Field trips for schools – Switzerland
From the beginning of May until the end of October, Les Elfes offers 7 different field trips to its privately owned campus in la Tzoumaz (Verbier-North) & Crans-Montana.
ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE ENTIERLY CUSTOMISABLE
With complete freedom to create your own customisable field trip, you’ll be able to use our experience and expertise to create the perfect field trip for your school trip.
Leadership by Les Elfes
In collaboration with SLTeam, the official team-building and leadership provider of Harvard Business School and IMD. Outdoor teamwork exercises bring spontaneous behaviors, which are incomparable for debriefing and video analyzing.
Our seminars are based, essentially, on outdoor “problem solving” teamwork exercises, available to all.
The situations are designed to challenge participant Leadership and Teamwork skills in a safe, fun, and unique learning environment. Teams will plan and achieve, or fail to achieve, specific objectives. They will be competing both against the clock and against other groups and will use rather unusual material.
The debriefing sessions (organized as a challenge), the extensive video material of their experiences and the feedback session, will enable each group and individuals, to understand the key lessons learnt
At the end of this program, participants will have developed their Leadership skills and identify why a team « works » or « does not work ».
Schedule-Summer
Schedule-Winter
Our campuses are located in the French speaking part of Switzerland, 1 hour and 45 minutes from Geneva, and 30 minutes from the Italian and French borders.
Educational Component
Field trips do not always get the right consideration regarding the educational component they bring to students, but field trips actually bring a lot of various positive and good skills...
Educational Component
Field trips do not always get the right consideration regarding the educational component they bring to students, but field trips actually bring a lot of various positive and good skills:
Social Component & Team Building
Students will learn how to live together in a big group, possibly also with students from other schools, from other countries and from other cultures.
Team spirit within a group is increased by an “out of classroom experience”
Sports
Students will learn new exciting sports. Students will rapidly familiarise themselves with the materials. They will keep these skills for the rest of their lives.
Personal Development
A field trip is a unique experience that does not only allows children to improve their sport skills but also helps them to maximize both personal and group development and to enhance their self-confidence and interpersonal skills.
Mountains & Culture
Students will gain important knowledge about mountain safety and mountain geography, for example experiencing quickly changing weather conditions, which are typical for high altitude environments. In addition, Les Elfes students will find out a lot about Swiss culture and local food.
All these components put together make a field trip a very valuable educational experience for the students, for the teachers who see the students evolving all throughout the week and for the parents who will find their children in very good physical and mental condition after coming back from their field trip with Les Elfes.
Why choose Les Elfes
Our campus is supervised by a resort manager & an activity manager. We work closely with Mountain Guides and experts in the fields of Geography, Languages, Design & Technology, etc...
WHY CHOOSE LES ELFES
- Our campus is supervised by a resort manager & an activity manager
- Specially trained and very experienced staff for supervising all activities
- We work closely with Mountain Guides and experts in the fields of Geography, Languages, Design & Technology, etc.
- All staff take a 2-week technical training course before each season
- Staff-student ratio of 1:6
- 24h nurse and night guard on campus
- State of the art clinics close by and easy access to 2 university hospitals
- Highest safety and supervision standards
- Guide – student ratio during activities: 1:8
- Les Elfes has full control over all departments such as kitchen, drivers, animation, bed allotments, etc…
- Total staff-student ratio of 1:2 with all departments combined (resort manager, instructors, animation staff, drivers, kitchen staff)
- Fully supervised afternoon and evening activities. Less work for teachers
- Fully qualified guides, trained by Les Elfes
- Unique philosophy: Our field trips are well-balanced and ensure Security, Quality and Fun (SQF)
- 1 teacher free for 10 paying students. Discount for additional teachers
- Private chalets designed for kids and teens only. No hotel accommodation!
- Bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms
- Private altitude mountain restaurant for lunch breaks
- Pioneer in field trips since 1987
Les Elfes Camps offer large buffet breakfasts and varied lunches and dinners designed to satisfy all students based on our experience with camps and student travel programmes since 1987.
Campuses
The Campuses includes two large dining rooms, games room with table tennis, billiards and table football and a cinema room. The most popular ski resorts in Switzerland: Verbier, La Tzoumaz and Crans-Montana...
