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Verbier Was Nominated The Best Ski Resort In The World

The winter holiday break provides numerous opportunities for campers of different age groups to engage in various fun activities. Whether parents or guardians choose a full-day or half-day camp activities program, kids are highly likely to enjoy their winter holiday school break.

Winter camps for kids offer exciting activities for members, non-members, and big and small groups, such as board games, ninjas games, archery, sledding, lego games, and gymnastics. Campers can also learn about robotics and master performing arts in their after-school holiday camps.

Read on for more insights about English camps in Europe. We will also discuss safety and health tips for winter camps for youth and how Verbier has recently been voted the best ski resort in the world.

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Verbier was Nominated as the Best Ski Resort in the World

During the recently concluded World Ski Awards, the Verbier Swiss resort won the world’s best ski resort title. Various winter break camps and resorts in the Swiss mountains won four more global awards at the same event.

Many British skiers recognize Verbier as their favorite resort for day camps and enrichment summer camps, and YMCA activities. The resort was praised for having approximately 100 lifts and over 400 kilometers of ski runs for different expertise levels.

Besides the runs, Verbier also received recognition for its après-ski. The event organizers mentioned that the resort accommodates a cosmopolitan clientele of different generations.

Why Verbier was Nominated as the Best Ski Resort in the World

Verbier received massive support from its fans and partners, securing the most votes and beating 25 competitors, among them the world’s most fancied destinations.

Health Safety in Verbier for Winter Camps for Kids

Health Safety in Verbier for Winter Camps for Kids

Whether kiddos will go for field trip day options, full day camps, or sports camps during the winter school break, there are various safety issues to watch out for. These include:

· Frostbite, Hypothermia and Dehydration

Dehydration, frostbite, and hypothermia are the core safety issues that kids can encounter during winter camp. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature starts dropping. It’s more likely to happen when kids get cold and wet.

Camp supervisors should watch for symptoms such as low energy, shivering, poor coordination, and shallow breathing. If you notice these symptoms in a camper, remove their wet clothes and ensure they are warm by covering them with a blanket. You can also use dry and warm compresses like a water bottle with warm water. 

Frostbite occurs on body parts exposed to extremely high winds or cold temperatures. During extreme weather, ensure the entire skin is covered while protecting the feet and hands from getting cold. Treat frostbite by pouring warm water on the cold areas. Avoid rubbing the areas or warming the areas using fire. Doing so can damage the skin further. 

Dehydration occurs when you don’t believe you’re sweating like you would in warm temperatures. Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, dry mouth, weakness, muscle cramps, and increased heart rate. Avoid dehydration by drinking lots of water even when you don’t feel thirsty.

· Have the Right Gear

If your child is going winter camping, ensure they have lots of warm clothes. Pack extra sleeping bag liner and blankets, even though the camp may provide some. Avoid cotton clothing and choose a waterproof and breathable outer layer, an insulating middle layer, and a moisture quick-drying base layer.

Safety Guidelines in Verbier for Winter Camps for Kids

Snowboarding and skiing involve various risks. Campers should understand the international ski federation (FIS) rules that govern the conduct of snowboarders and skiers to be on the safe side. These globally recognized guidelines provide instructions for people using the pistes that they should adhere to consistently.

· Behavior and Speed Regulation

Skiers must move in control always. They should adapt their behavior and speed to fit their abilities and the overall conditions, that is, the traffic density and state of the snow.

· Layer Up

Ensure your kids dress appropriately for the cold weather. Layering up with base and mid layers, shell, and puffy jackets allows kids to control their body temperature. As kids go through their daily activities, they’ll generate body heat. Avoiding sweating is crucial because once sweat dries, it cools, leaving kids feeling colder. Kids can manage their body heat by adding or deducting layers based on the weather to reduce sweating.

· Use Multiple Sleeping Bags

Campers can use two sleeping bags instead of one to stay warmer. The camping mattress insulates kids from snow and the cold ground. 

Multiple sleeping pads provide more warmth and insulation. The pad’s thermal resistance or warmth is measured through its R-value. The R-values of two sleeping pads combine to provide enhanced insulation power.

· Choice of Direction

Snowboarders or skiers coming from behind can pick their course. They must ensure their choice protects the safety of the people in front of them. The snowboarder or skier ahead has priority, and the people behind must maintain considerable distance to ensure everyone makes movements freely.

