Two to four weeks of learning and activity in the glorious Swiss Alps would be the making of any child, and excellent all-rounder Les Elfes is very much up to the task. This frontrunner on the international camp circuit operates in Verbier year round for children aged six to 17. Founded in 1987 and still run by Nicole and Philippe Stettler, it started with just one two-bedroomed chalet welcoming 100 students a year. More than 30 years on, over 5,000 students, including school groups, flock to Les Elfes – though camps are kept to a reasonable 140 at a time.
Les Elfes’ motto – ‘Learning through Adventure’ – pretty much says it all. Its ethos of personal development through education and action is reflected in the diversity of its course offerings. In addition to morning language lessons in English, French, German, Spanish and Mandarin, there are enrichment workshops ranging from art, cooking, theatre and leadership to etiquette and first-aid training. Classes are kept to a maximum of seven pupils, so the learning is targeted, precise and engaging.
Afternoons are bursting with adrenaline-inducing fun. The 40+ outdoor adventures and activities in the mountains and on Lake Geneva include hiking, cycling, swimming, tubing, paddle sports and rock climbing. An excursion might include a mountain hike – led by professional mountaineers – and an overnight stay in a hut. On International Day, students devise and give presentations about their home country to boost their public-speaking skills. Bright and busy days end on a more relaxed note with barbecues, songs around the campfire, casino nights, mini-golf and table tennis.
The summer programmes run for a minimum of two or three weeks (though some campers stay for four) and are divided by age range. Extra care is taken to ensure the happiness and wellbeing of the little ones, who are often away from home for the first time. Whether it is monitoring teeth-brushing or sorting their laundry, the exemplary pastoral care is 24/7. The Discovery Star Chart is a brilliant award system that encourages the youngest children to pull together by earning and collecting stars for their teams.
The 11- to 14-year-olds, known as Explorers, make up 50 per cent of the camp and have a super mix of outdoor activities and lessons designed to foster independence. The morning language-study sessions segue into challenging adventures in the afternoons, be it rock climbing, tubing, tennis or competing in the Mini Olympics. There is a red- and green-card system for older campers, which (if parents agree) allows those aged over 13 to visit the village with friends at specified times.
Pioneers, the most senior campers (aged 15 to 17), are encouraged to push the boundaries and rise to new challenges, whether that’s in the classroom or on a zip wire. The leadership training course teaches management skills, goal setting and time management, while public-speaking and team-building exercises promote self-esteem and personal development. What better preparation could there be for those going off to university?
The Verbier campus consists of two chalets, one for girls and the other for boys, with a total of 146 beds. Each ensuite room can sleep up to four children of a similar age and care is taken to distribute nationalities – no more than 10 per cent of the camp may come from the same country. Though Verbier is located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, the primary language spoken is English. Of the staff, 70 per cent speak fluent English, 20 per cent are French-speakers, and 10 per cent are from around the world and speak Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian or Arabic.
Whether it is for two weeks or 10, learning life’s lessons could not be more fun than at Les Elfes. Every parent we spoke to said they would happily trade places with their child in a heartbeat.