Melchtal OW 24
Accommodation:
Juhui Melchtal
Age group:
8 – 14 years
Start date:
27.12.2024
Registration deadline:
1.11.2024
End date:
05.01.2025
Free spots:
Winter camp information
Discover snow-covered Switzerland at a winter camp. Your holiday experience at this time of the year will be characterised by short days, long nights, low temperatures, snow, ice and numerous winter sports.
Registration
The SJAS opens registration for the winter camps every year on 15 March. Registration takes place exclusively via the homepage directly with the offer. Our instructions provide assistance with the registration process. An account on the website db.sjas.ch (Hitobito) is required for registration. If you do not yet have an account, you can create one before the start of registration using the Test Camp (LINK).
All further information on registration can be found in the GTC and FAQ (soon available).
Conditions of participation
All young Swiss abroad who fit into the age category of the offer and speak one of the camp languages fluently may take part in our camp offer. The detailed conditions of participation can be found in the GTC.
The conditions of participation for children at Swiss schools abroad can be found here.
Age categories
Our winter camps are intended for young Swiss Abroad and children of Swiss Schools aged between 10 and 14. The exact dates can be found in the GTC. From the age of 15, young people can take advantage of the camps offered by the Youth Service of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad.
Languages
Each of our camps is offered in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish. Participants must be fluent in at least one of these languages.
The leadership team will cover these languages. The most spoken languages in everyday camp life are determined by the camp group.
Fees
The camp contribution is between CHF 1000 and CHF 1200. The corresponding amount can be found in the respective offer.
It covers the entire camp operation. The price includes all travel during the winter camp, food, accommodation, ski passes and all other programme items. There are generally no additional costs during the camp. Exceptions may arise in the event of a visit to the doctor/hospital or, for example, the extra purchase of replacement clothing/equipment.
Read more ↓
Snow sports equipment, i.e. skis and snowboards including poles, boots and helmets can be hired from the SJAS. The estimated cost for this is CHF 200 and is not included in the camp fee.
For all our camps, the cost of travelling to and from the camp is borne by the parents.
The invoice will be issued with the official confirmation of participation and must be paid within 30 days.
Information on cancellation fees can be found in the GTC.
Financial support
In line with the purpose of the foundation, it is a central concern of SJAS that all young Swiss Abroad between the ages of 8 and 14, regardless of their families' financial situation, should be able to experience at least one summer camp in Switzerland. SJAS provides financial support for camp fees and, in exceptional cases, for travel expenses. The application form can be downloaded here and must be sent to info@sjas.ch within 7 days of confirmation of participation. More information on the cost reduction application can be found here.
Arrival and departure
The winter camp is based on public holidays, which is why the start and end dates are not the same every year. It starts on the first day at 1.00 pm at Zurich Airport railway station. Together with the leadership team, the participants travel on to the camp house in a coach. On the last day, everyone travels together again in the coach to Zurich Airport station, where they have to be picked up at 12.00 noon.
Optionally, participants can be brought directly to the camp house on the first day at 4.00 pm and/or picked up from there on the last day at 9.00 am.
The journey from home to the meeting point and the return journey from the meeting point to home are the responsibility of the parents.
Children travelling alone
For children travelling alone to Switzerland who cannot be accompanied by relatives or friends, the following option is available:
One person from the leadership team can meet your child at Zurich Airport on the first day of the camp and look after them until the camp starts. On the last day of the camp, one person from the leadership team can look after the child and accompany them to check-in.
This type of accompaniment is possible between 9.00 am and 12.00 pm on the first day of the camp and between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm on the last day of the camp. This means that your child must land / do check-in at Zurich Airport during these periods.
Read more ↓
We will charge CHF 50 per escort service for this service.
We strongly recommend that children travelling alone (including children over the age of 12) fly as "Unaccompanied Minor (UM)". Please clarify all questions with the responsible airline on site. Please note that the responsibility of SJAS for the child begins on arrival at the airport in Switzerland and ends when the child checks in.
Participants
Children and teenagers from all over the world meet up at our camps and spend 10 or 14 days together as a group. Depending on the camp, there are between 30 and 50 participants. Young Swiss Abroad and children of Swiss Schools in the appropriate age category may take part, regardless of their gender, religion, political views, financial situation or culture. A connection to Switzerland is the common denominator of the camp community.
In this intercultural community, participants can make friends from all continents. However, running a camp also requires all participants to work together and think for themselves, as well as independently completing daily tasks such as washing dishes, tidying up, cleaning the bathroom, etc.
Camp leaders
The planning and implementation of the summer camp is based on the voluntary work of the camp leaders (with the exception of those doing civilian service).
The team consists of 8 to 12 committed adult Swiss citizens from both Switzerland and abroad, depending on the camp's size. The camp meals are prepared by a two-person kitchen team. Many team members are multilingual and have experience in supervising children and teenagers at summer camps. The leadership team is typically headed by two main leaders. At least half of the leadership team holds a federal Youth and Sports (J+S) qualification in the discipline of "Camp Sports and Trekking." The dedicated and caring camp leaders provide around the clock and take care of the needs and concerns of the participants.
Program
The camp program is put together by the leadership team in collaboration with the SJAS office. The goal is for all participants to connect with Switzerland in diverse ways and gaining a deeper understanding of their roots and homeland.
The focus of the winter camp is on winter sports, which is why skiing and snowboarding make up the majority of the program. For a change, other winter sports such as ice skating, snowshoeing and sledging can also be offered. Beginners and advanced skiers alike get their money's worth with all sports. In bad weather and as a balance to winter sports, small excursions into the region are planned.
Read more ↓
In the evenings, there will be plenty of time to play games, do handicrafts and make new friends in and around the camp house.
We deliberately refrain from publishing the detailed daily program in advance so that participants can look forward to an exciting program every day and the program is constantly adapted to the weather and other conditions.
An example of the daily schedule can be viewed here.
Insurance
The SJAS has taken out supplementary accident insurance for all participants with Swiss citizenship. For treatment in a doctor's surgery or hospital, however, it is essential that you present your own insurance so that the treatment can be carried out. The question of costs will then be clarified by the insurance company.
However, participants are NOT insured against illness. The SJAS recommends taking out appropriate international insurance, as medical expenses must be charged to the parents.
Campsite
Our winter camps take place at different locations in different cantons, whereby a location or camp house may be recurring due to many years of cooperation (the camp programme is nevertheless planned individually each year).
Where exactly a camp takes place can be found in the respective camp offer.
Accommodation
Our camps are primarily held in simple but well-equipped group accommodations with shared bedrooms and sufficient space for everyone. The specific camp site and location can be found in the respective camp offer.