SNOW SPORTS TRIP Switzerland

Information Pack TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 Introduction 5 Les Martinets Expedition Package 6-7 Itinerary 8 Safety 9 Training for the expedition 10 Travel and documentation 11 Packing list 12-13 Additional packing details 14 Other resources and information 15 Electronics

CONTACTS

David Wall Natalie Lee Assistant Director: Head of Expeditions Expedition Programme Officer [email protected] [email protected] Mobile: +44 7423 467753 Office: +44 1235 355846 Office: +44 1235 355835

Angi Richards Mark Orrow-Whiting Expedition Logistics and Travel Coordinator Director of Curriculum and Student Performance [email protected] [email protected] Office: +44 1235 355832 Mobile: +44 7425 621025 Office: +44 1235 355835 [email protected] INTRODUCTION

Venture to new heights and spectacular views

The snow sports trip is a highly rewarding week, accessible for all, giving your child the opportunity to learn or improve a skill in the beautiful Swiss Alps. and are incredible sports that develop physical, mental and social skills as well as being very exciting. The trip accommodation will be based in our dedicated Les Martinets expedition base. We will primarily use the resort of Villars, which offers superb snow and ski conditions. It is a fine destination for mixed ability groups, offering slopes for everyone from beginner to advanced.

Successful skiing and boarding relies on acquiring the correct technique rather than just physical strength, and is very rewarding to learn. We offer this opportunity for all abilities, regardless of whether your child is experienced or a beginner. Physical benefits of skiing and snowboarding include improved balance and coordination, increased fitness and flexibility.

By collaborating with other students from across the Nord Anglia Education family of schools, your child will develop their interpersonal and social skills, whilst also building lifelong friendships. Resilience, personal organisation, Les Martinets Expedition Package discipline, risk taking and perseverance are just some of the valuable life skills that your child will develop on the trip. This is an exciting week that will enable your child to stretch their limits, physically and mentally, in a safe and The cost of the expedition is US$850, which includes: Useful websites: fun environment. In-country transportation Ski/ lessons Fit for Travel is an NHS website offering up-to-date Students aged 12-18 are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as space is limited. /snowboard, ski poles & helmet hire travel and health information to people traveling Excursions and admission fees from the UK. Accommodation www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk Food Pre- and post-expedition training The National Travel Health Network and Centre YOUR STAY IN SWITZERLAND Travel insurance arranged centrally to cover all students (NaTHNaC) promotes standards in travel medicine, Staffing & logistics providing travel health information for professionals Nord Anglia’s dedicated Les Martinets expedition centre is a stunning chalet located in the Alpine village of Les Plans and the public. Sur Bex. We will also be venturing out to Alpine mountain huts in the surrounding area. Nord Anglia Education is sponsoring a substantial portion www.nathnac.org of the expedition, including accommodation in the Alpine village of Les Plans Sur Bex and the Alpine mountain huts, as well as The World Health Organisation (WHO) directs and Accommodation in-country transport, excursions and admission fees. coordinates international health within the UN. Our welcoming and fully-equipped expedition base boasts WiFi, modern showers and toilets, as well as teaching, Their website is full of up-to-date information dining and sports facilities on or near the site. Participants will share a room with another Nord Anglia student of the Additional Costs: regarding health issues all over the world. same gender. www.who.int Parents will have to plan for an additional budget to cover the Whilst on the four-day ski tour, we will stay in the historic Alpine huts - most likely the Wildstrubel Hut and Lammeren following: Gov.uk offers up-to-date travel advice from the British Hut – which are owned and operated by the Swiss Alpine Club. All mountain activities are weather dependant, but government. alternative plans will always be in place in the event of bad weather. Flights (depending on country of origin) www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland Visas (depending on country of origin) www.gov.uk/government/world/switzerland Transport Personal equipment On arrival to the airport, your child will be collected by a well-respected local transfer company and transported to We suggest parents give their child roughly US$150 in Lonely Planet produce some of the best travel guides Les Martinets base. We will be using similar vehicles to transport ourselves to venues throughout the week, and on spending money should they want to buy souvenirs and/or available. Their website is full of interesting information occasion we may also use the Swiss public transport system for local shuttles. miscellaneous items about traveling in Switzerland. www.lonelyplanet.com/switzerland Currency The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF) which is readily available in most countries. Some spending money is advisable for additional snacks, drinks and souvenirs.