Campuses
3 Resorts Swiss Alps
Our three different, privately owned campuses are located in some of the most popular ski resorts in Switzerland: Verbier, La Tzoumaz and Crans-Montana.
Verbier
In the heart of one of the most popular regions of the Swiss Alps
- Located at 1500m with lifts up to the Mont-Fort glacier (3300m)
- Directly opposite Le Grand Combin which rises to 4300m, Verbier’s stunning location on a south-facing plateau guarantees an exceptionally sunny climate in both summer and winter.
- In addition to a breathtaking panorama, Verbier is a cosmopolitan resort with a variety of shopping, eating and entertainment possibilities, and deserves its reputation as one of Europe’s finest mountain resorts.
Verbier is in the French part of Switzerland, 1 hour and 45 minutes from Geneva, 2 hours and 45 minutes from Zürich and 30 minutes from the Italian and French borders.
Verbier Campus
- High standard accommodation in the Swiss Alpine tradition
- Beautiful setting in the Swiss Alps & very close to the center of Verbier
- 2 chalets, 1 for boys and 1 for girls
- 70 beds in each chalet
- Friendly rooms with 2-4 students per room
- Ensuite bathrooms in each room
- Cinema, games room, internet room, fireplaces…
- Ski-fitting in the chalet
Crans-Montana
- In the heart of the beautiful Swiss Alps
- Opposite the spectacular Matterhorn glacier (4200m)
- Above the medieval city of Sion
- Stunning views of the Mont-Blanc and the French Alps with a lively village full of boutiques from all the top names in fashion
- 140 km of skiing runs, 25 cable cars, Year-round access to the Glacier Plaine Morte at 3000m
In the heart of the beautiful Swiss Alps. Opposite the spectacular Matterhorn glacier (4200m). Stunning views of the Mont-Blanc and the French Alps with a lively village full of boutiques from all the top names in fashion. Year-round access to the Glacier Plaine Morte at 3000m.
Crans-Montana campus
- For groups of up to 50 campers
- Directly at the bottom of the ski run
- 20m from the cable car
- Just 200m from the shopping center of Crans
La Tzoumaz
La Tzoumaz also called Les Mayens de Riddes, is in the heart of one of the most revered regions of the Swiss Alps
- Opposite side of the worldwide known resort of Verbier, Located at 1500m with lifts up to the Mont-Fort glacier (3300m)
La Tzoumaz, also referred to as Les Mayens de Riddes or Verbier North, is located in the beautiful French-speaking part of the Swiss Alps, at an altitude of 1500m and overlooking the Rhone Valley. With a year-round population of 300 inhabitants and many more in the winter, La Tzoumaz offers all the charm and comfort of a typical Swiss Alpine village.
La Tzoumaz is 1 hr 45 from Geneva, 2 hrs 45 from Zürich and 30 minutes from the Italian and French borders.
La Tzoumaz campus
Our 60 beds, wood and stone chalet offers the Swiss charm and comfort to our campers with a perfect location in the middle of the village. Boys and girls are separated by floors, in large rooms from two to four students maximum per room.
The chalet is fully equipped with :
- A spacious dining room opening onto a huge terrace overlooking the beautiful Rhone Valley, equipped with barbecue
- Professionally equipped kitchen staffed by our own chef and his team
- Games hall, internet corner, TV room. • A multi-sport area
VERBIER CAMPUS
Locations
Verbier, Crans-Montana and La Tzoumaz offer a wide range of activities during summer and autumn as well. Those are three of the most popular resorts in Switzerland.
Locations
Verbier, set in a breathtaking panorama, is one of the most famous mountain resorts in Europe and offers the best in sporting and leisure activities all year round in a cosmopolitan and relaxed atmosphere.
Verbier is located in the French part of Switzerland, 1 hour and 45 minutes from Geneva, 2 hours and 45 minutes from Zürich and 30 minutes from the Italian and French borders.
La Tzoumaz is on the other side of the Verbier mountain, close to Martigny. It also offers stunning vistas, scenery, restaurants and is located in a mountain setting.
Crans Montana is located down the valley towards the small city of Sion. Perched high above rolling Swiss vineyards, it has its own unique feel. With a pond in the downtown area, you'll find lots of activities to keep you busy no matter the season.
Crans Montana is about 2 hours from the Geneva airport, and close the German speaking part of Switzerland. If you get the chance to visit, don't miss it. A fun, beautiful mountain village with plenty of things to do.
