and Group Leaders.
Back at Camp Suisse everyone was ready for a quiet night and the evening activity was a hot chocolate whilst watching a film.
So it had been snow and sunshine in one day – what a great day for the campers in Blue and Red group!
Yellow and Green Group ÛÒ Learning the lingo!
The campers started their day with great enthusiasm for taking part in the language tuition that had been planned for the morning.
Everyone got involved with the lessons which are designed to be fun yet constructive in language development.
After the language tuition everyone had worked up an appetite and were ready for lunch! It’s a great time to catch up on what everyone had been up to so far.
In the afternoon Yellow and Green Group spilt apart for the different activities planned for the campers. The Yellow Group put on their bicycle helmets and hopped on their bikes up at the Mountain Bike outpost called Plan de Croix. The Activity Leaders began the session with some basic skill development which led on to a cycle down some exciting trails. Further down the mountain there were some jumps for the campers to have a go at! Special mention to Ekaterina and Gianluca for improving with great determination and making some serious height in the jumps!
The campers in Green Group made their way to the Camp Suisse crag for some climbing! The Activity Leaders literally showed everyone the ropes and the campers climbed to the top. Well done to all the campers in Green Group for supporting each other!
Back at Camp Suisse the evening activity was bingo – Full House!