Language Although English is widely spoken, Switzerland also has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Rumantsch. In the region we will be visiting, French is the most commonly spoken language. If you are not already familiar with French it may be advisable to pack a phrase book in your bag, or practise with your fellow students before the trip.

Maps You may wish to familiarise yourself with the area before setting off on the trip as we will be using maps to navigate our way around the mountains. It is recommended that you visit this website which has free digital maps of Switzerland and is a great resource to help plan prior to your trip. You can also get involved with the Global Campus online route planning exercise.

Catering Throughout the expedition, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided. During the mountain journey, students will carry packed lunches during the day and be fully catered for whilst staying in the mountain huts. We would encourage students to bring high-energy snacks with them, though snacks can also be purchased from local supermarkets in the area. 5 7 DAY EXPEDITION Itinerary

Different Swiss Ski Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 & 6 Day 7 Arrival Day Ski/snowboard lessons Ski/snowboard lessons Snow shoeing Ski/snowboard lessons Depart programme School Villars

The Nord Anglia team After breakfast, the In the morning, the Today you will spend Today, your child will On the final day your child The above itinerary If you require more will greet your child students will be taken students will head off for the day snowshoeing, head off for the slopes will share experiences requires your child to information about upon arrival at Geneva to the ski hire shop to the slopes and continue Snowshoeing is a for yet another fun and reflections from the choose between skiing the we will International Airport have their equipment to improve their skiing/ great way for any age filled action day in the week, evaluating what or snowboarding for be using in Villars and accompany them fitted. They will then snowboarding skills with and ability to get off snow. By now everyone they have learned and the trip, which will please refer to their as they travel by coach be put into their their respective instructors. the beaten tracks and will be feeling more how this could be applied allow them to progress website. to our Les Martinets respective groups for Your child will break for away from the crowded confident and will have in school, daily life and in one activity. If your expedition base in the the ski/ snowboard lunch during the day and slopes. Aside from being developed their skills future careers. Coaches child would like to try Alpine village of Les lessons and head off then spend the rest of the good fun, snowshoeing further. Your child will have been arranged at both activities, 2 days Plans Sur Bex. Your to the slopes for their afternoon progressing their is also a diverse sport break for lunch during various times throughout of skiing and 2 days of child will spend the first day of skiing. skills. Activities will be that can be either a the day and then the day and each school snowboarding, this can day getting to know Your child will break planned for the evening. gentle stroll above the spend the rest of the will be accompanied back also be catered for. their guides and fellow for lunch during tree line, enjoying the afternoon progressing to the airport by the Nord adventurers from Nord the day and then flora and fauna, or a their skills. Activities Anglia team. Anglia schools around spend the rest of the challenging hike in will be planned for the the world. afternoon progressing the high mountains, evening. their ski/snowboard according to your child’s skills. Activities will needs. At the end of the be planned for the day the group will be evening. given time for shopping and dinner in Villars town before returning to Les Martinets.

7 SAFETY TRAINING FOR THE EXPEDITION

Your child’s welfare is paramount during all of our expeditions. Our priority is to enable them to have The training element of this expedition will make a huge difference to your child’s enjoyment, comfort and safety. The goal of our training a spectacular experience, while maintaining the highest standards of safety. programme is to help your child fully prepare for their adventure. Physical preparation is only one aspect of training - mental preparation is equally as important. It is intended to be flexible so your child can fit it around school and family life, but would be best completed with the During the expedition there will be a high ratio of qualified and competent staff to students, with rest of the students participating from your child’s school. supervision by teachers from your school, the Nord Anglia Education Expeditions Team and qualified IFMGA mountain guides. All leaders and Expeditions Team members are trained to a very high level of first aid and will always carry suitable medical kits for the areas we will be working in.

