Photo courtesy of Brillantmont International School
With the summer holidays almost upon us, many of you will be starting to think about how best to keep your children entertained over the vacation period. As usual at this time of the year, we have received lots of emails from camp organizers sending us details of their latest activities for kids.
In this article, we have tried to cover all the recommendations that we have received - everything from half-day workshops through to week-long camps – if we have missed any, please let us know!
Just click on the links for more detailed information on activities covered, age range, location, dates and price. If you want to see the camps listed by date, then the best place to look is the monthly view of our Activities Calendar - Kids! You can also see camps listed on our Pinterest Board for Kids Activities.
Technology camps are hugely popular this year, with many new companies offering activities for kids in this region.
- TechLabs (Special discount for our readers!)
- Second World
- Aicogy
- STEP Computer Academy
- Atelier ENCODE
- TechSpark Academy
- FutureKids
- Bricks 4 Kidz
- Ecolint Summer Camps
- CoolStudio
- Haut-Lac Activity Camps
Photography and film making continues to be a popular topic for teens this summer, with 4 organizations offering courses in English this summer. Check out the following links for more information.
Following the huge success of its new water park in Vernier last year, Yatouland is returning again this summer with even more bouncy castles!
To mark this special occasion, they are offering knowitall.ch readers the chance to win 15 free invitations to the park, which will open this year from 23 June to 26 August.
With 2000m2 of outdoor space packed with water castles and water slides, as well as a huge trampoline, pedalos and aquaballs, the park is destined to be the place for children aged 3 to 13 to hang out this summer!
Family games such as table tennis, badminton and Swedish skittles, as well as the option to learn paddle boarding, will ensure there is something for everyone at the park. The laser game activity will be back again this year, providing endless fun for larger groups of kids. The food truck will also make a reappearance with its shaded terrace, ideal for those who want to take a break from the sun and enjoy a tasty snack!
Like the indoor area (which will be shut during the summer), the aquatic park will also have dedicated birthday areas, which can be reserved in advance. With more than 2000 birthday parties booked each year at their indoor fun park, Yatouland knows exactly what kids are looking for when it comes to celebrating their birthdays! Visit the website (details below) for more information.
Special rate for our readers on diving courses, including kids, at GO Dive!
Given the popularity of last year's discount to our readers, GO Dive scuba-diving specialists have come up with a package of exclusive offers that is sure to attract the more adventurous holiday-makers amongst you!
a) PADI Open Water Diver qualification
If you're heading off to somewhere exotic this summer and don't want to waste your time learning how to scuba dive when you're there, then you now have the opportunity to get your PADI Open Water Diver qualification before you leave. GO Dive have put aside 3 weeks in July for any knowitall.ch reader wishing to sign up for a 4-day course in a small group of 3 to 4 people for just Fr. 777.- per adult (instead of the standard price of Fr. 878.-) and Fr. 700.- per student aged 12+ years. The following dates are being proposed: 9 - 12 July, 16 - 19 July, or 23 - 26 July 2018. Full course description here: http://www.go-dive.ch/courses/dive-beginners/
To encourage more families with kids to try out scuba diving, GO Dive are also running two special diving options throughout the summer.
b) Discover Diving in Family mornings
Every Wednesday morning throughout August and September (from 9h30 until 13h) a family with 1 to 2 adults and 1 to 3 children aged 12+ (max 4 people) can dive together for the fixed price of Fr. 150.- This is a special offer for our readers - the special family dive price would normally be Fr. 180.- (or Fr. 312.- if paying the standard individual prices). Full course description here: http://www.go-dive.ch/courses/dive-beginners/
Special discount for our readers on this year’s summer camps!
With all the kids clubs and summer camp activities that are now on offer in this region, it can be really difficult for parents to choose between them all. That’s why our guidebook, Know-it-all passport®, can be so helpful in highlighting those organizations that stand out from the crowd, listing businesses that have been recommended to us because of the high level of service that they offer their clients.
For the upcoming edition of Know-it-all passport® due to be published in August, we have received lots of recommendations for many new organizations to be included in the book, so if you want to make sure that your child doesn’t miss out then you should head to one of our local suppliers before the new season of club activities begins in September.
However, you don’t need to wait until August to find out what Gymboree Play and Music Nyon has to offer their kids. Set up in Spring 2017, this new franchise has recently been in touch with knowitall.ch to offer our readers a special discount on this year’s summer camps.
Gymboree Play and Music Nyon
Run by business manager, Claudia Stoppiello, Gymboree Play and Music Nyon provides classes and equipment that have been specially designed to nurture the development of young children aged 2 months to 5 years. With over 40 years’ experience serving 700 locations in 50 countries, the Gymboree concept is based on the development of the ‘whole child’ by integrating the very best of physical, cognitive, and social activities.
Famous for its annual iris festival, the Château de Vullierens opens its gardens to the public every year in spring to showcase the largest collection of irises in Europe.
With over 400 different varieties of irises on show this year, not to mention 13,500 daylilies, and a plethora of roses, tulips, peonies and rhodedendrons, visitors can expect to be overwhelmed by a sumptuous display of flowers in all shapes, sizes, and colours – not to mention the aromas! At the 63rd Floralies there are 7 themed gardens and 3 new walks: one devoted to medieval architecture and heritage, the second to trees and the third to roses. Click here for more detailed information in English on each of these walks.
But its not just flowers that attract visitors to the chateau. Hidden among the 40 hectares of gardens you will find numerous contemporary artworks. With 17 new pieces and 5 new artists showcasing their work this year, there are now 72 works of art in the grounds, making it the largest collection of its kind in Switzerland! Click here to find out more about the artists who will displaying their work this year.
