> Q: HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS READY FOR CAMP?

A. You can't judge entirely on the basis of age. While we have children aged 6 who are perfectly happy to sleep at camp, we also could have teenagers who prefer to come for day camp only. So ask your child directly if they are interested in going to sleepaway camp. If they are always planning visits and sleepovers at a friend's house, that's a positive sign. If your child is hesitant, maybe discuss the amazing experiences and advantages that overnight camps have to offer.

> Q: WHAT ARE THE AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES?

A: Students enjoy indoor and outdoor sports, cultural visits, expeditions, clubs and societies, excursions and crafts. You can see more here.

> Q: WHAT ARE THE MORNING ACTIVITIES?

A: Most Summer Campers take French or English classes in the morning. Some take specialist courses such as Design or Technology. The classes take place Monday to Friday from 09:15 to 12:00 with a break in the middle of the morning.

> Q: WHAT IF I DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH OR FRENCH?

A: We welcome students at all language levels from complete beginners to advanced. We encourage students to speak English or French around the campus.

> Q: IS THERE AN ENTRANCE EXAM?

A: No. All students are assessed when they arrive in order to place them in the correct group for their age and ability.

> Q: HOW LARGE ARE THE CLASSES?

A: Class sizes at Summer Camp are between eight and fifteen students.

> Q: WHICH COUNTRIES DO STUDENTS COME FROM?

A: Summer campers come from all over the world, with around 40 nationalities represented. To keep our camp properly international, we have nationality and mother tongue quotas of 10% - 15%. This encourages good social and cultural integration, and great opportunities to practise a different language!

> Q: HOW MUCH POCKET MONEY IS ALLOWED?

A: Pocket money is charged to the parents’ invoice at the weekly rate of CHF 30 for 6-9s, CHF 50 for 10-12s and CHF 100 for teenagers. The children receive it in instalments during their stay. If you wish to leave additional money, you may do so on arrival day.  For teenagers, you could consider adding a credit or debit card to their phone, (e.g. Apple Pay). Physical credit cards are easily mislaid so please do not send one with your child. The school is not responsible for lost cards or lost money. 

> Q: WHO LOOKS AFTER THE STUDENTS?

A: Our staff are qualified, experienced teachers and instructors. Students are supervised at all times. With written parental permission, students aged 10 and over can go shopping in small unsupervised groups.

> Q: CAN I CONTACT MY CHILD ?

A: To encourage integration and full participation in activities, we restrict access to phones and devices. Families can phone or video call their children on Wednesdays from 8:30am to 9:00am and on the second and subsequents Sundays from 10:00 to 11:00 (all times are CEST/Swiss time). Students based at our Le Roc campus have more access to their devices but not during class time or activities. Phone privileges for Le Roc students can be withdrawn at any time.

> Q: CAN I VISIT MY CHILD ?

A: Parents may not visit their child except under exceptional circumstances and by prior agreement. Parents and guardians may not enter any part of the school campus, including access roads, car parks, any indoor and outdoor area except at official arrival and departure times or by appointment.

> Q: DO YOU MEET STUDENTS AT GENEVA AIRPORT ?

A: We meet children travelling as Unaccompanied Minors (UM) or with their parents on the official camp dates. We also take students back to Geneva Airport on the final day. These journeys, on official dates and within official times, are included in camp fees. Transport to and from La Garenne is for students only: we regret we cannot transport parents or agents. Transport from and to Zurich Airport is not included in Summer Camp fees. Students whose flights are delayed and arrive after the official camp meeting times may be required to take a private taxi from the airport at their family's expense.

> Q: WHEN DO DAY STUDENTS ATTEND ?

A: Day students attend from 08:30 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday in the first week, and Monday to Friday during the second week. Camp finishes at 12:00 on the final Friday. Day students cannot be accommodated before the drop off time in the morning or after the drop off time in the evening unless there is a late activity.

> Q: DO YOU PROVIDE TRANSPORT FOR DAY STUDENTS ?

A: Parents of day students must make their own arrangements to bring their child to school and take them home each day.

> Q: DO STUDENTS WEAR A UNIFORM?

A: Students are provided with a Summer Camp T shirt, cap and water bottle. You should pack other clothing and day to day necessities - download the clothing list here. Boarding students' clothes are laundered throughout the Summer Camp by La Garenne staff. Parents of day students are responsible for their children's laundry.

> Q: DO I NEED A VISA ?

A: This depends on your nationality. Please check the Swiss government website for further information.

> Q: CAN I CHANGE MY CHILD'S SUMMER CAMP SESSION?

A: If you inform us in writing that you wish to change your child's Summer Camp session 65 days or more before the start of the original session for which they were booked, we will consider a change if we have space in the newly-requested session.
It is not possible to change a Summer Camp session within 65 days of the start of the booked session. In this instance, it counts as a cancellation and no refund can be given (see above).
Parents and agents should take care always to ensure that the information they provide is correct. No responsibility is taken by us for acting in good faith on information supplied which subsequently turns out to be incorrect.

> Q: WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY?

A: If a Summer Camp place is cancelled 65 days or more before the start of the session, the school refunds the amount paid in full, in Swiss Francs. If a place is cancelled fewer than 65 days before the start of the session, or after the session has started, the school retains full payment. This clause also applies to early or voluntary departure, late arrival, dismissal, or absence due to illness, family emergency etc.
Optional extras cancelled within 30 days of the start of the session are not refunded. We also do not issue refunds for students who cannot travel because their travel documents are out of date, or if they are denied boarding for any other reason (exception: see pandemic policy below).
It is the parents' responsibility to ensure that all documentation is valid for travel. We strongly recommend parents take out insurance to cover cancellation eventualities.

> Q: WHAT IS THE COVID CANCELLATION POLICY?

A: If a global pandemic is declared by official agencies such as the World Health Organisation, and students cannot travel due to resulting worldwide restrictions, we either refund camp fees in full, in Swiss Francs, or offer a credit note which can be put towards a future stay (academic, summer, winter, or integration), valid for two years. In the absence of a formal declaration of a global pandemic, students who choose not to travel will not be refunded within 65 days of the start of their planned Summer Camp session. We strongly recommend parents take out insurance to cover all eventualities.