Les Elfes

CP 174
CH – 1936 Verbier
(с 8 - 18 years old)

Camp locations - Verbier / Zermatt, Switzerland

Verbier, the original home of Les Elfes, is situated in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of the Swiss Alps. Directly opposite the mountain “Le Grand Combin” which rises to 4300m, Verbier’s stunning location on a south facing plateau guarantees an exceptional sunny climate in both summer and winter. In addition to a breathtaking panorama, Verbier is a cosmopolitan resort, with a variety of shopping, eating and entertainment possibilities, and deserves its reputation as one of Europe’s finest mountain destinations. With the village at 1,500m above sea level and skiing in the winter up to 3,330m, there is a guarantee of snow from December to April each year. More than 100 ultramodern ski lifts that connect the “4 Valleys” provide skiers with over 400km of freshly groomed downhill slopes to choose from each day.

Accommodation in Verbier

The two wood and stone chalets that we built in 1995 following the Swiss alpine tradition, offer charm and comfort to our guests. Both chalets are situated in peaceful surroundings, and only five minutes from the center of Verbier. The girls and boys are separated in each of the two chalets, which are completely equipped for holiday camps with:

• a welcoming reception hall permanently staffed.
• large rooms with two to four beds, and fully equipped bathrooms, radio and telephone.
• 2 large, sunny dining rooms that open onto a south-facing terrace equipped with a barbecue.
• a comfortable sitting-room with a fireplace.
• a library, games hall, cinema, music room (or discotheque), classrooms and conference rooms, internet room.
• professionally equipped kitchens in both buildings
• all equipment for indoor and outdoor games and sports (football field, basketball, volleyball and badminton courts, golf putting/driving range, trampoline, petanque area and climbing walls).

Summer Camp - Verbier, Switzerland

Activities

The camp is centered on outdoor sports activities. From this point of view, Verbier, compared to a big city, leaves nothing to be desired. Our aim is to allow the youngsters to try out new activities, with optimum safety, and to make progress in the sports they already know. The Verbier summer camp program is extremely varied and is made up of a selection of the following activities:

Beside the sports and linguistic activities, other special events (theatre, dance, etc.) and cultural visits are organized by Les Elfes. Their originality and interesting nature contribute to the students’ unforgettable memories of the camp.

• Football, volleyball, table tennis, basketball (streetball), badminton, petanque, trampoline at Les Elfes, as well as squash, tennis and minigolf.
• Golf on a course with 18 holes at an altitude of 1500 m, a private practice area and an approach (pitch & put) golf course.
• Hiking and mountain biking.
• Rock climbing & abseiling (professional mountain guides supervise these activities).
• Figure skating, ice hockey, curling.
• Swimming, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing & tubing with our boat on Lake Geneva.

Optional extra activities include taking a paragliding flight in tandem with an instructor, horse riding and summer skiing.

Private sports or language classes can also be organized upon request.

Languages

The program automatically includes 8 hours per week of language courses devoted to spoken French, German, English, or Spanish. Intensive language courses of 15 hours per week can also be selected that give more of a focus on writing and grammar. The 3 hrs of lessons per day (5 days per week) are divided into two with 2 hours devoted to grammar and writing, followed by an hour of conversation practise. There is a maximum of 7 students per class for the intensive program. The teachers are young, helpful and enthusiastic university graduates, and the students are separated into appropriate groups based on an ability test on the first day. As part of the language program the students will receive a certificate signed and graded by their teacher, and will also produce a weekly camp newspaper.

Verbier is located in a French speaking area of Switzerland, and French is widely spoken in and around the camp. However, being an international camp, English is the second language spoken in the camp and during their stay at Les Elfes, students will be able to practice the language of their choice with their friends, which is surely one of the most natural ways to any language.

Special events and excursions

Elves are naturally curious, with a desire to explore, so during their stay they also spend a weekend in a cabin on a mountain pasture and sleep in dormitories… fun guaranteed! Once a week the students can also go on an excursion to visit famous Swiss cities such as:

Lausanne

Its Olympic museum, the old town of Ouchy.

Geneva

The old town, the Botanical Garden, the United Nations.

Bern

Gruyere

Visit to the cheese dairy and chocolate factory.

Montreux

Chateau de Chillon.