Know Before You Go: Switzerland Summer Camps

Summer camp or Europe trip… why not both? This summer, we spent a month abroad with the kids attending camp for two weeks at a Swiss alpine school (a week at day camp + a week at boarding camp). The kids loved their camp experience — French immersion, outdoor/adventure activities, cultural field trips and excursions, new friends from around the world — and are already begging to return. The school and camp experience exceeded all our expectations.

And we loved feeling like we were living abroad — in the Swiss Alps! — as a family for a few weeks with a bonus week to travel around Europe sans kids.

Why we chose summer camp in Switzerland:

World-renowned schools
Pleasant summer climate and lots of outdoor pursuits
Holistic camp experience — language/culture immersion, fun activities and campers from around the world
Central location for exploring Europe
Flexibility of camp options — day/boarding/hybrid

Considering summer camp abroad? If so, here are some things to know about Swiss summer camps and why you should be planning now for next summer.

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CAMP OVERVIEW

Many Swiss summer camps are offered by boarding schools and other reputable, accredited organizations (ski schools, etc.). Some camps are open to kids age 3+ (even boarding) but most are designed for ages 8+. Programs vary but often consist of foreign language or other academic instruction in the morning with outdoor, adventure, and cultural activities in the afternoon, including daily field trips and excursions (think: horseback riding, catamaran sailing, cooking lessons, museums, amusement parks, etc.).

There are generally two types of camp: residential camp and non-residential camp.

Residential camp

Also called boarding camp, residential camps are typically held for a minimum of 1-2 weeks overnight with Saturday arrivals and departures, with some kids attending for up to 4-5 consecutive weeks. When kids attend residential camp, the camp provides not just learning, programming, and activities, but also room, board, laundry, and transportation.

Non-residential camp

Also known as day camp, non-residential camps are designed for local children and children staying with their families while attending camp. These typically run Monday - Friday from around 9am-6pm. Day campers usually participate in the exact same activities as residential campers, except for evenings and weekends.

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TYPICAL DAY OF CAMP

We chose a two-week hybrid summer camp program where the kids spent their first week at day camp followed by a week of boarding camp at the same Swiss alpine school.

Here is what our typical day looked like while kids attended “day camp”.

7:30am

Wake up, breakfast, get ready

8:45am

Camp drop off (school bus stop 3 minutes from chalet)

9:00am-5:30pm

Kids’ Day - Morning at school focused on French instruction/immersion + afternoon excursions (horseback riding, adventure parks, catamaran sailing, local museum visits)

6:00pm

Camp pick up (same bus stop as drop off)

6:30pm

Family dinner

8:00pm

Laundry, baths/showers, kids’ bedtime routine

9:30pm

Watch the sunset over the mountains from the terrace (adults), bedtime

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KEY CONSIDERATIONS & TIPS

Camp tuition and fees

Tuitions vary widely and fees are not “apples to apples.” Note which costs are included and which are extra when comparing fees as the extras can add up to substantial costs.

Day camps hosted by ski schools typically start around 500 CHF per week.

Day camps hosted by boarding schools typically start at around 1600 CHF per week.

Overnight camps hosted by boarding schools typically start at around 3500 CHF per week (typically with a two-week minimum stay, though not always).

Arrival/departure transportation

Transportation is often included from/to the nearest international airport to the school for boarding camp, and from/to designated bus/shuttle stops for day camp. Some day camps even offer hotel drop off/pickup.

Family accommodations

Ask the camp administrator for recommended nearby accommodations or search the local tourism office’s website for accommodations bookings. We saved 20% on a chalet apartment booking this way versus booking through Airbnb. Some schools also have preferred rates with local hotels.

Registration and admissions

Registration opens in October for most summer camps. Contact administrators and ask to be notified when camp schedules are published. Administrators are also helpful if you have questions or would like additional insights on the camp experience.

Language

While English is widely spoken across Switzerland, the primary language — French, German, or Italian — of each camp varies by canton. If you have a preferred language, look for a camp based in a region where that is the primary language.

Choosing a Camp

It is important to do your own research on potential camps to understand ratings, reviews, how long a camp/school has been in operation, and get a sense of whether the program/school will be a fit for your child. Here are some questions to consider as you gather information on prospective camps.

Would you prefer to have a camp based in a city, village, or rural setting? School settings for camp vary widely: do you envision the camp experience for your child — and where your family will be staying if selecting day camp — to be more rural, more urban, or somewhere in between?

