Switzerland, Swiss private schools, like probably everything Swiss, are associated in Ukraine with wealth, elitism, and inaccessibility. It seems an ideal place for education and upbringing of children. In principle, this is true.
Most Swiss schools are located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, which has a special charm and ease. While the German-speaking part is characterized by businesslike efficiency and strictness. This, by the way, is reflected in the atmosphere at schools — they teach etiquette and the ability to behave in polite society well here. For example, at the elite school Institut auf dem Rosenberg (German part, town of St. Gallen), future diplomats and government officials are educated. There are also special schools that prepare real ladies. Here are also the famous Swiss finishing schools.
Regularly, students go on educational trips to another city or country. In physical education classes, they ski, ice skate, bike, swim in the pool, sail, and climb mountains. Unlike many British schools, Swiss boarding schools have more comfortable accommodation and excellent food.
Swiss educational institutions have another undeniable advantage — foreign languages. Each student learns several (at least two) and, as practice shows, masters them well. Add to this clean air, beautiful nature, good climate, and you get that there is no better place for your child. Only one “but”: the “best place” is expensive.
It is on the basis of elite private boarding schools that children's holiday programs are organized, among which it is worth noting the programs of the school Institut auf dem Rosenberg (Arosa, Lenk, St. Gallen), Institut Monte Rosa (Montreux), TASIS (Montagnola – Lugano), College du Leman (Geneva), American School in Leysin (Leysin), College International Brillantmont (Lausanne) and others. There are programs created by elite Swiss closed sports-type camps, among them Les Elfes (Verbier), International Summer Camp Montana (Crans-Montana), Village Camps (Leysin). Such programs devote less time to language (5-8 hours per week) and more attention to leisure, various sports, classes in clubs and sections for various arts and crafts, and excursion programs.
One of the best is considered the international children's camp Les Elfes (founded in 1987). The camp is located in Verbier, a famous ski resort in the center of Switzerland. The summer and winter school Les Elfes annually welcomes children aged 8-18 from around the world to learn foreign languages and to have active holidays in the Swiss Alps. Les Elfes offers study of English, French, Spanish, and German: 8 hours per week (standard course) or 15 hours per week (intensive course). Lessons are conducted by experienced teachers focusing on conversational language and communication. Children are taught in groups of 5-7 according to the results of preliminary testing. Upon completion, a certificate confirming the level of foreign language proficiency is issued.
The camp organizes weekly excursions around Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Gruyères, and Montreux). In the evenings, children are organized with joint games, cinema, discos, and amateur theater.
The camp has two chalets (wooden and stone buildings) in a typical Swiss style. They are located in a quiet, green area. The chalets are specially built for spring-summer and winter camps and are in a calm, green zone 5 minutes from the city center. The camp staff, as well as the entire infrastructure, are perfectly suited for sports, cultural, and entertainment activities for children from 8 to 18 years old.
Students live in two- to four-bed rooms equipped with bathrooms, radios, and telephones. There is a large reception area, two dining rooms separated by a living room. Typically, such rooms have gas fireplaces, and there is a reading room. There are also classrooms, a cinema room (video, movies), and game rooms.
The camp's work is aimed at developing the child's ability to work in a team and fostering self-confidence. All activities with children are their personal choice. Sports activities are mostly outdoors. Children engage in horseback riding, golf, swimming, tennis, water skiing, mountain climbing, and paragliding down mountain slopes. Here they can improve already mastered sports and get acquainted with new ones.
The summer camp starts on June 9, and the last arrival is July 27. Arrivals are possible for two or three weeks.
In this beautiful mountain village, you can get acquainted with local culture, folk music, agriculture, and cheese-making. A large number of restaurants, sunny terraces, shops, boutiques, a sports center, a snow garden for children, and much more. Here you are guaranteed a wonderful holiday!
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