Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Questions
ABOUT TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
- 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 the camp session or the day before?
ABOUT REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT
- How do I pay for the camp?
- Can I pay in Euros?
- Can I pay in Pounds Sterling?
- Do we need to organise travel insurance?
ABOUT THE CAMP
- Is it possible to enrol for multiple sessions? Is the programme repeated and would it be boring the second time round?
- Which countries do campers come from?
- Does my child need to speak English to attend Camp Suisse?
- Are campers divided up into groups for activities?
- What is the ratio of staff to campers?
- What is Camp Suisse’s device and mobile phone policy? How can I contact my child?
- What is the accommodation like?
- What dietary requirements can Camp Suisse cater for?
- 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?
- How much pocket money should my child bring?
- Will Camp Suisse return items of lost property my child leaves behind?
Answers
ABOUT TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
1. 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. Alternatively, you may drop your children at camp in person. Our address is Camp Suisse, Hotel Telecabine, Route des Crosets 69, 1873 Les Crosets.
2. Can you organise or suggest a flight for my child?
No, unfortunately not. Camp Suisse does not offer flights for international campers, nor are we affiliated with any airline. You should arrange your child’s travel to Geneva airport. We have a brightly lit arrivals desk on the Arrivals’ level of Geneva Airport manned by Camp Suisse staff in blue T-shirts. Our staff are present to greet all campers in line with the flight information provided on their ‘Travel Arrangements’ forms.
3. 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 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. We offer a Parent Airport Transfer for 100 CHF per adult, which includes a transfer from Geneva Airport to Camp Suisse, and a return transfer on the same day from Camp Suisse to Aigle Train Station, which is connected by trains regularly serving Geneva Airport and other destinations across Switzerland and Europe. The Parent Transfer is bookable in advance by emailing us (info@campsuisse.com). Any requests for Parent Transfers on the day will be subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
4. If I accompany my child to camp, can I stay the night nearby?
Sure. There is accommodation in Les Crosets itself, and the next nearest village is Champéry which is approximately 20 minutes from camp by road. Champéry is accessible by train from Aigle. For the timetable of trains please see www.sbb.ch/en. Alternatively, there are some very beautiful areas on the shores of Lake Geneva which would make a great base if you wish to explore this region of Switzerland whilst your youngster is at camp, for example Montreux, Vevey, Lausanne.
5. Are accompanied transfers to and from Geneva airport (or train station) included in the price?
Yes, as long as your travel arrangements fit within our preferred timings (outlined below) on scheduled arrival and departure days. We simply require that you provide us with your child’s travel details in good time prior to the start of camp. This will ensure that we are able to meet campers and transfer them to resort in a timely and efficient manner. You will receive a link to submit your child’s travel details after your booking has been confirmed.
6. How does Camp Suisse transfer campers to camp?
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 and helpful Camp Suisse staff. We aim to keep waiting times to a minimum.
Transfers from Geneva airport to Camp Suisse can take up to two hours by train or one and a half hours by road.
7. Are there any preferred arrival or departure times?
By plane (or train)
Arrivals day: arriving in Geneva between 09h00 and 16h00.
Departure day: departing Geneva between 11h00 am and 17h00.
If it is inconvenient or impractical for you to meet these preferred times, please contact us and we will do our best to arrange a transfer at the required time. Please note this will incur an additional cost. If you are travelling from a destination with limited flights available, please contact us to discuss your options.
By car
Arrivals day: between 14h00 and 17h00
Departure day: 09h00-11h00.
These are preferred times. If you plan to arrive (or depart) outside of the above times, please just let us know.
8. 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 +41 79 5639 872. The contact address (where your child will be staying) is ‘Camp Suisse, The Télécabine, Route Des Crosets 69, Les Crosets, Switzerland, 1873’.
9. Should my child arrive on the first day of the camp session or the day before?
Arrivals and departures are all on a Saturday – dates can be found here.
ABOUT PAYMENT
1. How do I pay for the camp?
You can pay by Visa or Mastercard at the point of registering. Alternatively, you may pay by bank transfer.
After completing your booking, you will receive an invoice by email. The invoice includes full payment instructions, allowing you to pay either online by Visa or Mastercard or by bank transfer.
A non-refundable deposit of CHF 500 is payable at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due four weeks before the start of your camp session.
2. Can I pay in Euros?
Yes. You may pay in Euro by bank transfer. Please contact us on +44 (0) 845 5191 031 or email us at info@campsuisse.com to obtain the price and appropriate bank details.
3. Can I pay in Pounds Sterling?
Yes. You may pay in Pounds Sterling by bank transfer or credit / debit card. Please contact us for current prices in GBP.
4. Do we need to organise travel insurance?
It is essential that insurance cover is in place for all campers. As such, for campers participating in any of our summer camp sessions (not school or group trips), a travel insurance policy arranged by Howden Insurance is offered and the cost of the policy is already included in the camp fee.
The cover provided includes cancellation and curtailment of the trip due to accident, illness or sickness, medical emergencies and the cost of any repatriation back home following such an emergency, personal liability and personal accident. Additionally, cover for over 90 sports and activities are included as standard under the policy. Full details are available in the policy documents to which you will have access after registration.
Further information can be found here:
Important Insurance Policy Information
ABOUT THE CAMP
1. Is it possible to enrol for multiple sessions? Is the program repeated and would it be boring the second or third time round?
Many campers register for multiple 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.
2. Which countries do campers come from?
Camp Suisse is proud to attract youngsters from absolutely all over the world. We welcome campers from over 45 countries each summer.
