Field trips for schools – Switzerland

At Les Elfes we have a huge responsibility for the safety of the students in all of the activities. Safety is our highest priority.

All of our staff must have a valid First Aid Certificate and a current Criminal Records Check before beginning their training at Les Elfes.

All our summer staff monitors, instructors, core staff and managers undertake a two-week training course before the start of each season combining one week of technical training and one week to learn and become acquainted with the Philosophy of Les Elfes.

With many of these activities Les Elfes work with external guides/professionals who are specialists in the corresponding fields, such as rock climbing guides, golf/horse riding/ tennis coaches to name a few, all are vetted and hold the relevant qualifications.

STAFF

Organisation: Each Camp is supervised by a Resort Manager, an Activities Manager and a Head Organizer. Les Elfes runs the camps with all appropriate staff, including monitors, organizers, kitchen staff, secretaries, drivers, cleaning staff etc.

Monitors: The organizer to student ratio is 1:5, however including all Les Elfes staff the ratio falls to 1:2.

All our monitors have been carefully selected in accordance with Les Elfes criteria for skills and experience in working with children. On top of this, Les Elfes uses sports experts for some activities.

STAFF SUPERVISION

Our Activity Managers supervise the work of our monitors and instructors all day long. In the winter, all our ski and snowboard instructors are accredited by the official Swiss Ski School, and in the summer each instructor is specialized in the different sports offered at Les Elfes.

KIDS SUPERVISION

All our Spring camps, Summer Camps, Winter Camps, have a nurse and a 24 hour reception and night guard, which together with our monitors work, allows us to offer a 24 hours supervision of the children. video & photos here

SAFETY

TRAINING WEEKS

All our summer and winter staff monitors, instructors, core staff and managers undertake a two-week training course before the start of each season combining one week of technical training and one week to learn and become acquainted with the Philosophy of Les Elfes.

Our training for each season includes a First Aid refresher course, Lifeguard training, Fire Safety, Child Protection awareness and Training in our SOPs and EAPs.

In the Winter all of our ski and snowboard instructors hold relevant ski and snowboard teaching qualifications and are accredited by the Official Swiss Ski School after a week of training and assessment with one of their trainers.

Our summer training includes and intensive training in our core activities including: orienteering and safety in the mountains, rock climbing, mountain biking and paddles sports.

We also hire specific staff with teaching and leading qualifications in these areas to ensure the students not only get the best out of their activities and learn from the Staff, but are safe throughout.

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DAILY MEASURES

Throughout the year, wether it is skiing or snowboarding in Winter or Mountain Biking and Rock Climbing in Summer, the students take part in what we call activities containing certain risk elements. We therefore have strict procedures in place to ensure that during these activities, the students are exposed to as little risk as possible. To ensure this, we make sure our staff are fully qualified and well trained according to the time of year, and whatever time of year the day has to begin with a meeting identifying these risks. In the Winter there are many things to consider when looking at thse points, here is an idea of the safety measure taken:

07h45 WEATHER CHECK AND NURSE REPORT Groups Leave for the Mountain with Instructors, supervised by the Activity Manager and Head of Snowsports.

08h00 INSTRUCTOR MEETING Activity or Resort Manager delivers all critical information to the instructors for the day, discussing the weather, the condition of pistes, suitable slopes for the groups according to their level. The location for lunches and transport times.

09h00 GROUPS LEAVE Groups Leave for the Mountain with Instructors, supervised by the Activity Manager and Head of Snowsports.

12h00 LUNCH, CHECK OF GROUPS BY HEAD OF SNOWSPORTS The Head of Snowsports will check and see how the groups are doing throughout the day, and if any changes or issues, to act accordingly.

16h15 INSTRUCTORS MEETING & NURSE INFO A debrief will take place with the Activity Manager and Head of Snowsports, any changes or issues of the day, will be noted and discussed where needed. Should the Nurse need to look after any students, the information is passed on accordingly.

We are fully aware of the enormous responsibility of taking care of students and are completely focused on their well being. That being said, in case of illness or accident, we are only minutes away from world class professional help.

Given all the factors to consider when choosing a program, parents should look at the security of the Summer Camp. There are several things that must be considered: Location, facilities, staff, medical support and activities are points to consider as safe.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Risk assessments are designed for each activity and are signed by all our monitors and head instructors during daily morning briefings and daily evening debriefings.

We have 3 up-to-date medical clinics in Verbier, and both campuses have access to a regional hospital and two University hospitals only 40 minutes and 75 minutes away respectively, or just 10 minutes by helicopter.

Given all the factors to consider when choosing a summer program, parents should look at the security of the Summer Camp. There are several things that must be considered: Location, facilities, staff, medical support and activities are points to consider as safe.