Gstaad Winter Skiing and Language Course

Ski and snowboard instruction are combined with enriching programs which allow campers to participate in a number of different activities. In winter our activities are also mainly outdoors and these include:

• Sledding
• Snowman Building
• Arts and Crafts
• Cooking and Baking
• Dance Class
• Fire Building
• Survival Skills
• Swimming
• Language Lessons
• Indoor Climbing
• Ice skating

Each camp session ends with a ‘Special Events Day’ in which the children participate in skiing events and enjoy a delicious fondue party. The campers are presented with awards and are recognized for their achievements in skiing, snowboarding and language classes.

Mountain Lodge

• The camp facilities are located in Schönried, Switzerland and housed in the Mountain Lodge, located 600 metres from the Schönried train station and the cable car, in the heart of the world-renown ski resort of Gstaad.

The Mountain Lodge has 18 rooms which comfortably sleep 2 to 6 people and 2 additional group rooms which sleep ten.

• All rooms offers en-suite facilities and there is a spacious kitchen and dining room, a large terrace and an outdoor play area – perfect for sledding! It is outfitted with relaxing lounge areas, multi-purpose movie room, equipment storage area, and free internet access and parking.

Ski Resort

• The Gstaad ski resort boasts 53 lifts, accessing 220 km of slopes, with two snow parks, a number of sled runs and winter hiking trails. The resort is between 1000 and 3000 metres above sea level and the longest run in the region is 1600 vertical meters (more than most resorts in the North American Rocky Mountains). The resort has the only glacier ski area in the Bernese Oberland and 60% of the main slopes are equipped with snow cannons, guaranteeing snow cover.

• Depending on the session Saturdays and Sundays are departure days for campers and groups participating in one-week sessions. If individuals or groups sign up for more than one session, then a full weekend program will be offered. Saturdays are usually more relaxed, with morning ski instruction followed by an afternoon of shopping in nearby Gstaad, followed by a supervised free swim and movie night.

• Sundays are all-day excursions organized to give the children opportunities to see different parts of Switzerland and learn about the alpine environment. These outings may include a ski trip to a nearby ski resort or cultural excursions to notable Swiss cities, towns, castles or museums.

• Special excursions can be arranged throughout the winter, including all-day ski excursions as well as cultural trips to places such as Montreux, Interlaken or Bern. For the more adventurous, overnights such as camping out in igloos or an overnight stay at one of the fully-equipped Swiss Alpine Club huts can be organized.

• Sunday Airport Pick-up (Geneva): CHF 150.00 (Optional)

• Saturday Airport Drop-off (Geneva): CHF 150.00 (Optional)

Airport transfers outside of these days are charged at CHF 300.00 per way

• Sunday Airport Pick-up (Zurich): CHF 300.00 (Optional)

• Saturday Airport Drop-off (Zurich): CHF 300.00 (Optional)

Airport transfers outside of these days are charged at CHF 500.00 per way

• 07.15 – 07.30 - Wake-up (Boarders)
• 07.50 – 08.15 - Breakfast (Boarders)
• 09.00 - Day campers arrive
• 09.15 - 09.30 - Depart Lodge for ski slopes
• 09.30-12.00 - SKI CLASSES (Ski Evaluation on the First Day)
• 12.00 - 13.00 - Lunch (Boarders and Day Campers)
• 13.00 – 13.30 -Supervised games and free time
• 13.30 – 15.30 -Skiing continues in re-organized ski groups
• 15.45. - Return to lodge for snack
• 16.00 – 17.15 - Après ski program or language instruction (Boarders and Day Campers)
• *Day camper parents may pick up their children at the ski hill after skiing ends at 16.00
• 17.30 - Day campers depart
• 17.30 – 18.00 - Supervised free time for boarders
• 18.00 - 19.00 - Dinner (Boarders)
• 19.30 – 20.30- Evening program and snack (Boarders)

Sample Teacher: Camp instructor qualifications: Switzerland – SSI Level 1 or higher Canada – CSIA/CASI Level 2 or higher USA – PSIA/AASI Level 2 or higher

Camp Staff: English-speaking staff members are either professional teachers, skilled international and Swiss ski instructors, or experienced camp counsellors. 

Ski and snowboard rentals and equipment, camp shirts, baseball hats, German language lessons, medical insurance, airport transfers, door-to-door bus service, pocket money and personal expenses.

Winter Camp Extra Charges (Prices are per person and per weekly session):

• Registration Fee Boarder (non-refundable): CHF 100.00

Personal expenses such as pocket money and individual items are taken out of the deposit.

• Registration Fee Day (non-refundable): CHF 50.00

Personal expenses such as pocket money and individual items are taken out of the deposit.

• Sunday Airport Pick-up (Geneva): CHF 150.00 (Optional)

• Saturday Airport Drop-off (Geneva): CHF 150.00 (Optional)

Airport transfers outside of these days are charged at CHF 300.00 per way

• Sunday Airport Pick-up (Zurich): CHF 300.00 (Optional)

• Saturday Airport Drop-off (Zurich): CHF 300.00 (Optional)

Airport transfers outside of these days are charged at CHF 500.00 per way

• Ski Equipment Hire: CHF 130.00 (Optional)

• Helmet Hire: CHF 20.00 (Optional)

• Medical Insurance: CHF 150.00 (Optional - proof required)

• Additional T-Shirt: CHF 40.00 (Optional)

• Hat: CHF 35.00 (Optional)

• Day Camper Bus Service: CHF 150.00 (Optional)

• Day Camper Weekend Program: CHF 300.00 / day

• German Language Lessons: CHF 90.00 per 1.5 hour lesson

Additional Extra Charges may incur for personal requests and programs or activities that are not included in the fee, such as:

- Changes to program such as meals at restaurants

- Additional cultural excursion and programs.