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John F. Kennedy International School, Switzerland

Adventurous Outdoor JFK Switzerland Summer Camp in Gstaad

Since 1950, International school in the Swiss Alps, CIS and Swiss Learning Member

age icon 6-13 years old

time icon 2 weeks

book icon Weekly hours: 30

See Dates

Session Dates

Choose your preferred session from the options below and submit your details in order to complete your booking.

July - Boarding

Start 7/5/2026
End 7/19/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 6,300

July - Day

Start 7/5/2026
End 7/19/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 5,050

July - Boarding

Start 7/5/2026
End 7/26/2026
Duration 3 Weeks
Price CHF 9,000

July - Day

Start 7/5/2026
End 7/26/2026
Duration 3 Weeks
Price CHF 6,825

July - Boarding

Start 7/12/2026
End 7/26/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 6,300

July - Day

Start 7/12/2026
End 7/26/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 5,050

July - Boarding

Start 7/12/2026
End 8/2/2026
Duration 3 Weeks
Price CHF 9,000

July - Day

Start 7/12/2026
End 8/2/2026
Duration 3 Weeks
Price CHF 6,825

July - Boarding

Start 7/19/2026
End 8/2/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 6,300

July - Day

Start 7/19/2026
End 8/2/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 5,050

July - Boarding

Start 7/19/2026
End 8/9/2026
Duration 3 Weeks
Price CHF 9,000

July - Day

Start 7/19/2026
End 8/9/2026
Duration 3 Weeks
Price CHF 6,825

July - Boarding

Start 7/26/2026
End 8/9/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 6,300

July - Day

Start 7/26/2026
End 8/9/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CA$5,050

July - Boarding

Start 7/26/2026
End 8/16/2026
Duration 3 Weeks
Price CHF 9,000

July - Day

Start 7/26/2026
End 8/16/2026
Duration 3 Weeks
Price CHF 6,825

August - Boarding

Start 8/2/2026
End 8/16/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 6,300

August - Day

Start 8/2/2026
End 8/16/2026
Duration 2 Weeks
Price CHF 5,050

Course Description: Adventurous Outdoor JFK Switzerland Summer Camp in Gstaad

Day students attend from Monday to Friday only

Outdoor Summer Camp provides the best outdoor activities and challenges for young learners, ages 6-13 in the postcard-like Swiss scenery.

Nature is Calling for an Unforgettable Summer in Switzerland

Nature offers a wealth of challenges and learning experiences that can be interpreted academically, socially, philosophically. The Outdoor Summer Camp harnesses these challenges, teaching children to succeed and explore. It’s about learning, but through living.

The Outdoor Summer Camp has been designed to impart a holistic education to your child aged 6-13 years. 

Set in the stunning Alpine region of Saanenland, it is a first-hand outdoor learning experience that will begin your child’s development as healthy, confident, enterprising and responsible adults.

Over two or three weeks, children at the Outdoor Summer Camp will take part in a life-changing outdoor learning experience. 

The mountain summer adventure camp allows them time to decompress and unwind from their urban lives, get in shape and live a life that will positively impact their ambitions and future decisions.

Why It is a Great Choice

  • This program is perfect for your child to experience the variety of outdoor activities in the beautiful nature of Swiss Alpines.

  • It's about the challenges, overcoming those challenges and exploring nature.

  • Focuses on developing in depth knowledge in nature as well as learning fair play, honesty, enthusiasm & good character.

Let’s Zoom into Outdoor Summer Camp

Location

This adventurous Outdoor Summer Camp is located in Saanen, near the world’s famous ski town of Gstaad. Summer in Gstaad is like entering nature’s tranquility. Gstaad is located in the south-west of Switzerland right on the border with the French-speaking part of the country. Plus to reach Gstaad, you will be amazed by breathtaking landscapes over Lake Geneva and Swiss authentic scenery: pristine nature, green landscape, mountains, cows, authentic chalets and a multitude of waterfalls and torrents.

Course Description

The Outdoor Summer Camp uses nature, adventure and team building as the creative and intuitive medium of instruction. 

Each week at the camp is themed - Water, Mountain or Rock and students explore forests, streams and mountains. The school also follows the International Early Years Curriculum, International Primary Curriculum and the International Middle Years Curriculum underpinned by the British Curriculum.

Students will be taught in small batches by experienced teachers who are trained and devoted to helping each student reach their potential as individuals. 

A typical day at the Outdoor Summer Camp

07:00 Wake up

07:45 Breakfast

08:30 Camp Registration

09:00 – 12:30 Outdoor Learning

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch

13:30 – 16:00 Outdoor Learning Continues

16:00 Snack

16:15 End of Day Meeting

16:30 Return to Boarding House

17:00 – 18:00 Showers & free time

18:00 – 19:00 Dinner

19:00 – 20:00 Evening Activities – Events/Shows

20:30 Milk & Biscuits

21:00 Lights out - Good night

Accommodation

Accommodation at Swiss Wooden Chalets with a choice of shared bedrooms or single ensuite bedrooms depending on availability (extra cost for single room)

Activities

To see, to touch is to understand in Outdoor Summer Camp. 