We offer field trips from the end of April until the end of October. We are fully flexible in terms of length and dates. However, a standard program will usually run 7 days
TEACHER STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Find out the step by step timeline for teachers. This guideline will help you with the field trip organisation.
teacher step by step instructions
Preparation Timeline and Checklist
STEP 1
At the end of your current trip, or as early as possible for new schools, please fill in the pre-booking form.
→ Link to the pre-booking form
STEP 2
We shall then send you a quotation and our cancellation policy to be validated
within 3-weeks.
→ Link to supporting documents
STEP 3
Once the quote is validated and the school’s management has approved the trip,
we then send you all the marketing material for trip promotion and visa information.
→ We suggest you first send a parent's letter (including the payment plan). Download the parent's letter here.
→ You should then arrange two presentations, one for children and one for parents, accordingly. We are happy to assist where needed. Download the PowerPoints, videos here.
STEP 4
As early as possible and by the latest 6 months before the trip, you have to update us on the viability of the trip and on the approximate number of students, and we shall send you a deposit payment invoice of the 30% to be paid by 4-months prior arrival.
This amount will be deductible from the final invoice due by 1-month prior to arrival. In case your school is not ready to pay the deposit of 30% we will not be able to guarantee the places for your field trip and we will deal on a first come first served basis.
STEP 5
3 months before the trip, we would suggest you do another parent meeting to increase the interest in the field trip and remind parents of the final instalment to be paid 1 month before the field trip and of the visa procedure. At this stage you can start filling up the following documents that we will need at latest 1-month before your arrival:
Please do not fill up the forms online, but download them and send them back to us
→ Info sheet and regulations
→ Field trip Google Form or Names/medical/options list
→ Consent form
→ Risk Assessment Example
(you will receive a personalized one once you will have chosen your final program)
STEP 6
As soon as we have the final update on the number of participants and prior 2-month before the trip, you receive the proforma invoice with your final student’s number. We then require the final payment 1-month before the field trip.
TYPICAL DAY
Groups meet their monitors for a morning meeting where they are briefed on the clothing and equipment they will need for the day & perhaps a warm-up activity...
Typical day
07h30 Wake-up
Students are woken by Les Elfes monitors for Breakfast
08h00 Breakfast
Breakfast served in the dining room. Catered also according to special food preferences and allergies
08h45
Groups meet their monitors for a morning meeting where they are briefed on the clothing and equipment they will need for the day & perhaps a warm-up activity
09h00 – 12h00
Activities according to the program
12h00-12h45
Lunch at camp
12h45-16h15
Afternoon activities, according to the program: Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Nature Hike or an Afternoon down by the Lake with Kayaking, Banana Boating, Wake Boarding and Stand up Paddle Boarding
16h30-17h00
Shower Time & Relaxation
17h00-18h45
Optional Activities – Football, Basketball, Table Tennis, Trampoline etc.
19h00-20h00
Dinner at camp, perhaps Fondue Night, Peppered Beef Ragout with Rosti or Cheese burgers with Juan’s secret sauce
20h00
Evening Activities: Les Elfes Clubs Night, select a workshop from: orienteering treasure hunt, bushcraft – learning to build a shelf, photography club or magicians-in-training
Bedtime – Room Checks – Tidy Room Competition
EQUIPMENT
All equipment for indoor and outdoor games and sports is available at the campus: football field, basketball, volleyball and badminton courts, golf putting/driving range, trampoline, petanque area and climbing walls...
Equipment
All the materials required for the activities included in the program are provided by Les Elfes and are available at the campus.
Field Trip Activities
Unlike many similar camps, over half of our staff are employed for the full year to ensure that the standard of activities we offer is consistently high at all children’s camps.
Staff & Safety
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...
Staff & Safety
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.
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.
Staff & Safety
Gems & Aldar Official Provider
Our students had a fantastic time! their staff looked after us extremly well. i have already booked the same week in La
Tzoumaz for next year...
Gems Official Provider
"Our students had a fantastic time! Their staff looked after us extremly well. I have already booked the same week in La Tzoumaz for next year... Our day of skiing together was the best ever, I dont think that I have ever skied that well or enjoyed lunch so much, so thank you very much for your friendship and genesority."
What the teachers Had To Say



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