Program Description

Les Elfes–International Summer/Winter Camp

Sports, languages, and cultural and personal enrichment
Verbier, Switzerland


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For More Information, Contact
Philippe and Nicole Stettler
Les Elfes International Summer and Winter Camps
P.O. Box 174
1936 Verbier
Switzerland
41-27-775-35-90
Fax: 41-27-775-35-99
http://www.leselfes.com
E-mail: info@leselfes.ch

Type of Program: Wide variety of sports (including summer skiing), language study (French, Spanish, German, and English), cultural activities, and personal development
Participants: Coeducational, ages 8 to 18
Enrollment: Maximum of 140 students per session
Program Dates: Summer: early June through end of August; winter: December through April
Head of Program: Philippe and Nicole Stettler, Associate Directors

Location

In the heart of the Swiss Alps, Verbier, the home of Les Elfes–International Summer/Winter Camp, is a cosmopolitan resort. As the camp is located on a mountain meadow overlooking Verbier, the panorama from the camp is breathtaking. With more than 250 miles of connected trails, skiers in winter are served by ultramodern equipment and more than 120 ski lifts. The area provides all kinds of summer sports, including horseback riding, golf, swimming, tennis, rock climbing, paragliding, a ropes course, and mountain bike treks. Near Les Elfes is the sports center with an Olympic-size indoor swimming pool, an ice rink, and tennis and squash courts. A stable for horseback riding is nearby. Many cultural and historic sites are in the area. Campers enjoy the nearby streams, mountain meadows, and a lake with a private beach and waterskiing.

Background and Philosophy

Since 1987, Les Elfes–International Summer/Winter Camp has provided children and teens from around the world with holidays that combine the discovery and practice of new exciting sports with learning and perfecting languages (French, Spanish, German, and English). Children and teens discover other cultures and make new friends. Activities are designed to promote leadership and teamwork and to challenge students toward excellence in a way that maximizes both personal and group development and enhances self-confidence and interpersonal skills. Each child’s program of activities reflects his or her personal aptitudes and choices. Children return home with the best of memories of their holidays, whether in summer or winter.

Program Offerings

The summer camp experiences are organized into two- and three-week sessions. When participants arrive (usually on a Sunday), they are introduced to the camp and are shown the sports installations and the town. The following day, the newcomers choose their various activities with the counselors.
Sports, Culture, and Activities The camp is focused mainly on outdoor sports activities. To complete their program, the students have the opportunity to discover sites outside Verbier and to water-ski on Lake Geneva. Youngsters are encouraged to try new activities with optimum safety and to improve their skills in those they already know. The International Summer Camp’s program is extremely varied. Sports include badminton, basketball, football, miniature golf, ropes course, squash, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and many others. There is also an eighteen-hole golf course in magnificent surroundings. Students enjoy hikes and mountain bike treks surrounded by alpine flora and fauna, rock climbing, figure skating, ice hockey, curling, swimming, and waterskiing. Cultural activities include weekly excursions to a town in Switzerland (such as Bern, Lausanne, or Geneva) or an interesting and entertaining site and concert outings (classical, blues, jazz, or rock).
Language Study The language program includes 8 hours per week of language courses (French, German, Spanish, or English), which are optionally expandable to 15 hours per week for an intensive course. The teachers are young, enthusiastic, and helpful college graduates. During their stay, the youngsters have a chance to practice the languages with their friends.

Enrollment

The program serves groups of 140 students from more than forty-five nations. This international setting allows children and teens to experience and value other cultures and to make new worldwide friends.

