Les Elfes

From beginning of June until the end of August, Les Elfes offers several summer camp sessions, usually from 2 to 4 weeks long.

Les Elfes ensures active participation, a very broad choice of exciting activities and a high degree of learning in a fun and very international environment, all by guaranteeing maximum safety through our caring & experienced staff.

Campers will return home with great experiences, fantastic memories and lifelong friendships.

At Les Elfes we allow the young adults to express their individuality within a truly international circle. Each summer, children and teenagers come from over 50 different countries to have an unforgettable holiday.

Our Campers attend language classes in the mornings and participate in group activities & sports during the afternoons.

Each program is based on the classical success elements of Les Elfes:

Language Courses:

• 8 hours per week of compulsory language lessons are included in the price, with lessons in French, English, Spanish or German (intensive language courses 15h per week are also available). Language lessons are offered in collaboration with the Verbier Language School

Sports & Activities:

• Discover and practice lots of different sports to be chosen from over 40 daily offered activities, such as mountain biking, tennis, Golf, rock climbing, paragliding, wakeboarding and many more

Excursions:

• Excursions to Bern, Lausanne, Geneva (United Nations & Old Town), a cheese and a chocolate factory, Montreux (Chillon Castle) and Vevey are organized in order to provide to the children all the best Switzerland has to offer.

Arts Club:

• In addition, our campers can choose between several clubs, which they will attend during the session. At the end of the session we all join together and present what we learnt! Les Elfes proposes different clubs to choose: Arts & Crafts, Dance Academy, Hollywood, Mountain Orienteering, Music Video, Photography, Rockstar, Tapas.

International Community:

Meet friends from all corners of the world. Trough out each year, there is a mix of over 50 different nationalities present at Les Elfes.

We are pleased to have heard from many campers that they have found lifelong friendships and have built international networks for their future.

At Les Elfes we have students from all over the world. Within this international community we feel it is beneficial to recognize the traditions of each other. It not only gives students the opportunity to celebrate their nation or beliefs, but allows them to bring a little piece of home into the camp. Also students from other parts of the world will learn and hopefully appreciate the cultures of others. The fabrics of society are made up of many different cultures, and here at Les Elfes we constantly strive to recognize them all, and if it means cooking some traditional dishes, or decorating the chalets accordingly, then we are more than happy to encourage students to do so and will help them along the way.

DAILY SCHEDULE:

On top of this regular daily schedule: Excursion + Special Days / Activities

• 07:30: Wake-up
• 08:30: Breakfast
• 09:30: Language Lessons
• 11:00: Optionnal activities
• 12:00: Lunch
• 13:00: Sports activities
• 17:00: Free time
• 19:00: Dinner
• 20:00: Evening Games

Detailed Programme:

Discovery Camp is designed specifically for our youngest campers aged 7-11 and provides an ideal first camp experience. With sensitive guidance of our experienced staff, kids will make a big step forward and discover new exciting sports and Swiss attractions while making new friends in a very international environment. For our discovers, Les Elfes hires specialized & trained staff, which can perfectly care for the wellbeing and the needs of this age group.

Choice of Activities & Sports This camp involves a lot of games, arts & crafts and offers a broad choice of age-appropriate sports and activities, such as Banana Boating, team sports, swimming, tennis, nature hiking, ice skating, rock climbing, trampoline and much, much, more.

Excursions Excursions are organized to discover the exciting region and environment of Verbier and its surroundings; kids will see the St. Bernhard dogs, visit a Swiss chocolate factory, tour through amazing attraction parks close by, sleepover in a mystic mountain hut and see one of Switzerland’s oldest water castles. For our discoverers we keep distances and driving at a very low level.

Explorer Camp is designed specifically for our more, but still intermediately experienced campers aged 12-14. Activities are age adapted and become more challenging. Excursions include the neighboring cantons in Switzerland. Get wild in Swiss wilderness!!

Choice of Activities & sports Explorers have plenty of activities to choose from: the famous Ropes Course in Aigle, Lake Geneva (Tubing, Kayaking, and Paddling), Mountain Bike Tour, Paragliding, Golf, Tennis, Ice Skating and much more.

Excursions Great excursions to explore the Valais and its neighbor- ing cantons are offered: Aqua Parc & Lake Beach Party, Bonatchiesse Tipis sleepover, Mauvoisin Dam, Visit to Evian (where the famous water comes from), Boat Trip, Lausanne & the Olympic Museum, Bern, Chocolate Factory.

Leadership Training Les Elfes offers an exclusive one-day leadership training. We work with highly professional experts who developed a unique and fun-based Leadership Training. Our campers will gain valuable practical skills, such as goal setting, presentation skills, group dynamics and the essence of time management, which will be discussed and experienced during interactive presentations, great role-plays and exciting fun-filled games.