· Overtaking

Snowboarders and skiers can overtake from below or above, on the left or the right. However, the one overtaking should always allow sufficient space for involuntary or voluntary movements from the people they are overtaking, whether they are stationary or not.

· Stopping Along the Slope

All stops should be made at the slope’s sides. All snowboarders or skiers must not stand along narrow passages or those with poor visibility. Should they fall, they must exit the piste as fast as possible.

· Ascending and Descending on Foot

Ascending and Descending on Foot

People ascending and descending on foot should always use the piste’s edge to avoid hindering other snowboarders and skiers. Remember, footprints disfigure the piste and can trigger risks for others.

· Respect Signs and markings and Assist where Possible

Every user must beware of the signs and markings. Suppose you witness an accident. You must assist where necessary. If you are unable to offer assistance raising the alarm is crucial. If you are involved in or see an accident, report to third parties or the emergency services immediately.

Finally

Attending winter camp can be exciting. It allows campers to meet and make new friends, participate in art camps and other activities, and enjoy the outdoors. Campers should always carry a water bottle to hydrate regularly despite the cold weather.

Transfers from and to the Geneva Airport

How and where do you welcome children coming by airplane?

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Arrival desk at the airport

Les Elfes welcomes campers in the arrival hall of the Geneva Airport (GVA).
We have our own office here.
Our friendly and helpful staff will take care of the youngsters right away and then drive them with our private bus to the campus. Our campus can be easily reached within 1h50 after leaving the Geneva airport.

This is a video made by our staff during an arrival day:

Summer Special Events

During Summer, Verbier and surroundings will host many great events. Those events will be the time for great special excursions with our campers.

This is a quick overview we would like to share with you:

From 5th to 20th of July
Montreux Jazz Festival

The 47th Montreux Jazz Festival will take place from the 5th of July to the 20th of July across the lake.
Kids will visit this magical place during an excursion to Montreux and enjoy the music and food in a great atmosphere.

Founded by Claude Nobs in 1967, over the years the Montreux Jazz Festival has become an unmissable event for music fans in Switzerland and around the world. Its stages have been graced by all of music’s greats, from Miles Davis to Ray Charles and from David Bowie to Prince.

More infos: www.montreuxjazz.com

From 19th of July to 4th of August
Verbier Classic Festival

The Verbier Festival brings together the greatest musical talents in Verbier. Since 20 years, the Verbier Festival has built up a reputation for quality, youth and frenetic artistic activity. 17 days of music with a line-up of exceptional soloists.

Every morning kids will be able to watch the training of the best musicians in the world playing Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert, Mozart, Bach and so much more.

Complete program (download link)
More infos: www.verbierfestival.com

1st of August
Swiss National Day

The day was chosen because August 1st 1291 was the date on which three Alpine cantons swore the oath of confederation, an act which later came to be regarded as the foundation of Switzerland.

Verbier will celebrate this alliance with a display of fireworks, bonfires. Children used to carry lighted paper lanterns roam the streets at night.

Public and private buildings are decorated with national, cantonal, and community flags, and the bakers produce special bread rolls with a small Swiss flag on top.

More infos: www.myswitzerland.com/en/swiss-national-day-august-1st.html

From 16th of August to 25th of August
Jumping International Verbier

Just in front of Les Elfes Campus! From 16th to 25th of August on the parking of the Sport Center.

3 stars International Jumping.

This horse jumping show, featuring some of Switzerland’s and Europe’s greatest riders, offers outstanding entertainment for experts and novices alike.

The spectacular senery and frendly atmosphere of the village combine to create a unique experience : a glimpse of true equestrian magic !

More infos: www.verbier-cso.com

Cow fights

To discover the “queens of the mountains” – the famous Hérens cows – the famous rituals known as inalpes (leading the cows up to the alpine pastures) and désalpes (leading them down again) are truly magical traditional experiences.

Cow fighting is a traditional Swiss event, mostly in Valais, in which a cow fights another cow. Each year, the Swiss canton of Valais hosts a series of cow fights known as combats de reines (“queen fights”), which began in the 1920s and has drawn as many as 50,000 spectators in a year.

The winner is called La Reine des Reines (“the queen of queens”) and increases dramatically in value. At the end of the year, a grand final is held in Martigny, where the six best from seven districts do battle in six weight categories.