Welcome to the latest blog from International Summer Camp Montana and we hope that you are well, wherever you might be reading from in the World!  The end of November is approaching and soon Crans-Montana will be buzzing with people who have Winter sports on their mind.  However, our minds are still firmly on warmer weather and preparations for the summer season of 2012!

This past summer season, the Pioneer section had the opportunity to take part in something that has fast become a global phenomenon;  they had the chance play ‘Quidditch’!  For those not familiar with Quidditch, it was originally a fictional sport developed by the creator of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling.  However, it is now a very real sport, being a fast paced, high action game. It’s popularity has grown across the with famous Universities forming teams and World wide competitions are now held.

During summer 2011 though, the Pioneers were amongst the new crop of Quidditch players!  Used as an evening activity, the entire section was split up into ‘houses’ using elaborate techniques, great costumes and some fancy work by the Counselors!  There was also an Oscar nominated performance by a certain Head Counselor…….!  The ‘houses’ were named as in the Harry Potter stories – Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Griffindor.
The rules were explained cleary before the fun began and it is important to know what each of the positions do in a game.  There are 4 main positions;

The Seeker – This is the position played by Harry Potter and this is the person responsible for finding the ‘Golden Snitch’, which is the tiny golden ball flying around the pitch.  Since we must play without magic, a small silver coin was used and it was hidden in a secret location on the pitch.  If the Seeker finds the Snitch, that team is awarded 50 points!

The Bludgers – Their aim is to tag the players of the opposing team with a dodge ball during play.

The Keepers – These team members serve to protect their team’s nets from the threat of goals.

The Chasers – Those players who are trying to score goals (through three hula hoops attached to soccer nets), whilst at the same time dodging balls thrown at them by the Bludgers!

The result of the Quidditch matches?  A great success and a fantastic time had by all of the Pioneer campers.  We know that they’re already looking forward to the ISCM Quidditch matches of 2012!

Welcome to the latest blog from International Summer Camp Montana and we hope that you are well, wherever you might be reading from in the World!  Once more we can count down 7 less days until the summer of 2012 and there are lots of campers already looking forward to spending their holidays at La Moubra.  Remember, if you are thinking about signing your children up for a place in the 2012 season, get in quick to avoid disappointment!

This week our blog talks about a special Sunday activity that is for our Junior, Pioneer and Champion campers and is held precisely one week after they arrive at camp.  This activity is called the ‘Camp Carnival’.

This carnival is a collection of games and activities for campers to enjoy and there is a great variety for them to choose from – in fact there are 20 stations!  Normally the carnival takes place in and around the ‘first‘ level of camp; this area encompasses the tennis court, swimming pool and basketball court.   When the weather is good there is no more popular place to be than around the pool for the water games!  When the weather is less favourable, the program is moved into the tennis centre and the area is more than capable of hosting most of the games that would be held outside.

There are tests of speed, skill, strength, mental agility and even your dance moves in the different areas of the carnival!  Whether it is ‘Bang The Nail’, ‘Neptune’s Kiss’, ‘Bowl Me Over’ or ‘Dance ‘Til You Drop’, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Counselors and specialists run all of the activities and award campers points, based on both performance and enthusiasm.  Each camper carries a scoresheet with them and are given their points at the end of their participation in the activity.  Of course, if they really enjoyed one in particular, they can go back later having tried other things to try and better their score!  There are boys and girls winners from each section; these lucky few receive their prizes at the end of the session.

It is important to keep drinking water and to wear sunscreen during the hot summer days and that is why there is both a drinks and sunscreen station in the carnival.  However, one of the most anticipated parts of the day is when all the scoresheets have been handed in and it is time for ice-cream!  What’s your favourite – chocolate or vanilla?!

Welcome to the latest blog from International Summer Camp Montana and we hope that you are well, wherever you might be reading from in the World!  As October draws to a close and November appears on the horizon, work still continues at La Moubra.  Whilst Crans-Montana is becoming quieter before the Winter season begins in December, we are still busy as ever at camp!  The administration office is buzzing with activity and remember, if you have any questions about camp, please contact us!

This week’s blog article is illustrates just how much choice we can offer as part of the program at ISCM.  Although campers follow a set program with their groups during much of their time at camp, there is also time where they can choose to participate in their favourite activity.  We call this time, ‘Open Activities’ and it usually runs for around one hour.

All campers have the opportunity to choose from a variety of open activities every day at camp, except Sundays when special programs are run.  Different activities are listed on the program so that Juniors, Pioneers, Champions and Seniors each have different options and each section has the same number of chances to have an open activity available to them.

