In all, 124 young people from 33 countries attended this year’s summer camps organised by the Youth Service of the Association of the Swiss Abroad. They were rich in experiences that will make lasting memories.
This year’s camping season kicked off with two camps, both of which began on 8 July 2023. Forty participants assembled at Château-d’Œx to do sport, enjoy leisure time together and improve their language skills. There were German and French classes four mornings a week. The young people also enjoyed trips to the Pays-d’Enhaut region. There were a number of hikes scheduled and one of the two-day hikes included sleeping in self-made tents or under the stars. The group also went to Lausanne, where they explored the city with a secret Mr X.
The second camp, held at the same time as the first one, was the first of two “Swiss Challenge” camps. The 24-strong group began their adventure in Savognin. They enjoyed the wonderful Grisons Alpine views and saw glaciers. The journey continued to Bellinzona, with a visit to Verzasca Valley. On their way to the next place, the group stopped in Lucerne and discovered the city on the lake that shares its name, with a photo orienteering expedition. The next stop was Uetendorf, where they again enjoyed the nearby mountains, this time in the Bernese Oberland. The group also managed to fit in a trip to the capital city Berne. The last stop was in Lausanne. Camping on the shores of Lake Geneva provided a fitting end to their tour of Switzerland.
The third camp followed close on the heels of the first two. On 22 July 2023, 36 young people travelled to the Bernese Oberland to spend two weeks at Gsteig, near Gstaad. Here too, the youngsters were able to try out all kinds of sports: orienteering, hiking, frisbee, volleyball, football, mini golf and swimming. Trips to Thun and Montreux also featured on the programme.
The last camp of the summer season – “Swiss Challenge” number two – began on 5 August in Basel. On the way to Lausanne, the second stop, the 24-strong group went to Berne to see the Federal Palace. They even took a seat in the venerable chamber of the Council of States, where politicians make the important decisions. In Lausanne, the highlight was a visit to the Olympic Museum. On the way to Bellwald, the group saw the subterranean lake in St Léonard. The next days were spent deep in the Valais mountains, with a visit to the Aletsch Glacier and a perfect starry night for the many shooting stars, the Perseids, that were expected. Following a few wonderful days in the mountains, the group journeyed to Ticino, where their camp location was in Losone, the ideal place to enjoy the beautiful bathing weather in Switzerland’s sunniest corner. The last destination was St. Gallen, for more activities including mini golf and a water park visit. And just like that the camp was over as the new friends bade each other goodbye.
The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad looks forward to welcoming more new and familiar faces for the next summer and winter camps.
Youth Service of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Bern, Switzerland, youth@swisscommunity.org, www.SwissCommunity.org, +41 31 356 61 25
Comments