TIPS FOR OVERCOMING HOMESICKNESS AT SUMMER CAMP

If Homesickness Strikes….

homesick summer camp

Often, all homesick campers need is a little help from their camp friends.

With the goal of encouraging children to be self-sufficient and independent, summer camps are experts at helping kids deal with homesickness.

“Summer Camps know how to welcome and integrate new campers successfully,” writes Catherine Ross, who was the director of a summer Camp for 20 years.

While overnight camp means adjusting to being away from home, most new campers actually never experience homesickness and prolonged homesickness is rare, Ross points out.

“Children are more adaptable, capable and resilient than we sometimes expect,” she says.

Whether or not homesickness strikes, camp staff ensure a smooth transition for new campers right from the start. Orientation and a guided tour help children become familiar and comfortable with the camp.

If a camper is homesick, the director and the entire staff are made aware of the situation so that everyone can be supportive and encouraging.

The counsellors are not only friends but also patient and sympathetic mentors. “They know that the best medicine is to keep their camper busy, urge them to cope with one day at a time and reassure them that others have experienced what they are feeling, but they soon recovered,” Ross explains.

“Mostly, we encourage them to participate in activities,” says Jeunes Diplomates Summer camp counsellor Tina Munnings. “When they’re having fun, they’re less homesick.”

Some information to prepare your visit in Megève

Megève and its history

The winter sports resort of Megève was created in the inter-war period by a branch of the Rothschild family.

The resort grew and in 1933 a cable car to Rochebrune was built. Three years later this allowed the resort to be connected to Mont d’Arbois.

The first ski competition was created in 1914 and many pictures reflect this period of discovery and development. Farmers invented the ski-lifts, almost everything would be tested. A woman journalist would energize and illuminate the village through her texts; she was to become a ‘grand dame’ of Megève with her influence. Mathilde Maige-Lefournier was a mountaineer from Chambery. In November 1913 she wrote an article for the magazine The Mountain entitled “Megève or the glorification of ski” which glorified the ski sites of Mont d’Arbois and Rochebrune. One day she remarked to a hotel owner in the village, “I think Megève was created for skiing and skiing was invented for Megève.”: a spotlight which influenced and made the village, already a mecca for winter sports.

 

The arrival of the Rothschild family in Mont d’ Arbois would accelerate the development of skiing in Megève. Village farmers invested in the Rochebrune sector, notably with the construction of the first cable car for use by skiers, the famous “red bucket” in 1933. In 1923 it was the birth of the Megève Sports Club which saw great champions emerge. Emile Allais, a native son of Megève, was a triple medallist at the World Ski Championships in Chamonix in 1937. The famous Aallard stretch ski-pant was invented in 1930. This dynamism made ​​the resort famous and its rise was meteoric.

 Megève and its village

Two hours from Lyon lies the most authentic mountain village in the Alps. Skiing in Megève is 445 kms of slopes in an exceptional setting, but not only this: gastronomy, events, shopping and relaxing in the paradise of ‘après-ski’ nestled in the heart of the Mont Blanc Region.

Megève: A village in the heart of the Evasion Mont Blanc ski area

Come and experience the unparalleled skiing in an area that combines slopes, forest, alpine farms and sunny terraces on several mountain ranges. Suitable for families who find Megève’s gentle slopes reassuring to have fun with the kids. Lovers of the great outdoors will prefer the Cote 2000 mountain range which enjoys good snow thanks to its exposure. Freestyle fans are not left out with a dedicated area that allows them to jump safely onto a giant air bag. You’ll soon understand that in Megève a ski paradise awaits you at just 180 kms from Lyon.

Discover Megève

Megève is a typical village in Haute-Savoie that will leave its mark. With an exceptional history and heritage, the village has a soul which goes far beyond the images we have of this unique place. Ambassador of local cuisine revisited by Michelin-starred chefs, this is a destination that lives every season. Cultural and sporting events punctuate the local life and in Megève everyone can find an emotion that they will remember. It’s up to you to discover the legend behind Megève…

Megève is also:

– A casino, bars, clubs

– Ambassador of wellbeing spas and relaxation areas

– Swimming pools, skating rinks, curling

– Dog sled

– An airfield

 

  • Coming to Megève

– By car

Distances

• 70 km from Geneva.

