Camp Journal - Leysin, Switzerland

30 July, 2008

When campers register for the very popular Multi-Activity Camp at Village Camps, Switzerland,  they are asked to pick one of three "clubs" that would be the focus of their stay at camp.  The three clubs are Outdoor Adventure Club, Sports Club, and Dance Club.  This way campers could concentrate on their favorite type of activities every morning,  while still enjoying access to a wide variety of other afternoon activities for a well rounded, fun holiday.  Today we will put the spotlight on the Dance Club.

The Dance Club is under the very able direction of Lisa.  Dance club offers a chance for campers to create, rehearse and ultimately perform various numbers and shows during camp.  The dance club always gives a special performance on “Prom Night” (the last night of camp).

 

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This evening the cave was transformed into a casino and the Blue campers became the customers. 

Casino Night is one of the traditions at Village Camps, Switzerland.  Lots of games and lots of fun.  Campers were given a supply of Village Camps "money" to use in playing the games.  The counsellors served as the dealers, croupiers, etc. and had as much fun as the campers. 

There was a chance to play roulette, or blackjack, bingo or a number of other "games of chance."  The object, of course, was to win as much money as possible but there aren't many places where you can spend your winnings and the exchange rate is something fierce - but no one cares about that, the real goal was to have fun and that goal was met just like a Royal Flush will win at poker.

 

 Click on the link below to see photos for 30 July, 2008

  Gallery Folder 30 July, 2008

 29 July, 2008

Another busy day at Village Camps, Switzerland.  There are two stories below, one on the Health Centre and one on the Camper's Bank -- two very important places.

If your camper has medicine that is supposed to be taken at a certain time -- one of the health centre staff sees that happens.  They are also there for cuts and bruises and even for homesickness. 

The bank keeps the camper's money safe and lets them draw out enough every day to handle expenses in the tuck shop or on excursions.

The photo gallery today has some pictures of Archery and Volleyball and of a campfire with the ever present Banana Boats.  If you've not heard of these they are a banana cut open and stuffed with chocolate, wrapped in foil and placed on the fire. They are decadent, sloppy, and really good.

The Arts and Crafts section was having a session on "face painting."  There is a separate gallery on this activity below.

Hope your day has been as good as ours has been.

Every camper at Village Camps, Switzerland is lucky enough to have a Numbered Swiss Bank Account.

Wendy is the camp banker and she is one of the people that gets to meet and interact with every one of the campers. When campers first arrive at camp they meet Wendy and they deposit their spending money with her. Wendy changes the money from whatever currency they use at home to Swiss Francs and she keeps the money safe for them.

  

The bank is open every day from 12 to 1:30 and, usually, extra hours before an excursion. This way campers can just draw the amount of money they need for places like the tuck shop or little trips to the village or larger amounts for a Saturday excursion (which always includes SHOPPING).  Language classes occasionally come as a group with their teacher and the campers then have to give their bank number, name, and the amount of money they want using the language they are studying - either English or French.

Every Village Camps site has a well equipped Health Centre on campus, staffed by well qualified personnel. At Village Camps Switzerland we have two people working at the centre, Erin (from Nashville, Tennessee) and Carla (from Milverton, Ontario)

  

On Arrival Day, every camper makes a visit to the health centre desk and leaves off a completed health form.  If the camper is taking any medicines, these are left with the health centre and someone sees that the medicine is taken at the proper time.  In addition to this duty they also handle minor cuts and bruises, colds, upset stomachs, and even homesickness. The health centre is open on set hours for campers to visit and one of the staff is always "on-call."  There is also a local doctor on call in case of any emergency.

   Click on the links below to see photos for July 29, 2008

   Gallery Folder 29 July, 2008

   Gallery Folder (Face Painting)

 






28 July, 2008

There was a scavenger hunt to find a number of things in the village

There was a game called Blue Meanies were the campers were dressed in outlandish costumes and the campers had to find them and get them to sign their name -- but there was also another group of counsellors dressed in blue who tried to keep the campers from finding the others -- hence the name Blue Meanies.

There was even a Murder Mystery -- the campers are given the "plot" and introduced to a number of suspects (counsellors).  The campers have to question the suspects and then see if they can deduce the bad guy or girl.

Along with that, of course, were the English and French classes -- tennis instruction -- and the multi-activitiy clubs (Adventure Club - Sports Club - Dance Club).

I've listed the numbers for the various programmes in the story below -- and, of course, there is a photo gallery following that.

Remember - if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours!

Today is the first full day of Session Three and we have 178 campers registered for this session of Village Camps Switzerland.  The numbers in the following paragraphs indicate the number for each of the programmes at the Leysin camp.

The morning group of tennis campers (21)  had an early breakfast and were off to the courts ready to begin the process that may lead to Wimbledon's famous Centre Court some day.  The second group of tennis campers - those that are also enrolled in a language program (34) will leave for the courts right after lunch.

The language teachers have formed classes based on their interviews with campers during arrival day.  As is usually the case, the largest single group of students are enrolled in the English (61) and French (32) language programmes - the Village Camps approach to learning languages has been well tested and is very successful.

The Junior Camp (13) are housed in a separate wing of our camp residence and are ready to start with lots of fun activities designed especially for that age level. 

The Multi-Activity group has signed up for their special group - dance (7), adventure (24), or sports (18) and are ready to begin an exciting and active two weeks.

          

Once again -- Village Camps, Switzerland is a very, very busy place

-- and that's how we like it.

  Click on the link below to see photos for 28 July, 2008

  Gallery Folder 28 July, 2008

27 July, 2008

Very busy day today --campers arriving throughout the day -- many by automobile with their parents and many others came through the Geneva Airport and then escorted by counsellors on the Swiss train system to Aigle and then on the Aigle-Leysin cog railway all the way to the Grand Hotel stop just outside the back door to our building.  Mr. Phil and his happy crew are a great welcoming note to Village Camps

There are lots of things to do on registration day -- and one of the busy tables is the Arts & Crafts table with campers making their own name tags.

 

Have a wonderful day -- and do come back and visit us regularly.

A Message From The Camp Director,

Today is arrival day for Session Three of Village Camps, Switzerland.  We have 172 campers this session.  Like all sessions, our campers come from all over the world.

When campers first arrive at our campus in Leysin they are greeted by counsellors and directed to the Grand Salon where tables are set up for campers and parents to complete the registration process.

They visit the Health Center station and leave any necessary medicines under the care of the camp nurses, language campers meet with a language teacher for an interview to help place them in the proper level of instruction and campers visit the Bank and deposit spending money with Wendy -- they can make withdrawals every day for spending money for the day and for excursions later on in the session.

 

All the counsellors, teachers, and other staff have worked hard getting the building ready for another group and we are all looking forward to another fun-filled, very active two weeks.  I hope you will follow the activities of our camp on this web site. 

Joe Rikley, Camp Director

  Click on the link below to see photos for 27 July, 2008

   Gallery Folder 27 July, 2008

July 26, 2008

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