International Summer Camps in Switzerland

Both boarding and day students enjoy the same exciting programme of language lessons, sports, activities and excursions. The main difference is that boarding students live on campus throughout their stay, enjoying full-board accommodation, evening activities and weekend experiences, with round-the-clock care and supervision from our experienced staff.

Day students attend from 08:50 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday during the first week and Monday to Friday during the second week of each two-week session. They return home to their families each evening and do not participate in the boarding students’ evening or overnight activities. This option is ideal for families living locally or spending their summer holidays in Villars.

Boarding students enjoy comfortable, modern accommodation on campus, where experienced residential house parents provide day-to-day care, supervision and pastoral support, ensuring every camper feels safe, settled and at home.

Day students attend Summer Camp from 08:50 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday during the first week and Monday to Friday during the second or final week of their stay. Children return home to their families each evening.

Yes, absolutely. La Garenne Summer Camp is a great option for families spending the summer in Villars. Children whose parents are staying locally must enrol as Day Students rather than boarding students. We offer a morning pick-up service from the local village to make getting to camp easier for families. Day students enjoy the full daily programme of lessons, activities and excursions before returning to their families each evening. Our boarding programme is designed for children who wish to immerse themselves fully in camp life, build friendships and develop independence.

The day begins with breakfast for boarding students, followed by English or French lessons from Monday to Friday in the morning. After lunch, all campers take part in a varied programme of sports, outdoor adventures, activities and excursions, with time for meals and breaks throughout the day. Day Students finish at 18:00 and return home, while boarding students enjoy dinner and supervised evening activities with their friends. The programme balances learning, adventure and relaxation, giving campers plenty of opportunities to try new things and make lasting friendships.

Students choose to study English or French, with lessons held Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:00, including a mid-morning break. Classes cater for all levels, from complete beginners to advanced learners, with teaching tailored to each student’s ability.
Learning is lively and interactive, combining classroom activities with games, creative projects, practical challenges and opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.
After lunch, students enjoy sports, outdoor adventures and excursions in the Swiss Alps, putting their language skills into practice naturally as they explore, play and make friends from around the world.

The Swiss Alps provide an incredible setting for adventure, with activities ranging from scenic mountain hikes and outdoor challenges to exciting sports and overnight expeditions in the mountains. Campers have the chance to explore spectacular Alpine landscapes, discover new skills and experience the thrill of the great outdoors.

Our Summer Camp combines adventure activities with language lessons, sports, excursions and a wide variety of other experiences, so students enjoy a balanced and varied programme rather than adventure activities alone. For those looking for an extra thrill, optional premium activities may also be available, such as skydiving, paragliding and track karting. All activities are selected according to age group and are adapted to students’ abilities and experience levels.

Your child’s safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities. As an established international boarding school, La Garenne complies with all applicable Swiss safety standards. Our experienced staff provide attentive supervision and dedicated pastoral care throughout each camper’s stay, giving parents peace of mind that their child is safe, supported and in caring hands.

Boarding students enjoy three meals a day, while day students are provided with lunch and a snack. We aim to offer varied, balanced meals that cater to the needs of our international community.

Dietary requirements related to religious beliefs and food allergies are accommodated wherever possible. For individual or specialised diets, parents must provide a medical certificate or signed disclaimer in advance so that our team can assess their child’s needs and confirm whether we can accommodate them safely during their stay.

La Garenne is an inclusive Summer Camp, and we aim to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for every child. If your child has any additional learning, behavioural, emotional or developmental needs, please let us know before applying.

Our team will work closely with your family to understand your child’s individual requirements and assess whether we can provide the appropriate support to ensure a safe, positive and enjoyable camp experience.

Please be aware that we do not have psychologists or specialist therapeutic staff on site during Summer Camp, so we may not be able to accommodate every child’s needs.

Feeling homesick is perfectly normal, especially for younger children and first-time campers. Our experienced residential house parents and pastoral staff understand this and take a caring, reassuring approach to helping children settle in.

