friLingue Camps
Highlights
- Multicultural environment
- The joy of language learning
- Many years of experience
- Good price-performance ratio
Focused on Languages for an enriched camp experience.
Overview
"Education is not preparation for life, education is life" - John Dewey
friLingue is politically and denominationally independent, but friLingue also has a philosophy and values. friLingue wants to support the participating young people: Humanly, socially and also politically. friLingue does not want to act as an authoritarian teacher, but rather as a friend and partner. However, this also means that friLingue expects more from the young people than in normal school lessons: responsibility, initiative, helpfulness, humor, punctuality, spontaneity, ... Just like you would expect from a real friend. friLingue thrives on the attitude that the participants bring with them. The more positive and motivated the participants are, the juhuiiiii! friLingue also wants to show young people new hobbies and interests, sensitize them to environmental issues, open up new horizons for them, open the door to the world (volunteers) and introduce them to many responsible role models. friLingue believes in a better world: Yes, we can!
FriLingue organizes language camps, vacation camps and ski camps for young people in Switzerland. With friLingue you learn languages in a fun, relaxed and multicultural atmosphere - and meet other young people and make friends for life! On top of that, the young people benefit from language lessons in small groups - average in 2023: 5.2 teens per class. The vacations become an unforgettable experience.
friLingue has camps at various locations in Switzerland, in Braunwald, Liddes, Estavayer-le-lac and Schwarzsee. In the morning we study German, English, French or math and the rest of the day we offer many different activities, workshops, excursions and of course an evening program.
8-17 yo
From December to October
1 week
From $1,150
English
Max 70 campers
Co-Education
Private
Activities
Braunwald:
Extra options available: Intensive Course, Art Workshop, Coding Workshop, Photography Workshop, Theater Workshop
In addition to numerous activities, workshops and language learning, we explore the region during one full-day excursion and two half-day excursions per week:
FIFA World Football Museum
Swiss National Museum
Art house Zürich
WOW Museum
Kulturama
Zoological Museum
Anna Göldi Museum
House of Läderach
Lindt Home of Chocolate
Alpamare, the biggest indoor aqua park in Switzerland
Landesplattenberg Engi
Nature center Glarnerland
Spa with thermal waters
Irtag
Lake Zurich
Lake Walen
Disco night
Karaoke
Movie night
Casino
Quiz night
Swiss evening
Treasure hunt
Pyramid Game
Night walk
Liddes St. Bernhard
Extra options available: Intensiv Course, Tennis lessons, Adventure activities
WORKSHOPS
We currently offer a wide array of workshops, such as sports workshops (football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, ultimate frisbee, American football, etc.), art workshops (painting, drawing, graffiti, dance, yoga, meditation, etc.), cooking workshops and many else.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
Evening activities are the shining star of our language camp program, saving the best for last! We always put in the extra effort to include each and every student into the activity that’s planned for the evening, and those activities are: disco night, karaoke night, card and board games night, casino night, movie night, campfire, zombie & werewolf games, sardines, reverse hide&seek, and many else.
EXCURSIONS
Half-day excursions
Right after their language lessons and lunch, we take our students to one of the nearby attractive locations near St. Bernard camp, which might be:
Champex – a stunningly beautiful small village with a great fairytale-like lake
Salt mines in Bex may not sound way too attractive but we highly recommend holding onto our hand when we descend into the dark pit and the intricate labyrinth of the salt mines.
Col du St. Bernard – a famous historical pass which was hosting Napoleon and Hannibal in their respective time periods, it’s a must-visit once you are in St. Bernard!
Adventure park La Fouly is a beautiful and quite physically engaging complex, we guarantee that our students will remember this one!
Full-day excursions
Aletsch glacier is possibly the most physically demanding excursion our company has to offer but mark our words – it is worth every drop of sweat. Once you get up there on the altitude of little more than 4100m, you will witness the true greatness our majestic Swiss nature has to offer.
Sion – a city less than an hour drive away from St. Bernard camp, it has a rich history with a fortress in the middle of the city. Definitely worth visiting and spending a couple of hours there.
The Aosta valley is a stunning full-day excursion location in Northern Italy, where our students can experience all the beauties the Italian lifestyle has to offer, including hiking, rafting and pizza for dinner in one of Aosta’s worldwide famous restaurants.
Emosson Dam is an architectural masterpiece with stunning hiking tracks and breathtaking panoramic views.
Schwarzsee:
Extra options available: Intensiv Course, Dance
WORKSHOPS
We currently offer a wide array of workshops, such as sports workshops (football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, ultimate frisbee, American football, etc.), art workshops (painting, drawing, graffiti, dance, yoga, meditation, etc.), cooking workshops and many else.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
Evening activities are the shining star of our language camp program, saving the best for last! We always put in the extra effort to include each and every student into the activity that’s planned for the evening, and those activities are: disco night, karaoke night, card and board games night, casino night, movie night, campfire, zombie & werewolf games, sardines, reverse hide&seek, and many else.
