STAFF & SAFETY

Les Elfes International Camps
Verbier, Switzerland

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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.

At Les Elfes we have a huge responsibility for the safety of the children in all of the activities.

Unlike many similar camps, over half of our staff are employed for the full year. This not only ensures that the standard of activities we offer is consistently high at all campuses but also protects children’s wellbeing, security and enjoyements. Many of our management staff (resort managers, activity managers, head of logistics & maintenance, kitchen chefs..) have been working with us for more than 10 years and are well equipped to ensure the safety of your children.
Maintaining a core team of staff who work each year with the same groups enables us to build a repertoire with schools and with their students to provide better service and a better experience.

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Staff

Each Camp is supervised by a Resort Manager and an Activities Manager. Les Elfes runs the camps with all appropriate staff, including animators, kitchen staff, nurse, night guard, cleaning team, private drivers,…

Les Elfes International sumemr camp 2024 mascotte looking happy

Les Elfes international staff's posing in their uniform in front of the Les Elfes International summer camp campus

Organisation

The counselor to student ratio is 1:7, however when including all of the Les Elfes staff (kitchen, drivers, housekeeping, reservation agents..) the ratio falls to 1:2 ensuring that there is always a pair of eyes looking after your children.

All our counselors have been carefully selected in accordance with Les Elfes criteria for skills and experience in working with children and all activities have to pass a thorough risk assessment. On top of this, Les Elfes hires expert mountain guides for activities that require more attention to guarantee safety (rock climbing, bridge swing..).

Supervision

STAFF SUPERVISION
Our Activity Managers supervise the work of our camp counselors 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 and Winter Camps, have a nurse, a receptionist and night guard, which together with our counselors’ work, allows us to offer a 24-hour supervision of the children. Transportation around the resort is being done using our private 8+ minivans which are driven by the Les Elfes team of drivers. The kitchen team is also present to cook balanced and varied meals for children and cather to any food restrictions or allergies campers might have.

Picture of Les Elfes international staff looking Professional and fun and posing in front of the summer camp campus in 2024

Safety of the students in all of the activities

Training weeks

All our new summer and winter staff 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 Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Action Plans.

In Winter all of our ski and snowboard instructors hold relevant ski and snowboard teaching qualifications and are additionally accredited by the official Verbier 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 on the mountains, rock climbing, mountain biking and water activities. We also hire specific mountain guides with teaching and leading qualifications in some of these areas to ensure the campers not only get the best out of their activities and learn from the Staff, but are safe throughout.

Daily measures

Throughout the year, whether 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 campers 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. No matter the time of year, the day always has to begin with a meeting identifying these risks. In the Winter there are many things to consider when looking at these points. 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 with three medical clinics directly in the village and a hospital accessible by car within 30 minutes.

Typical day schedule

WEATHER CHECK 7h45

The resort manager meets with the activity manager and head of logistics to check on the weather for the day and confirm the activities.The nurse also checks all kids and teens that are sick or injured and decides to either take them to the doctor, send them to their activity or have them stay on campus to rest.

GROUPS LEAVE 9h00

Each group leave for their activities with their instructor and are being supervised by the Activity Manager

LUNCH 13h00

CHECK OF GROUP BY HEAD OF SNOWSPORT

The activity manager will check all groups. They will make the decision to send campers back to campus in case of illness or to change their group to a different level if needed. Should the nurse need to look after any campers, the information is passed on accordingly

DEBRIEF 16h00

INSTRUCTORS MEETING AND NURSE CHECK

Each instructor sits down with the activity manager and does a debriefing of their day. Events such as accidents, illnesses, issues between students, skills levels and overall group atmosphere are discussed. The nurse then does one last check of the campers to ensure everyone is being taken care of.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Risk assessments are carried for each activity. We have 3 up-to-date medical clinics in Verbier, and both campuses have access to a regional hospital and two University hospitals within a 40 minutes and 75 minutes driving distance.

About Verbier

Verbier, the original home of Les Elfes, is situated in the French speaking part of Switzerland and only two hours away from Geneva. Verbier’s stunning location on a south facing plateau guarantees an exceptionally sunny climate in both summer and winter.

In addition to the breathtaking panoramic views, Verbier is one of the most famous resorts in Europe and offers a variety of sport and leisure activities all year round in a cosmopolitan and relaxed atmosphere.

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Campuses

Our two purpose built wood and stone chalets follow the Swiss Alpine tradition and offer charm and comfort to our guests. Both chalets are situated in green, peaceful nature surroundings.

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