We encourage campers to make friends, join in activities and become part of camp life, while providing individual attention and emotional support when needed. Most children soon gain confidence as they settle into their new routine.

If homesickness persists or we have concerns about your child’s wellbeing, we will contact you to discuss the situation and agree on the best way forward together.

Our Summer Camp fees include a varied programme of language lessons, sports, activities and excursions, with accommodation and meals provided according to the enrolment option.

Boarding Summer Camp includes:

• Comfortable, supervised accommodation on campus
• All meals and personal laundry
• Morning English or French language lessons
• A full programme of sports, activities and excursions
• Supervised evening activities and weekend experiences
• Transfers to and from Geneva Airport on official arrival and departure dates, within designated transfer times

Day Summer Camp includes:

• Lunch and an afternoon snack
• Morning English or French language lessons
• A full programme of sports, activities and excursions during day camp hours
• Supervision throughout the daily programme

While our Summer Camp fees cover the main programme, some optional activities and additional expenses are not included:

• Optional premium activities, such as Juventus Football Academy, paragliding, karting and skydiving
• Personal digital photo packages
• Compulsory Swiss health and medical insurance
• Flights to and from Switzerland
• Airport transfers outside the official dates and designated transfer times, or from other airports
• Pocket money and any additional expenses incurred during camp

We strongly recommend that parents arrange comprehensive travel and cancellation insurance before their child’s arrival, as this is not included in the camp fees.

Yes. To make travel as easy as possible for families, transfers to and from Geneva Airport are included in the Summer Camp fees for boarding students arriving and departing on the official arrival and departure dates and within the designated transfer times. If your child is travelling outside these times or via another airport, additional transfers can be arranged at an extra cost. Please contact our team if you need help planning your child’s journey.

Before arrival, families receive a detailed packing list covering essential clothing, sportswear, personal items and any equipment needed for specific activities. We recommend reviewing the list together with your child to ensure they are well prepared for their Summer Camp adventure in the Swiss Alps.

• If a Summer Camp place is cancelled 65 days or more before the start of the booked session, the amount paid will be refunded, less a CHF 500 cancellation fee.
• If a place is cancelled fewer than 65 days before the start of the session, or after the session has begun, the full camp fee is non-refundable.
• No refunds will be given for late arrivals, early departures, voluntary withdrawals, dismissal or absences due to illness, family emergencies or any other reason.
• Changes to a booked Summer Camp session are not permitted within 65 days of its start date. Any request to change sessions during this period will be treated as a cancellation, and no refund will be given.
• Optional extras cancelled within 28 days of the start of the camp, or after the session has begun, are non-refundable.
• No refunds will be given if a student is unable to travel because their travel documents have expired or are invalid, or if they are denied boarding for any reason. Parents are responsible for ensuring that all travel documents are valid. A valid passport is required for air travel.
• If an official agency, such as the World Health Organisation, declares a global pandemic and resulting worldwide restrictions prevent students from travelling, the School will either refund the camp fees in full in Swiss francs or issue a credit note towards a future academic, summer, winter or integration programme. The credit note will be valid for two years.
• If no global pandemic has been formally declared, students who choose not to travel are not entitled to a refund if their cancellation falls within 65 days of the start of their booked Summer Camp session.

Session Cancellation Deadlines 2027

• Sessions 1A and 1B: Friday 23 April 2027
• Sessions 2A and 2B: Friday 7 May 2027
• Session 3: Friday 21 May 2027

Optional Extras Cancellation Deadlines 2027

• Sessions 1A and 1B: Sunday 30 May 2027
• Sessions 2A and 2B: Sunday 13 June 2027
• Session 3: Sunday 27 June 2027

Ready to start planning your child’s summer adventure? Simply complete our online Summer Camp application form to get started. A sibling discount is available for families enrolling more than one child. Once we receive your application, our team will guide you through the next steps and help make the process as smooth as possible.