Daily Schedule

The day begins at 7:45 a.m. with rising, washing, and getting ready for breakfast. A full breakfast is served at 8:15 with orange juice, hot and cold milk, hot chocolate, cereals, bread with ham and cheese, various jams, and fruit. At 9 a.m., students engage in their language activities, ski or snowboard, or take a tour depending on the day and individual program. At noon, campers enjoy a picnic lunch. Sports activities at 1 p.m. are followed by a snack at 4 p.m. At 4:30, the campers enjoy games and recreational activities, sports, or individual courses. Dinner prepared by the chef is served to students at the table beginning at 6:30. The menu includes American and European dishes and international foods. At 8 p.m., students participate in organized activities, play games, watch a video, or enjoy quiet time. Bedtime is at 10 p.m.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

As extra-cost options, the students can take a beginner course in paragliding, enjoy horseback riding, or go summer skiing or snowboarding with professional instructors for three days per stay in Zermatt. A more intensive language study program is also available for an additional charge.
In addition to the activities program, it is possible to have private lessons in golf ($97 per hour), tennis ($58 per hour), and horseback riding (6 hours per camp session, $350).

Facilities

Students live in two recently constructed (1995) chalets of wood and stone in the Swiss alpine tradition that offer charm and elegant comfort. Both chalets are situated in green, calm surroundings and are only 5 minutes from the center of Verbier. The chalets are completely equipped with a professionally equipped kitchen and a vast and sunny dining room, which opens onto a sitting room with a fireplace. There are classrooms, conference rooms, a library, a game hall, a film theater, a music hall (or discotheque), and a fitness room. The camp is fully equipped with all the equipment and accessories for indoor and outdoor games and sports. Campers live in rooms with two to four beds, a bathroom including a shower, and a radio and telephone. Maid service in the rooms is provided daily.
The menus are well balanced and adapted to the youngsters’ needs and activities. The dietary needs of each individual are taken into consideration.

Staff

A sports director and his assistant manage the instructors, the programs, and the smooth running of the camp. Three group leaders, their “second-in-command,” and their assistants accompany the youngsters during activities organized into three independent age groups. All of the staff members (counselors, instructors, teachers, cooks, and camp and sports administrators) are dedicated young people trained for this kind of work. Most of the staff members are college graduates; they come from many nations and are fluent in both English and French. They are extremely enthusiastic and entirely committed. They give careful and effective supervision in order to direct the youngsters’ energy and make their stay safe and enjoyable.

Medical Care

To avoid injury, the participants are trained by professional instructors or sports masters in all of their sports activities. Weather conditions are monitored by experienced mountain guides, and summer skiing and snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking treks, and hiking are only allowed under good weather conditions. In the event of a medical necessity other than the basic first aid, the camp offers around-the-clock nurses and doctors, an up-to-date clinic ¼-mile from the camp, three drugstores, and a regional hospital. By car, two University hospitals are 40 minutes and 1¼ hours away, respectively (10 minutes away by helicopter). These advantages and the reputation of Swiss medical treatment guarantee the best care in all situations. Parents are encouraged to provide their own health and accident insurance; otherwise, health and accident insurance provided by the camp is required at an additional cost of $55 (SF 80) per week.

Religious Life

Arrangements for attendance at church can be made on an individual basis.

Costs

Costs for this extraordinary sports and educational program, including all living expenses, 8 hours per week of language study (in French, German, Spanish, or English), cultural excursions, and activities, are as follows: Two-week summer sessions, $3451 (SF 3540); three-week summer sessions, $5430 (SF 5570); two-week winter sessions, $3285 (SF 3370); and one-week school-group ski camps, $1070–$1415 (SF 1100–1450). These group programs include a minimum of 20 students and a maximum of 140 students. A deposit of $800 holds a student reservation; the balance must be paid prior to arrival. An additional health and accident insurance fee of $78 (SF 80) per week is required. An additional 7 hours of language study are available for $90 per week. Round-trip transportation by private bus is available to Geneva for $140 and to Martigny for $50. Personal expenses are not included. Full details are in the camp agreement, which can be obtained by request
During the winter, optional sports expenses include full skiing plus equipment at $120 per week, full snowboarding plus equipment at $136 per week, and paragliding tandem flights at $180 per flight

Transportation

The camp is located 105 miles from Geneva, 60 miles from Lausanne, 20 miles from Martigny, and 165 miles from Milan. Transportation by private bus to airports, bus stations, and trains in Geneva, Martigny, and other locations can be arranged.

Application Timetable

Applications are accepted year-round as long as session openings are available. A brochure is available on request.