This is a perfect time for campers to hone their skills, perfect their technique or merely to try something new under specialist direction.  Many campers also like to use the open activity time to compete in special competitions and activities that are run for them.

However, we also use the term ‘Open Activities’ for another part of camp life.  Once or twice during a session (depending on the age section) campers have an open activities program in the evening.  This particular evening activity provides an opportunity for campers to participate in activities, competitions and sports that may not necessarily be on their usual daily program.

Whether it is a racquet sports competition, a trip to the cinema (for Seniors) or a chance to play a game of chess there is always a great variety to choose from.  Naturally, there is a limit to how many campers can participate in each activity, so it is important that a ‘sign-up’ is conducted.  The sign-up is also crucial for those sections that have two open activity evenings – then we know who chose which activity the week before!  This allows everyone to have a fair chance to participate in the activities that are offered during both evenings.

So one question that immediately springs to mind, whether it is during the day or at night…… ‘What would you choose?’!

Welcome to the latest blog from International Summer Camp Montana and we hope that you are well, wherever you might be reading from in the World!  It is quite hard to believe that it has almost been two full months since the summer season of 2011 came to an end.  However, this means that there are only 8 months to go until we begin the summer of 2012!  The enrollments are filling up very quickly, so be sure that you don’t miss out!

This week’s blog article is about a special program for our Senior group of campers.  Whilst the Seniors do many activities and sports that are similar to the other age sections at camp, one pursuit that makes being a ‘Senior’ unique is the river rafting program.

The Senior campers have this special excursion instead of a half-day hike and many campers would love to have this activity every day!  It really is something to look forward to and also gives the opportunity to spend a few hours outside of camp grounds.

The program itself takes place down in the Valais and there are two separate ‘sailings’ during the day; one group in the morning and one in the afternoon.  The speed of the water is extremely gentle in comparison to other ‘white-water rafting’ experiences you could take, but the water temperature is something very memorable!  The Rhône river gathers its waters from many Alpine glaciers and there is not much more refreshing a feeling than jumping in on a hot summer’s day!

Naturally, safety on the raft is our number one priority and this is why every boat that we take has an experienced rafting guide on it.  In addition, there is a rafting demonstration that is held by a guide and counselors in the swimming pool at camp.  Whilst there is certainly a comedy element to this, all the important safety elements are covered during this time.

There are two highlights of the whole experience for campers.  One is certainly trying to push their counselor into the cold waters of the Rhône!  The other is of course, the barbecue lunch that they are served.  A large buffet of barbecued meats, salad, vegetables, potato chips and soft drinks are all you could wish for after such a grand experience.  Becoming a Senior camper is definitely something to look forward to for our younger campers, if not for this experience alone!

Welcome to the latest blog from International Summer Camp Montana and we hope that you are well, wherever you might be reading from in the World!  Already we  are moving swiftly through the fall program at camp and there is still lots of activity going on in the camp office and with maintenance.  We have to keep things going before the ‘real’ snow comes in a few months and it is harder to do work outside!

As you may be aware, there is a great deal in the news at the moment about banks in Europe and across the World.  However, did you know that during the summer season, International Summer Camp Montana runs a bank for our campers?  The camp banker is probably the most popular person from the entire staff at camp, because they can give campers their pocket money!

On the arrival day, as part of the check-in process, parents can leave pocket money for their children.  The money is deposited with our camp banker and then a record is kept during the 3 weeks of the ins and outs of that particular ‘account’.

The camp bank is an excellent, safe and secure way of giving campers their pocket money in small amounts.  Campers are able to take money from our bank, just like a real one.  As and when they require during their stay, they can visit the bank and take money out.  Each age section has a specific time during the day that they can visit the bank – sometimes the line can be quite long, especially if there is an excursion the next day!

Of course, some campers choose to keep all of their money with them, rather than in the bank.  However, at any point during the session they can open an account and deposit the money with the banker.  In each and every room at camp though, there is an electronic combination safe, in which they may keep any money they have taken from the bank (as well as other valuables).  The counselor is the only person who has this combination for the safe.

The banker uses some common sense when requests are made to take out significant sums of money and it some cases, we will check with parents to ensure that they approve a large withdrawal.  Often parents will leave instructions with the bank or a counselor to ensure that this doesn’t happen.  We wouldn’t want you to spend all of your money at once!

In times of uncertainty with banks, one thing is certain; the International Summer Camp Montana bank is the best way to keep your money safe during your stay at La Moubra!