3. Does my child need to speak English to attend Camp Suisse?
Camp Suisse welcomes campers from all over the world, and many arrive with varying levels of English. Our camp is an English-speaking environment, which provides a fantastic opportunity for children to improve their confidence naturally through everyday conversations and activities.
Our friendly staff are experienced in supporting campers whose first language is not English, helping them settle in quickly and feel included from day one. The most important qualities are a positive attitude and a willingness to join in.
4. Are campers divided up into groups for activities?
Yes. Children are divided into groups of average 8, 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.
5. What is the ratio of staff to campers?
Excluding domestic and kitchen staff, around one staff member to three children. There is a group leader for each group (of average 8 youngsters). There are additional ‘activity leaders’ for relevant activities. In addition there are support staff who fulfill a broad range of duties as required, chefs, catering co-ordinators, the house parent team, maintenance staff and language teachers.
6. What is Camp Suisse’s device and mobile phone policy? How can I contact my child?
Campers hand in their phones and devices on arrival and receive them back for one hour each evening during shower hour (approximately 17h30–18h30) to contact home. Wifi access is available at this time to enable campers to use their devices. Parents will also find contact details for their child’s colour group in the password-protected Parents’ Area in the weeks approaching camp, including emergency contact details. Please be aware that there is often a high volume of calls during ‘shower hour’ so please be patient if you are having difficulty getting through on one of the Camp Suisse group phones. If you would like to send an email to your camper while they are with us, you can send this to printing@campsuisse.com where it will be printed and handed directly to your child.
7. What is the accommodation like?
For more information about our accommodation, please click here.
8. What dietary requirements can Camp Suisse cater for?
We are able to cater for most dietary requirements and food allergies, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and many medically required diets. Please provide full details of your child’s dietary needs on the Additional Information form. You will receive this form after you have made a booking.
On arrival day, our Catering Manager meets personally with every camper who has a dietary requirement to discuss their allergies, intolerances or preferences. This allows us to answer any questions, understand their individual needs and adapt the menu for their stay wherever necessary.
9. What if my child becomes ill or upset during the night?
The house parent team settles campers down for the night at bedtime. The house parents live in the campers’ accommodation, and are always on hand to assist and comfort campers throughout the night. They have the overall responsibility for the health and wellbeing of campers outside of structured activity times.
10. What if my child becomes ill or homesick during the day?
Illness: We have access to excellent medical facilities. We have first aid facilities and suitably qualified individuals on site and there is a ‘walk-in’ children’s hospital nearby.
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 and guide your child through any difficult adjustment period. We will maintain open and honest dialogue at all times about any issues of camper welfare.
If you would like to discuss these issues in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact us.
11. Is the night-time accommodation manned? Is it secure?
The accommodation buildings are locked securely at night. This ensures that exit is possible in the event of emergency but that they are secured from entry from the outside. There are Camp Suisse staff present all night, every night. It is worth noting that our camp is located in a a quiet, small, remote village and that aside from Camp Suisse there is little activity.
12. 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 ‘additional comments’ space on the Additional Information form (post-booking) 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.
13. 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 or six 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. The preferred visiting time if you are just popping in is during shower hour (17h30 – 18h30).
14. 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.
15. How is a typical day divided up?
Breakfast is usually served at 08h00 every day.
“In-camp days” begin with a full morning of learning. Depending on the option selected during registration, campers take part in either language lessons (English, French, or Spanish) or our Outdoor Education programme. After a hot buffet lunch, campers enjoy an exciting afternoon activity in Les Crosets or the surrounding area. Activities may include mountain biking, rock climbing, archery, ice skating, sports coaching, navigation and hiking, and a variety of fun team-building challenges.
“Excursion days” see our campers heading off straight after breakfast for their out-of-resort excursion (always included in the camp fee).
Excursions include: a visit to Glacier 3000 at Les Diablerets for a husky dog experience and the alpine roller-coaster, the Montreux Jazz Festival (sessions one and two only), climbing, hi-ropes and zip wires at the tree top adventure course, banana boating on Lake Geneva, the ‘Aquaparc’ water park, camping at our alpine outpost, the cheese and chocolate factories of Gruyères, the International Olympic Museum & headquarters in Lausanne, the outdoor pool and diving boards of Villeneuve.
Dinner is usually at 18h30 and an evening entertainment takes place after dinner. Evening activities include the Camp Suisse Talent Show, casino, bingo, hot chocolate soirees, themed evenings, murder mystery games, karaoke nights, barbecues with party games, DVD nights and sports sessions.
16. How much language study is included and what level are the classes?
Campers who choose our Language Programme receive three mornings of language tuition each week, totalling 9 hours of study per week or 18 hours over a two-week camp session.
We offer English, French, German and Spanish at all levels, from complete beginners to advanced learners. Before camp, parents provide an indication of their child’s language ability, and during the first lesson our teaching team assesses each camper to ensure they are placed in the most appropriate class. If necessary, we are happy to move campers to a different group to ensure they are challenged appropriately and feel confident in their learning.
Our lessons are interactive, engaging and designed to build confidence through speaking, listening, reading and practical communication, helping campers make real progress while enjoying learning in an international environment.
17. 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. 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.
18. 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 labelled net bag). We are of course unable to send to the laundry garments which do not have a name label.
19. How much pocket money should my child bring?
Camp Suisse is an all-inclusive camp, so campers do not need spending money for meals, activities or excursions.
Many families choose to give their child a small amount of pocket money (typically CHF 10 per day) for souvenirs, snacks or occasional treats during excursions. Campers are able to check their money in for safekeeping on arrival and can withdraw this in small amounts from the Camp Bank each evening.
20. 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.
