Brought to you by InterSoccer.
If you are a parent, and your boss is not kind enough to let you take the entire summer off, then you might be wondering what to do with your kids. Even if you do have time off, having energetic youngsters under your feet all day has the potential to drive you a bit crazy. Fortunately Switzerland offers plenty of options. Swiss holiday camps are varied, fun and educational.
For sporty children, that need a good run around, football camps are a good option, especially while we are in the grip of Euro 2016 fever.
InterSoccer summer camp
Switzerland’s largest football camp provider, InterSoccer, offers football for boys and girls of all levels and ages starting as young as 3. Since starting in Geneva nine years ago, the team has spread football fun across much of Switzerland, and now runs camps in Geneva, neighbouring France, Basel, Lausanne, Montreux, Aubonne, Versoix, Vevey, Zug, and Zurich. All coaches speak English and the local language. There are also girls-only camps in Basel and Versoix. This video shows one of the girls’ camps in action.
InterSoccer summer camp
In addition to their regular camps, InterSoccer is running the Tottenham Hotspur player development programme in Geneva. English Premier League Club Tottenham Hotspur, which finished third this season, qualifying them for the Champions League, is sending two UEFA B Coaches to camps that run from Monday 11 July to Friday 15 July. These full day camps are open to girls and boys of all abilities from 5 to 15 years old. Camps start at 10 am and run until 5 pm with supervised drop off available from 8:30 am. All children doing two days or more will get a Tottenham Hotspur replica home shirt plus a medal. Director Steve Long stresses that “The camps are for girls and boys of all abilities. Having fun is our focus. Our coaches are experienced and know how to keep kids happy and engaged.”
InterSoccer summer camp
Getting your kids out on the lake is another healthy way to entertain them. In Montreux for example there are sailing, kayaking and waterskiing courses. Geneva and Zurich also offer sailing courses.
Conservation groups such as Switzerland’s Pro Natura offer camps or weekend outings across Switzerland that get kids out among nature.
In addition, some communes offer free or low cost activities. For example the commune of Vevey offers a range of activities known as passeport vacances. Commune websites are a good place to start looking for these.
Things to consider when deciding are logistics: where are the camps? Can you drop your children off on your way to work and collect them on your way home? Is there any flexibility? It is better to know in advance!
Involving your child in researching and choosing a camp can help ensure you select the right one. Find out what a typical day will be like and see if that fits with your routine. This way, both you and your kids will know what to expect.
For those in Geneva, a trip to see Geneva’s Jet d’eau up close could be an interesting way to cool down on a hot summer’s day. If you can assemble a group, tours of the pump house can be arranged.
Aare river – copyright Bern Tourism
If you live near Bern and have older children who are strong swimmers you might consider a dip in the Aare river.
And if you are tempted by soccer camps, dates, locations and prices of InterSoccer camps can be found here.
Bonnes vacances! Schönen Urlaub!
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