Altitude Residential Summer Camp, Verbier

The camp runs two morning specialities and campers pick one when they book. The English programme is built for all abilities, from beginner to advanced, and concentrates on conversational use of the language: vocabulary, grammar and confidence are practised through activities such as a trip to the local market or a treasure hunt rather than through classroom drills. Classes are small, with three to six campers per teacher, and the teachers are qualified, native and experienced. The mountain adventure programme uses the terrain around Verbier to teach practical outdoor skills including fire building, survival skills, orienteering, wood work, hiking, climbing and nature studies, in groups of no more than eight. Campers who stay for more than one week may combine the two specialities.

The published rate covers the chosen morning speciality, full-board accommodation in the camp chalets, afternoon and evening activities, excursions, laundry and supervision around the clock, with a staff ratio of one adult to eight campers. Weeks run from Sunday to Saturday and are booked in whole weeks. Optional additions are listed separately and include a return transfer from Geneva airport, private swimming, golf, tennis and language lessons charged by the hour, and a tandem paragliding flight.

Campers live in traditional Swiss-style private chalets in Verbier, within walking distance of the town centre, the mountain lifts and the local sports facilities. Bedrooms are split by gender and sleep two to four campers, which gives each child personal space while keeping friends close. Chalets have en-suite bathrooms, Wi-Fi, a garden, and indoor and outdoor games including table tennis for free time. Night guards stay in the chalets so that supervision continues after the programme finishes for the day.

Full board is included. Meals are prepared fresh each day by the camp’s own chefs using local produce, and the kitchen caters for dietary, medical and religious requirements when these are flagged in advance. Campers eat breakfast in the chalet, come together for lunch at midday between the morning speciality and the afternoon programme, and share dinner before the evening activity. On full excursion days a packed lunch is provided.

Afternoons and evenings are shared by the whole camp. A typical week mixes sport, excursions, team building and creative sessions: tennis, golf, swimming, climbing, bowling, ice skating, volleyball and biking appear alongside art workshops, tie-dye, skateboarding, a quiz night and a movie night. One full day each week is given to a longer excursion, for example to the Labyrinthe adventure park or the Aquaparc water park, with a packed lunch provided. Excursions are included in the fee.

The camp is based in its own chalets and makes use of the sports and leisure facilities in and around Verbier, which include swimming pools, tennis courts, ice rinks, golf courses, riding stables, volleyball courts, climbing walls and ropes courses. The mountain lifts are a short distance from the chalets, so the mountain adventure sessions start close to base. Inside the chalets campers have Wi-Fi, a lounge, games rooms and outdoor space with games and table tennis.

The camp is deliberately international: campers come from across Europe and further afield and share chalets, meals and activities with children of other nationalities, so English is used naturally throughout the day. Group sizes are kept small, supervision is continuous and the team is resident, which suits campers who are away from home for the first time as well as returners. Alongside language or outdoor skills, the programme is built to develop independence, teamwork and confidence in an Alpine setting.