Pioneers are our most experienced campers aged 15-17. As the oldest campers at Les Elfes, Pioneers serve as role models and have certain privileges like receiving a green card in order to go to village without a monitor during free time. Pioneer Camp is a great opportunity to socialize and make many friends from around the globe.

Choice of Activities & sports Activities become more competitive and challenging and can include the Lac des Vaux Hike, More water activities (like Kayaking, Paddling, Wake-Boarding, Sailing), Trottinettes, Leadership Training, Orienteering & Map Reading, bridge swinging, the Mont Fort experience and of course can choose from all sports like tennis, golf, horseback riding, etc.

Career Orientation training Pioneers can complete a one day initiation on career orientation with experts. Based on an interactive method, the students will discover their talents, interests and management styles and how to apply these elements in their professional orientation. Each student receives a motivation profile and his personal talent definition.

Pioneers go on full day excursions, will experience Wilderness Camping in Val de Bagnes and visit Geneva’s Old Town & United Nations, visit Aosta in Italy, see the the famous French mountain town of Chamonix and enjoy the amazing view from the Mont Blanc, the highest mountain of the Alps.

About us

We offer residential summer, winter & spring camps in the Swiss Alps.

CAMP DATES

1st of December till 31st of August

Welcome to Les Elfes International in Verbier, Switzerland.

We offer residential summer, winter & spring camps in the Swiss Alps.

During Summer, we have 2, 3 and 4 week-sessions and our surroundings offer the perfect setting for a summer in the mountain.

Camp experience for ages 7-18. Our warm and diverse international camp community makes people feel at home.

We offer exciting programs in our camps: during summer we propose over 40 activities, sports, art, music, drama, cooking, all combined with language lessons and cultural excursions, as well as wilderness adventure trips. During winter we propose ski or snowboard lessons from very beginner to advanced level while during Spring Camp our campers have the opportunity to mix winter activities including glacier skiing with summer activities.

Holidays at Les Elfes will open your heart and mind to show you how magical life can be.

HISTORY

Since 1987, Les Elfes International has provided children and teenagers from around the world with holidays that combine the discovery and the practice of new exciting sports with learning and perfecting languages (French, Spanish, German, and English).

Children and teenagers 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 great memories of their holidays, whether in summer or winter.

Les Elfes is the only camp to welcome children from 1st December until 31st August.

1987: Les Elfes has been operating since 1987 and the resort of Verbier, known worldwide, became the main base of Les Elfes.

1995: Construction of our own campus with its 140 beds and sports fields in 1995.

2000: Five years later in 2000, Les Elfes opened new campuses in Crans-Montana with 50 beds. To keep up with growth, Les Elfes has bought a new camp in La Tzoumaz (also known as Verbier North) with a new 60-bed building.

Taking all these camps together, Les Elfes has a total capacity of 250 beds for students during each camp season (Spring, Summer and Winter).

In 1987, we welcomed 500 students per year, and now we are delighted to welcome over 5000 campers from over 50 nations per year as well as around 200 International schools that take part in one of the numerous programs offered by Les Elfes.

The head office is located in Verbier outside the main campus and Les Elfes employs a total of 100 staff working in different fields, especially during Summer.

Winter Camp Fees Structure

Winter Camp: Application Form & Fees 2016-2017

Spring Camp Fees Structure

Spring Camp: Application Form & Fees 2016-2017

Summer Camp Fees Structure

Summer Camp: Application Form & Fees 2016-2017

LOCATION

Verbier, the original home of Les Elfes, is situated in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of the Swiss Alps. Verbier is one of the most famous ski resort in Europe with over 450km of safe skiing slopes. Directly opposite Le Grand Combin which rises to 4300m, Verbier’s stunning location on a south facing plateau guarantees an exceptionally sunny climate.

Verbier, set in a breathtaking panorama, is one of the most famous resorts in Europe and offers the best in sporting and leisure activities all year round in a cosmopolitan and relaxed atmosphere. The domain comprises more than 450 km of skiing and 3300 meters and has more than 100 ski lifts connecting the four valleys. The high altitude guarantees that there will be snow from December to April. Verbier also has many shops and restaurants, from the most informal to the most sophisticated.

Verbier is in the French part of Switzerland, 1 hour and 45 minutes from Geneva, 2 hours and 45 minutes from Zürich and 30 minutes from the Italian and French borders.

• Les Elfes Verbier
• Chemin du Cli 7-9
• 1936 Verbier
• Switzerland

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL AWARD

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award, bringing together practical experiences and life skills to equip young people for life.

For young people between 14 and 24 years old, Challenge yourself

Since it was founded in 1956 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh (husband to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom), over eight million young people have participated in the Award in over 140 countries and territories. Schools, colleges, universities, employers, social clubs, youth organisations such as the Scouts, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, young offenders’ instituitions, religious organisations, sports clubs and more all run the Award.