Full risk assessments have been carried out on all activities, and we have implemented all necessary Online Preparation Ability levels practical control measures as a result. To ensure the highest level of care for our students, we have thorough emergency response plans in place in an unlikely or unforeseen event. Should an incident The Global Campus website will be integral in It is important that students are grouped in accordance with occur, we will be able to deal with it as effectively and as quickly as possible. preparing your child for this expedition. This will be their skiing ability, and as part of the pre-trip planning process the go-to source of information to find the training you will be asked to inform us of your child’s skiing ability. In the unlikely event of an emergency while in Switzerland, your child will be treated by the plan your child will be expected to complete prior to Below is a guide on how to determine the level of competence. International SOS. This service operates in 850 locations, in 92 different countries with 11,000 attending the expedition. Beginner: Discovering the sport for the very first time. members of staff including 5,600 medical professionals, providing 24-hour medical and emergency Improver: Has completed at least a week of skiing before. Can go assistance including global evacuation and repatriation. This is further strengthened by our On this expedition, your child will join other Nord down green slopes with confidence. Have gained confidence to partnership with Royal Sun Alliance who provide us with comprehensive travel insurance policy that Anglia schools and students from around the world. ski more quickly, beginning to master speed and control of skis works alongside our International SOS partnership. If you wish to use this policy, please let us know. To help our adventurers get to know each other, and direction. we have a dedicated area on the Global Campus : Can now control both skis at speed on blue slopes. At all times, our team will have access to emergency contact information and carry suitable website. Global Campus is only accessible to Nord Intermediate Have skied red slopes when they are even but not necessarily communication devices for the areas we are operating in. In the event of a family emergency at Anglia students and educators, providing a safe with perfect technique and have difficulty when there are home, the emergency communication tree put in place prior to departure of the trip will be used. We environment for your child to interact and learn. moguls (snow piles). Have skied some easy black runs under will also provide an in school contact. It will be used to deliver aspects of your child’s supervision. Continuing to improve carving technique and training programme and gives them the opportunity body positioning, tackling bumps and steeper slopes, learning We must stress that at times we will have limited communication in remote areas. For this reason, to ask questions and meet the Expeditions Team to manage difficult conditions. Can also link confident parallel we will not be making frequent calls home or posting a daily blog. Communication home can be and students. In addition to regular webinars, your turns. accessed by students when available by web and phone, with time set aside to allow for this. child can also ask questions and discuss equipment needs, training programme or anything else for the Advanced: Can ski confidently on any grade of slope. However, Switzerland is a very safe country to travel around. However, if you have any concerns please get in trip in the community area. the technique is not so consistent with steep or bumpy slopes touch or visit this website on foreign travel advice for more information. during challenging snow conditions. Skier can adjust technique and mix short and long radius turns when required. In-School Preparation Expert: Can adapt to all situations and can ski the whole mountain including steep slopes, moguls (snow piles) and Physical in different kinds of snow with excellent technique. Can link carving and big turns on any kind of terrain. Also comfortable The expedition and the Swiss terrain can be off in difficult conditions. challenging. It is important that your child achieves Please note that European ski slope gradings are different to a good level of physical fitness prior to the North America. In Europe the grading goes from green (nursery) adventure. In school, we will be working on aerobic to blue (easy) to red (more difficult) to black (difficult). In North endurance, with a focus on walking and stair- America the grading includes double blacks or even triple climbing whilst carrying some added weight. black gradings and uses shaped symbols (circles, squares and diamonds). The gradings are explained in more detail below: Organisational European Gradings Green: Very much for beginners, the gradient will be gentle, On an expedition like this it is vital to be organised. normally known as the nursery slopes. There will be various challenges and tasks to : Easy and for early intermediates i.e. people who can complete before departure. Some of these will be Blue snowplough turn confidently. solo activities, while others will be carried out as part of the school group. Red: More difficult and for people who are intermediate and able to link together short parallel turns. The gradient on red runs is sometimes quite steep. Sharing the experience Black: For the advanced/expert skier and boarder. These slopes will be very steep. This trip will be a memorable and motivating experience for participating students. We encourage North America Gradings them to share their new-found experience, Green Circle: The Green circle with white centre is a beginner knowledge and skills attained with both their area. A Green circle with green centre is for novices, but you families and school community. As part of the should be able to stop and turn in both directions. experience, we will set a number of challenges that : Intermediate will take advantage of various forms of media to Blue Square : One black diamond is for advanced skiers share the journey with the community. Black Diamond and boarders; double black diamond is and boarding.

9 TRAVEL AND DOCUMENTATION

Travel and insurance The teacher acting as Trip Organiser at your child’s school will be responsible for arranging flights as well as airport transfers to and from your child’s school. They will also be able to assist in arranging Swiss entry visas if required; please do not underestimate the time that it takes for this to happen and EQUIPMENT LIST arrange visas well in advance to avoid disappointment.