A combination of outdoor and indoor activities - music, folktales, crafts, games, sports etc - are designed to help build your child’s language skills.

Outdoor activities include team-building, fun, exciting field days running relay races with your team or hiking.

Getting to Outdoor Summer Camp

The nearest airport to Saanen is Geneva (GVA) Airport which is 93.2 km away and it takes about 2 hours by car. Airport transfer can be booked with the school where the school staff will personally come pick your child up at the airport. When you get through the immigration, please look for a sign with your child’s name as the driver will be waiting to take you safely to the Summer Camp residence to unpack and settle in!

What is Included:

  • Use of campus facilities

  • Tuition, Day & Evening activities

  • Weekend activities

  • Lunch (for Day Campers) / All Meals (for boarders)

  • Shared accommodation (for boarders)

  • Laundry service (excludes dry cleaning) for boarders

  • Bed linen, pillows and blankets (for boarders)

  • Medical, Accident, Luggage & Private Liability insurance

  • Traditional Swiss chalet style Boarding Houses in Saanen, offering separate accommodation for boys and girls.

  • Shared bedrooms with peers of similar age, promoting English through mixed nationalities.

  • Bedroom allocation decided solely by Staff; special arrangements require prior discussion.

  • Additional facilities, including a sports hall and swimming pool, just a short walk from the School campus.

  • Nutritious, varied meals prepared by a qualified chef for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

  • Off-site or packed lunches during outdoor activities; vegetarian and special dietary options available.

  • Snacks and drinks provided during breaks; fruit always available in Boarding Houses.

  • Children should not bring additional food to Camp.

  • Campers wear their own clothes, with all items clearly marked with the child's name.

  • Appropriate dress required for a range of outdoor activities.

  • Suggested packing list provided at the end of the booklet.

  • Daily laundry service available for boarders at no extra cost; clothing must be machine washable.

  • Emphasis on children's hygiene: daily showers, teeth cleaning twice a day, regular laundry.

  • Privacy ensured during shower times.

  • Valuables should be left at home, as the Camp is not responsible for loss or theft.

Facilities on site:

  • Common areas

  • Lounge with television in both Houses

  • Sports field and sports equipment

  • Table tennis table

  • Mini football table

  • Art room

  • Assembly hall

  • Music

  • Folktales

  • Crafts

  • Games

  • Sports to enhance language skills

  • Team-building

  • Field days with relay races

  • Hiking

Each week an excursion to visit;

  • Swiss landmark such as Gruyère,

  • Cailler Chocolate factory or Montreux.

  • Arrival: Sunday, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm for registration. Inform if arriving early or late.

  • Departures: Parents pick up children between 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on the last Sunday of the stay; notify for special travel arrangements.

  • Change over day: Sundays for welcoming new and farewelling current campers, with on-campus activities and time for outings with parents from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

  • Airport transfers available for Geneva (CHF 420) airports for unaccompanied minors; contact us 2 weeks prior with completed Travel and UM Forms.

Each week at the camp features a different theme: "Water" focuses on water adventure activities, "Mountain" includes hiking and camping, and "Rock" centers on natural rock climbing with technique training.

Mountain

  • Hiking in the alpine environment, exploring summer pastures.

  • Learning map and compass navigation, understanding weather conditions and necessary equipment.

  • Camping under the stars, observing the Milky Way, and studying nocturnal life in Saanenland.

Rock

  • Instruction in safe climbing across various outdoor terrains.

  • Developing skills and confidence with activities like zip-lining and abseiling.

  • Exploring rock formations, understanding their formation, habitats they provide, and how to search for fossils and mountain animals.

Water

  • Canoeing, raft building, canyoning.

  • Exploring river flora and fauna.

  • Teaching students to survey mountain streams.

  • Learning to identify water animals, test water purity, velocity, and temperature.

  • Enhanced river crossing experiences post-summer.

Typical Day

07:00 Wake up

07:45 Breakfast

08:30 Camp Registration

09:00 – 12:30 Outdoor Learning

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch

13:30 – 16:00 Outdoor Learning Continues

16:00 Snack

16:15 End of Day Meeting

16:30 Return to Boarding House

17:00 – 18:00 Showers & free time

18:00 – 19:00 Dinner

19:00 – 20:00 Evening Activities – Events/Shows

20:30 Milk & Biscuits

** 21:00** Lights out - Good night

  • Geneva Airport Transfer fee: CHF 420 per way

  • Pocket Money Advice: A small amount of pocket money will be given to Boarding Campers before each excursion. We therefore ask that children do not come to Camp with any money of their own unless otherwise requested.

  • Use of campus facilities

  • Tuition, Day & Evening activities

  • Weekend activities

  • All Meals

  • Shared accommodation

  • Laundry service (excludes dry cleaning)

  • Bed linen, pillows and blankets

  • Medical and accident insurance, including medical repatriation in case of emergency are included in the camp fees.

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