The Award is voluntary, non-competitive, enjoyable and balanced, and requires effort over time. There are three levels to the Award: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Young people design their own Award programme, set their own goals and record their own progress. They choose a Service, Physical Recreation, Skills activity, go on an Adventurous Journey and, to achieve a Gold Award, take part in a residential project. The only person they compete against is themselves, by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve.

With assistance from adult Leaders, participants select and set objectives in each of the following areas:

• Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community. • Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities. • Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests. • Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad. • At Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section

Snow & Summer Sports In Switzerland

From end of April until end of May, Les Elfes offers a special Spring Camp in Zermatt and Verbier. In a two week session, the Spring Camp gives our campers the opportunity to mix winter activities including glacier skiing with summer activities.

The regular sessions are a 2 weeks camp: 1 week of Ski on the Matterhorn and 1 week of Summer Sports in Verbier. (1 week camp is also possible)

Ski On The Matterhorn

In one of the two weeks, campers will learn or improve skiing or snowboarding at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn, where spring / summer skiing is possible on everlasting snow at an altitude between 2.900 and 3.900 meters.

Our ski and snowboard instructors teach all ability levels, from complete beginners, who have never seen snow before in their lives to advanced skiers. During this week, we ensure a very strong progress!

No Language Lessons in Zermatt

8 hours per week of language lessons are included during the week in Verbier.

Lessons in French, English, Spanish or German. Language lessons are offered in collaboration with the Verbier Language School

The week in Zermatt is focused on snow sports. Ski and Snowboard lessons in Zermatt, the ski resort of the majestic Matterhorn.

Excursions to Bern, Lausanne, Geneva (United Nations & Old Town), a cheese and a chocolate factory, Montreux (Chillon Castle) and Vevey are organized in order to provide to our campers all the best Switzerland has to offer.

Summer Sports In Verbier

The week in Verbier is mainly focused on summer camp activities, such as tennis, swimming, water skiing, basketball, rock climbing, bridge swinging, horseback riding and many more. Language classes and cultural & sightseeing excursions are also part of the program.

8 hours per week of language lessons are included (only in Verbier). Lessons in French, English, Spanish or German. Language lessons are offered in collaboration with the Verbier Language School

The week in Verbier is focused on summer camp activities, such as tennis, swimming, water skiing, basketball, rock climbing, bridge swinging, horseback riding and many more.

Excursions to Bern, Lausanne, Geneva (United Nations & Old Town), a cheese and a chocolate factory, Montreux (Chillon Castle) and Vevey are organized in order to provide to our campers all the best Switzerland has to offer.

From the beginning of May until the end of October, Les Elfes offers 7 different field trips to its privately owned campus in la Tzoumaz (Verbier-North).

Our portfolio ranges from our classical Les Elfes programs, to languages, geography & geology, Swiss Wilderness trips, cultural excursions and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.

On top of this, we can specially design any kind of trip including team building, CAS components, creativity, action, or charity service.

• In the Swiss Alps
• From May to October
• Students aged 8-18 years old
• Private Swiss Chalet Accommodations

Overview

• Accommodation in Swiss style chalet 2 to 6 bedded rooms most of them with private bathroom, girls and boys separated by floor
• 7 days full-board with 4 meals and drinks
• Transfer Geneva, resort, Geneva
• Pre-departure assistance and research on special interests, including advice on travel options and curricular priorities (language, art, geography, arts & crafts, design & technology)
• Full supervision by our professional staff (ration 1 staff / 5 children)
• Cultural Excursions
• Multi activities programme (Rock-climbing, mountain bike, hiking, team sports, swimming, etc.)
• Use of all material and equipment provided by Les Elfes
• Language courses
• Evening activities (BBQ in the mountain, Disco, Team building games, etc.)

Why Choose Les Elfes?

• Our campus is supervised by a resort manager & an activity manager
• Specially trained and very experienced staff for supervising all activities
• We work closely with Mountain Guides and experts in the fields of Geography, Languages, Design & Technology, etc.
• All staff take a 2 week technical training course before each season
• Staff student ratio of 1 / 5
• 24h nurse and night guard on campus
• State of the art clinics close by and easy access to 2 university hospitals

Details

We offer field trips from the end of April until the end of October

We are fully flexible in terms of length and dates. However, a standard program will usually run 7 days

All programs can be customized regarding dates, length, activities and excursions.

Les Elfes Camps offer large buffet breakfasts and varied lunches and dinners designed to satisfy all students based on our experience with camps and student travel programmes since 1987.

Meals are prepared with fresh products and the wide-ranging international menus are well balanced and tailored to the youngsters’ needs, requirements and wishes.

Together the chefs and their teams prepare a variety of meals that also cater for the special needs of each individual (e.g. Vegetarian diet, European diet, Religious diet, etc).