The NAE Expedition Team, in conjunction with Royal Sun Alliance, have arranged a comprehensive All of the equipment noted below should be considered essential for the expedition. These items travel insurance policy with a focus on medical, evacuation and security cover, which works in contribute to keeping your child safe, warm, dry and content. If you have any questions, please conjunction with our International SOS policy. feel free to get in contact with your in-school trip organiser or Angi Richards. We also recommend watching the equipment guidance videos posted on Global Campus. We’ll be happy to advise you Visas in more detail regarding equipment or suggest alternative suppliers in your area. The table below We recommend that your child obtain one well in advance of departure. This will speed up arrival and should be used as a guide to the minimum amount of equipment to be brought on the expedition. movement through the Geneva airport as well as preventing any potential visa issues upon arriving in All other equipment required on the expedition will be provided by Nord Anglia Education. Switzerland. Your child needs to apply for a tourist visa not a business or volunteer visa.

Passports should be valid for a minimum of 6 months after the return date. Outdoor Clothing Personal To get the most up to date visa information you can contact your local Swiss embassy.

It is important to note that the visa application process varies from country to country so it is difficult ☐ 1x warm hat ☐ Toiletries for us to advise on country specific visa application requirements; please leave plenty of time to ☐ 1x neck warmer or scarf ☐ 1x towel arrange this to avoid disappointment. ☐ 1x pair waterproof ski/ snowboard gloves ☐ Plastic bags for laundry or mittens ☐ Personal medications Documents and forms ☐ 4x ski socks ☐ Passport and travel documentation Medical and waiver forms will be distributed to you via a system called Jotform; please complete ☐ 1x waterproof ski/ snowboard jacket ☐ Wallet with small amount of spending money these as a matter of urgency, providing accurate information and uploading the requested ☐ 1x waterproof ski/ snowboard trousers documentation. Delays in the submission of this information have an impact on the planning of the ☐ 1x thermal base layer student’s experiences. ☐ 1x fleece / mid layer fleece Project Works It is important that your child has a photocopy of the following documents with them while on ☐ 1x thermal trousers expedition as well as handing a copy to their Trip Organiser: ☐ 1x small rucksack (15-25L) Passport ☐ 1x Wash kit Swiss tourist visa ☐ 1x Silk sheet liner Medical certificates Casual Clothing ☐ 1x 2/3 season sleeping bag ☐ 1x Towel For any questions or queries regarding any of the above, please contact your in-school Trip Organiser. ☐ 1x Small pillow ☐ 1x waterproof jacket or cagoule ☐ 2x Wet wipes ☐ 1x waterproof trousers ☐ 6x Ear plugs ☐ 1x warm jumper ☐ 2x sweatshirt/jumpers ☐ 3x T-shirts Equipment ☐ 2x jeans/trousers ☐ 2x tracksuit bottoms ☐ 5x socks and underwear ☐ 1x sunglasses ☐ Pyjamas/nightwear ☐ 1x ski/ snowboard goggles ☐ Indoor shoes ☐ 1x sunscreen/ lip protection ☐ Trainers ☐ 1x water bottle (1litre) ☐ Walking boots ☐ Sleeping bag 2/3 season ☐ Old clothes for wet and muddy activities ☐ Old trainers for wet and muddy activities

Skis, snow boards, ski poles and helmets This hire of this equipment is included in the cost of the trip. You do not need to buy this equipment.

If you do already own this equipment you are welcome to bring it, but please ensure it has been checked by one of the expedition team before departure.

11 ADDITIONAL DETAILS Where to buy your kit There is a dizzying range of outdoor gear and ABOUT YOUR clothing to choose from. We advise purchasing Packing List 11 those in mid-range price bracket, avoiding low- quality products and the high-end equipment 12 which may boast more technical features than needed. 6 It can be difficult to purchase all of these products 1 in some countries, so we recommend shopping online well in advance in order to ensure your child has the correct kit. While you may discover a reputable seller in your own country, here are a few we recommend:

Up and Under is a family run outdoor outlet in 2 8 the United Kingdom that is happy to ship all over 10 the world. We have also negotiated a special 5 Nord Anglia Education discount for all staff and 13 students. To access this, simply add Nord Anglia Education to the discount code box on the left 7 side of their website. This will automatically reduce all the prices displayed on the website. In addition to this, anyone shopping from outside of the EU can expect a further 20% reduction when VAT is removed. For all shipments outside of the UK, after placing your order, you will receive an 9 email during UK office hours with further details 4 and the cost of shipping. www.upandunder.co.uk 3 REI is one of the USA’s biggest suppliers of outdoor clothing and gear, who are also happy to ship worldwide and offer some terrific deals. www.rei.com