• 180 km from Lyon.

• 272 km from Milan.

• 600 km from Paris .

• 760 km from Lille.

• 1000 km from London.

Motorways

• Paris – Sallanches : A6 + A40 .

• Calais / Paris / Macon / Annecy / Sallanches : A26 + A1 + A6 + A40 .

• Lyon / Chambéry / Annecy / Sallanches : A43 + A41 + A40 .

• Lyon / Chambéry / Albertville : A43 + A430 .

• Geneva / Sallanches : A40 .

– By train

Tel: 36 35

www.voyages -sncf.com

• Sallanches Train Station

• 12 km from Megève.

• Direct TGV during the weekends in winter. Frequent bus service to transfer from Sallanches .

• SNCF Boutique

• Megève Bus Station.

Open daily (except Sundays during school holidays) from 9:10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6.10pm.

• Off season: open only on Fridays from 9:10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6.10pm.

.

– By taxi

With the company RSERVICES : www.rservices.fr

Tel: + 33 (6) 14 35 36 12

 

– By plane

– Geneva Airport

Tel: 0041 22 717 71 11

Fax: 00 41 22 788 00 82

International flights, 87 km from Megève.

Site: www.gva.ch

– Chambery Airport

Tel: 33 (0) 4 79 54 49 54

International flights, 95 km from Megève.

Site: www.chambery -airport.com

– Annecy Airport

Tel: 33 (0) 4 50 27 30 06

France and Europe flights, 41 km from Megève.

Site: www.annecy.aeroport.fr

 

To find your way around during your stay, here’s the map of Megève.

For your accommodation, download the brochure from the Tourist Office.

See you soon in Megève in our classrooms and in the summer for our summer camps for kids!

The Benefits of Summer Camp

Why go to Summer Camp?

Camp is more than just fun and games…camp is a life campus

Summer camp! So much fun, but more than that … so much learned.

At first glance, summer camp is a place for kids to learn to swim, sing or speak French. But look closer.

The seven-year-old day campers are engaged in a first lesson of climbing. A troupe of tweens, some too shy to raise a hand in school, bow to applause, having found confidence and their voice in a summer drama production.

The group of 14-year-olds will discuss topical issues, will learn the civilization of French-speaking countries but will also overcome their fear of tumbling torrents in canyoning. At each day’s end, they are reporters describing challenges met in stories and memories that fill personal journals. Teenagers gazing at constellations and shooting stars contemplate the wow and how of the universe and turn philosophical, considering their place in it.

Look closer still and you’ll see children learning through choices made, chores divvied up, friendships forged … learning self-sufficiency, self-confidence and leadership.

You want the best for your kids. If a good education is top of the list, think of school- plus-camp as the winning combination.

Summer Camp Builds Skills for Life

Concrete Skill Development Soft Skill Development
School, work and life skills 
problem solving, self-discipline, perseverance, goal setting and time management and team building
Gaining confidence and self-esteem
Leadership and personal growth 
learning to inspire and to work as part of a team, achievements at camp build self-esteem and confidence
Becoming more independent
Igniting future career interests
an actor, an astronaut, an athlete, an astronomer
Internalizing morals and values
Specialty training
mastering sailing, rafting, swimming, debate transfer back to classroom work
Gaining better self-awareness
Learning to try new things
Kids discover and explore new sports, crafts and challenges like Climbing in trees or in the Biathlon
Improving interpersonal and social skills
Learning through success and failure 
There are no grades at camp. Kids are encouraged in a supportive environment to test and master new skills and try again and again if they fail
Becoming a good community member and good citizen
Physical activity and increased strength
kids are up and active and using their bodies as well as their minds
Taking responsibility for self and others