EXCURSIONS
Half-day excursions
Right after their language lessons and lunch, we take our students to one of the nearby attractive locations near Schwarzsee, which might be:
Schwarzsee lake with the great lakeside where our students can either relax or take on some more physically demanding activities like stand-up pedalos, mountain trottinette or toboggan run!
Hiking! After reaching a nearby mountain top by nearby gondola, we are undertaking a quite mild hiking path which is taking a good portion of the afternoon and their stamina.
Laser tag and bowling in Fribourg – the self-explanatory title, and usually the most popular within our student populous.
Full-day excursions
On Saturdays, straight after the student’s brunch, we are taking our students to one of the following locations:
Cailler chocolate factory, which is by far the most popular excursion in our Schwarzsee program, the students usually can’t wait until they reach the finish line of the tour where there’s an all-you-can-eat section. And they do eat everything!
Gruyères is a city widely known for its cheese. A small but quite architecturally beautiful city offers a plethora of beautiful sights and views.
Fribourg is a medieval city above the Sarine river. The sightseeing locations include the Fribourg cathedral, nearby parks, shopping malls, the famous museum of arts & history, etc.
Adventure park Gantrisch, a beautiful and quite physically engaging complex. We guarantee that our students will remember this one!
Estavayer-le-Lac:
Extra options available: Intensiv Course, Waterski-Course, Sailing
WORKSHOPS
We currently offer a wide array of workshops, such as sports workshops (water skiing, sailing, mini-golf, football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, ultimate frisbee, American football, etc.), art workshops (painting, drawing, graffiti, dance, yoga, meditation, etc.), cooking workshops and many else.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
Evening activities are the shining star of our language camp program, saving the best for last! We always put in the extra effort to include each and every student into the activity that’s planned for the evening, and those activities are disco night, karaoke night, card and board games night, casino night, movie night, campfire, zombie & werewolf games, pyramid challenge, sardines, reverse hide&seek, and many else.
EXCURSIONS
Half-day excursions
The Estavayer camp is located on the lake Neuchâtel, and there are a plethora of options for the half-day excursions, including water skiing, sailing, beach volleyball tournaments, campfire next to the lake, etc.
Payerne – a small but vibrant city of Payerne offers a marvelous karting track, which based on our previous experience, our students adore!
Full-day excursions
Fribourg is a medieval city above the Sarine river. The sightseeing locations include the Fribourg cathedral, nearby parks, shopping malls, the famous museum of arts & history, etc.
Yverdon, a city most famous for its spa resorts, amongst other locations offers an option of visiting the great Museum of Science Fiction!
Avenches, a city most famous by its Roman amphitheater, with rich historical value and significance is also one of our full-day excursion options.
The city of Neuchâtel, the French-speaking capital of the Swiss canton Neuchâtel, lies on the northern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. Its medieval old town spreads beneath the Château de Neuchâtel, a castle begun in the 12th century.
Academics
Language Courses (German, French, English), Mathematics courses, Gymiprüfung-Vorbereitung
Language lessons
Small groups of 6 participants in average create an efficient learning environment that is catered towards the individual.
Classes take place from Monday to Friday from 9 – 12.30 am.
– 20 language lessons (15 hours) per week
– young, highly motivated teachers
– communication and practical language usage at the core of the syllabus;
– small class sizes (6 students in average) so that each student can be helped individually.
– Our teachers use modern methods such as role play, theater, games and audiovisual tools.
– The focus lies on Communication skills and modern language usage.
– The mathematics course can be held in english or german
– The Gymiprüfung-Vorbereitungscamp can be held in german only
FAQ LANGUAGE COURSE
-Can I take the language course as a complete beginner? Yes, with friLingue you can also join the course as a complete beginner. We’re confident that after two weeks in one of our camps, you’ll find that you’re able to understand and express yourself in simple everyday situations.
-Will we speak English or my mother tongue in class? Most of our teachers are native speakers in the language that they’re teaching and the aim of our courses is to speak only in the language that is being taught. However, most of our teachers are multilingual and all have at least a conversational level of English.
-Are our teacher’s native speakers? Yes, all of our French, German and English teachers are either native speakers or have proficiency in the language that they are teaching.
-How many lessons do we have per week? The basic course given in our camps is 20 lessons of 45 minutes a week. Additional intensive courses of two additional 45 minute lessons per afternoon can be added for either 2 or 3 afternoons a week.
-How many students do we have per class? Our lessons are given in small groups of approximately 6 students. In 2020 our class average was 4.78 students per class.
– What are the levels? Depending on the size of the camp, we normally have between 3 and 5 different levels. We base our levels in accordance with the common European system: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.
– Is there a level test? Yes, every Sunday after your arrival there is a short written and oral test to help assess your level and place you in the correct group.
– Is there an English speaking supervisor in the camp? Yes, almost all of our teachers and support staff can speak English fluently or at least to a conversational level.
– Can discount codes be combined? No, unfortunately, you cannot use two discount codes in combination, with the exception of the sibiling discount, which is explain below in point 10.