Would you prefer a smaller “family feel” or a larger camp experience? Ask the camp administrators how many campers typically attend each summer overall and specifically for the age group of your child.

How important is the camp’s reputation/prestige? Most Swiss summer camps are hosted by boarding schools, many of which are among the world’s oldest and best (not to mention most expensive) academic institutions, according to global rankings, or are affiliated with international schools (Nord Anglia, American Schools, etc.). Some of these schools’ competitive admissions processes can even extend to summer camps with applications and reference letters required for prospective campers. While summer camp is not the same as year-round schooling, the feel of the school experience is likely to be similar so be sure to do your research and connect with the camp administrator to understand whether the school is likely to be a good fit for your family. And if this type of environment does not seem like a good fit for your child, check out the ski school-based camps or smaller, family-run schools.

Are you interested in having your kids attend camp at the same place every summer? If so, ask the camp administrator what percentage of campers last summer were return campers. This can also be a good indicator of overall camper satisfaction.

Is foreign language/academic instruction a key driver for wanting your child to attend camp abroad? If so, a boarding school-based camp may be a good fit. If not, a ski school or traditional summer camp could offer similar outdoor and adventure activities with substantial cost savings over a boarding school camp.

What age mix of kids is the right fit for your child? Ask the camp administrator about the typical age mix of summer campers to understand how many other similar-age kids are likely to attend, as well as whether the campers tend to skew older or younger than your child.

Would you prefer your child attend a camp with more or fewer native English speakers? Ask the camp administrator to share camper home country demographics and roughly what percentage of campers are native English speakers to understand if the program will align with your preferences for language and cultural immersion.

Would you like to visit prospective camps? If so, school-based camps are happy to arrange visits with prospective campers. Campus tours are a great way to get a feel for the school environment, values in action, and the local area if you have not visited the area before.

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SELECT SUMMER CAMPS BY REGION

Looking for Swiss summer camp ideas? Below is a list of select camps by region from school review sites and local tourism offices (note: camps/links listed below are provided for informational purposes only and are not vetted or endorsed by Petit Passeport Editors).

Aiglon College (Villars-sur-Ollon)

Collège Alpin Beau Soleil (Villars-sur-Ollon)

La Garenne International School (Villars-sur-Ollon)

Préfleuri International Alpine School (Villars-sur-Ollon)

Swiss Ski School Villars (Villars-sur-Ollon)

Villars Ski School (Villars-sur-Ollon)

VALAIS SUMMER CAMPS

Le Régent International School (Crans-Montana)

Les Elfes International Camps (Verbier)

Camp Suisse (Les Crosets)

Awesome Summer Camp (Zermatt)

SWISS SUMMER CAMPS - MORE LOCATIONS

Institut auf dem Rosenberg (St. Gallen)

Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz (near St. Moritz)

Institut Montana Zugerberg (Zug)

TASIS - The American School in Switzerland (Lugano)

Swiss Ski School (multiple locations)

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PACKING ESSENTIALS

Camps typically provide comprehensive packing lists to families in advance and will often provide campers with uniforms on arrival. If your child is attending boarding camp, daily laundry service is usually included so you might not need to pack as many items as the camp recommends to save on packing space.

In addition to moisture-wicking, breathable top layers and bottoms and all the basics kids would normally need for vacations, essential items to pack for camp include:

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Trail Shoes

A must for kids and adults alike — On, a Swiss brand, was the favorite on the trails.

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Swim Gear

Get ready for lake days, pool days and waterpark excursions.

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Sun Hat

Even when it’s cool, the sun is no joke here — a good sun hat is a must. The most popular hat we saw among Swiss hikers? A New York Yankees ballcap (go figure).

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Sun Care

A pre-filled sunscreen applicator will help make mornings of day camp a breeze.

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Hiking Backpack

For all manner of outdoor and summer camp adventures.

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Water Bottle

Be active. Stay hydrated.

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Wind/rain jacket

Be prepared for rainy days, windy catamaran sailing days, or cool mountain excursions.

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Great camp basics

Our kids wore Primary Activewear in FlexKnit and StayCool tops, bottoms and layers every day of summer camp — this brand was the MVP of the trip.

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Buy on Primary*

*Referral link for 25% off first order and a year of free shipping

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First Aid

For the “ouch” and “oops” moments that can happen on adventures outside of camp time. Plus, Switzerland has tons of wildflowers which means tons of bees (our oldest was stung by two bees in one week).