Schools & camps · Chesières / Villars-sur-Ollon, Vaud, Switzerland
La Garenne · International Summer Camp
A Swiss boarding-school summer programme combining English or French with mountain activities, offered as boarding or day camp.
Dates published · check places
2027 announced: boarding two-week starts 27 June, 11 July or 25 July; four-week starts 27 June or 11 July. Final boarding departure 7 August; day dates start Monday and finish Friday.
Official sources checked ·- Ages / grades
- 5–16 · day or boarding
- Duration
- Fixed 2- or 4-week sessions
- Attendance
- Parent accompanies / Day attendance / Child-only boarding
- Language
- English or French · beginner to advanced
Why it is in this guide
A true school-based international camp with a two-week structure, detailed 2027 terms and a day option for parents staying nearby.
Who it may suit
Families seeking an Alpine language-and-activity programme, or a child who is genuinely ready for residential camp.
What to weigh up
High cost and strict refund deadlines. If parents stay locally, the child must be a day student; siblings cannot mix day and boarding status. Five-year-old eligibility does not itself establish readiness for boarding.
Operating history and evidence
A school founded in 1947, with official 2026 and 2027 camps, supports institutional continuity. World Schools hosts seven parent/family reviews dated February 2023, including camp-related accounts, but their uniform date and testimonial style limit independence and recency. Treat these as limited third-party-hosted evidence, not a verified safety endorsement.
Age, language and eligibility
The school explicitly welcomes children from around the world; year-round La Garenne enrolment is not required. Day and boarding are both offered from age five in 2027, with groups ages 5–9, 10–12 and 13–16; ask how care is adapted to the youngest campers. English or French is available from complete beginner to advanced, grouped by age and language level, with no promised Japanese support.
What the days look like
Language classes in the morning, outdoor/sports/creative activities and excursions later. Day camp runs 08:50–18:00, Monday–Saturday in week one and Monday–Friday in the final week.
Parents, accommodation and transport
Boarders live in supervised school chalets. Day families arrange their own lodging and morning travel; the school shuttles children to a village meeting point in the evening. Geneva transfers are included for boarders only on official dates/times; plan a long-haul journey from Tokyo plus the Alpine transfer.
Included costs and the family budget
2027 two weeks: ages 5–12 CHF7,200 boarding / CHF6,550 day; ages 13–16 CHF7,550 / CHF6,975. Standard lessons, activities and meals are included. Mandatory medical insurance CHF10/day, pocket money, premium activities and flights are extra; family lodging is additional.
Before you book
Confirm child's boarding readiness, day/boarding rule, airport schedule, ability-appropriate activities and the full insurance/pocket-money invoice. The school does not arrange accommodation or transport for parents. The published 2027 schedule has fixed two- or four-week sessions with no one-week option.
Cancellation and refunds
2027: cancellation 65 days or more before the session refunds fees minus CHF500; fewer than 65 days gives no refund. Session changes within 65 days count as cancellation. Optional extras become non-refundable within 28 days; read the full exceptions.
Sources and official information
Official sources checked ·
- Official 2027 camp and FAQ
- 2027 fees and full conditions
- English programme and level policy
- Historical 2026 FAQ
- Third-party-hosted parent/family reviews; limited independence
An editorial comparison based on official information, not first-hand reviews, rankings or a safety guarantee. Match the school calendar, language needs, independence and the adults’ plans together.