– How does the sibling discount work?
– Siblings get a discount of CHF 75 per child on the fRilingue camps held in Switzerland and CHF 50 for the holiday camps and stay abroad respectively. To benefit from the discount, please put the following codes:
– siblingsCamp for the Swiss camps
– siblingsAbroad for the holiday camps and stays abroad
20hours of lessons per week
Accommodation & facilities
Braunwald:
- Single room with shower
- Single room without shower
- Double room with shower
- 4-6 bed room with shower
- 4-6 bed room without shower
- Dormitory without shower
Our accommodation options at the Adrenalin Backpackers Hotel are designed with comfort and convenience in mind, ensuring a delightful stay for your child.
The Adrenalin Backpackers Hotel awaits you on a sunny terrace in the Glarus Alps with the most beautiful views! The common room offers a lot of space where we can learn, play, dance, laugh and do much more together. We also have a common room with a pool table, soccer box and it will certainly never be boring!
For those who love the camaraderie of group living, our spacious 4-6 bedroom rooms with shared bathrooms provide a vibrant and social atmosphere where campers can bond and create lasting connections. Alternatively, if privacy is preferred, our 4-6 bedroom rooms with private bathrooms offer a more intimate setting while still accommodating a small group.For families or close-knit friends, our 2-bedroom rooms with private bathrooms provide a cozy and homely space to relax and unwind. For those seeking their own private sanctuary, our single rooms with private bathrooms offer a tranquil retreat where campers can rest and recharge. We also offer dormitory-style rooms with shared bathrooms, perfect for fostering new friendships and building a strong sense of community.
Whichever room type you choose, rest assured that your child's comfort and safety are our utmost priority.
Liddes St. Bernard:
- 8-bed room
- 6-bed room
- 4-bed room
- Host family - twin room
- 4-bed room
Auberge des Alpes - shared bathroom, 4-bed room
Auberge des Alpes - private bathroom, Double room
Auberge des Alpes - shared bathroom, Double room
Auberge des Alpes - private bathroom,
Relais de Dranse
Our spacious, 2014 renovated chalet “Relais de Dranse” in Liddes is in a wonderfully quiet location on the Dranse, a source river of the Rhone, about 5 minutes below the pass road into the Aosta Valley. Equipped with ping pong, billiards, table football and a garden to romp around in, our chalet offers everything for a perfect get around. You will soon feel at home here. Lots of exercises, no traffic noise, no through traffic, absolutely ideal for relaxed language holidays in Valais!
Alternatively, you can also live with a host family in Liddes St. Bernard. From morning to evening French - so you give your language skills an extra boost and get to know French in everyday life. Our gracious host families look forward to getting to know you during your vacation language course.
Auberge des Alpes
Auberge des Alpes is a cozy hotel nestled in the picturesque mountain village of Liddes in Switzerland.It is located just a 10-minute walk from our camp, where all the meals, classes, and activities will take place. Whether you're here to explore the stunning natural beauty of the Swiss Alps or to relax and unwind in a peaceful mountain setting, we look forward to welcoming you to our hotel.
Schwarzsee:
- 4-bed room
- Double room
The Schwarzsee campus was completely renovated in 2016 and offers modern furnished rooms, a large living room, and spacious classrooms.
Just next to the beautiful wooden architecture, a large sports complex invites you to let off some steam. In addition to an indoor gym, there are several beach volleyball, football, basketball courts, a climbing wall and a lawn for a variety of games and activities. You can also play table tennis, table football or billiards.
The pretty village of Schwarzsee is only a 10 minute walk from the campus. The lake is only 300m from the accommodation, so a jump in the cool, fresh water is not to be missed!
Estavayer-le-lac:
Dormitory 4-bed room
The Estavayer camp takes place in our camp house, "Abri Côtier", which is located just a two minutes walk away from the beach. The house has:
64 beds
four hotel-style 4-bed rooms
four dormitories of 10 beds
*Our camp house "Abri-Côtier" is located only 200 meters off the sandy beach of "Nouvelle Plage", right next to the natural reserve Grande Cariçaie. The camp area is divided in two buildings. The beach camp has a maximum capacity of 64 beds and is ideal for older teenagers that love to be outside since the daily routine in camp is spent outdoors.
Reviews
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Q&A
The cancellation of the contract has to be communicated with us by registered letter as soon as possible. If you withdraw from the contract, the following cancellation fees are due:
- – up to 30 days before the beginning of the course: CHF 500</li
- – 29 to 14 days before the beginning of the course: 50% of the course price</li
- – 13 to 7 days before the beginning of the course: 80% of the course price </li
- – 7 to 1 day (s) before the beginning of course 100%
Best camp ever! The staff is great and the diversity of people you can find among the students is enriching! It is definitely an experience I would recommend to anyone!
It was great how we learned there, the excursions and workshops were great and well organized and the atmosphere was very lovely!
Everyone is very friendly and the classes are small so we have many opportunities to speak a lot. I also love Schwarzsee for the area and surroundings – the mountains are so beautiful!