Decathalon is a multi-sport store supplying everything from hiking and climbing gear to 10 Base layer football boots and tennis rackets. They have Several long-sleeved base layers are required for this expedition in numerous outlets globally but do not ship order to maintain warmth and to help draw moisture away from everywhere in the world. 6 Warm beanie the body. These should not be cotton as they will remain www.decathlon.com 1 Sunglasses wet for longer and provide little warmth. Suggested materials For when you are not wearing your goggles. are polypropylene, merino wool or a mix of both. Light colours Montane engineers innovative, lightweight, 7 Waterproof jacket and trousers are best. breathable clothing and equipment for These items vary wildly in both quality and price. We advise that endurance sports and activities in extreme 2 Ski/ snowboard goggles both ends of the spectrum are avoided, and that you should pick 11 Fleeces / mid layer environments. We now have a bespoke Goggles protect your eyes from both the sun and the snow when up something within the middle of the range. equipment deal with Montane who will post you’re in the mountains and there are a wide range of styles and Fleece has become less popular in recent years, but it is still one of the best materials for warmth vs weight. Fleeces can be purchased globally. You can access a 20% discount using prices. Waterproof jackets must be breathable and have pockets, whilst very cheaply - but again, cotton material should be avoided. a code available from your trip lead or the trousers must also be breathable and have a long zip down the legs expedition team. 3 Rucksack to allow for easy changing with boots on. PLEASE DO www.montane.co.uk A 35-45 litre rucksack is sufficient. When buying a rucksack you NOT BRING PONCHOS. 12 Sleeping bag should consider if it is comfortable and robust, whilst choosing a This is for use in the Chalet at Les Martinets. Because it is for use There are many more good online retailers who back system that works for you. It will need compression straps on indoors, a low cost lightweight (2/3 season) sleeping bag is all that will ship internationally. If you are having any 8 Ski gloves and liner gloves is required. the sides for attaching equipment and at least one smaller outside Your child should have a warm pair of water-repellent winter problems finding the correct kit, please contact pocket for snacks and sun screen. gloves, much like ski gloves. They should have a reasonable grip either your in-school trip organiser or the NAE on the palm. Avoid woollen or fleece gloves. You will also need a Expeditions Team. 4 Socks thin set of liner gloves that fit tightly next to the skin. 13 Softshell and thermal trousers Having the right socks is essential. They should be non-cotton, It is important to have both of these. Soft shell trousers will be thick and well padded. We recommend spending more on socks, worn most days to provide some warmth and protection from as they will really make a difference to your comfort on the 9 1-litre water bottle the sun. They will ideally have a zip on the lower leg to go over ski You will need two 1-litre water bottles. They should be tough and expedition. Liner socks are also a useful purchase to keep boots. Your child should also have a set of thermal trousers, which see-through in order for us to monitor each student’s water intake moisture away from the feet and protect against blisters. can be worn under soft shell trousers in colder weather. These during the trip. A hydration system can also be used though these should ideally be made of a similar material to your base layer, are easier to damage, more difficult to fill, and prone to freezing at and they can often be purchased as a set.ather. They can often be 5 Neck warmer or scarf lower temperatures. purchased as a set. 13 OTHER RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

Expedition Staff Expedition Support Staff:

There will be three key Nord Anglia Education staff members on Facilitate pre- and post-expedition work your child’s expedition team. In addition to a Trip Organiser and Manage the movement and transportation of students while Group Leader, both of whom will be a teacher from your child’s on expedition school, there will also be a member of the Nord Anglia Education Take responsibility for passports and other travel documents Expedition Team, who your child will meet via group webinars Monitor the group’s health and wellbeing on expedition and the Global Campus online platform prior to departure. Administer basic first aid in accordance with level of training Administer any personal prescribed medication to students Each staff members’ roles and responsibilities will overlap Reinforce trip rules, dealing with any behaviour issue in line considerably to ensure your child has a safe, enjoyable and with the school’s expectations educational time in Switzerland. Encourage students to engage with all elements of the trip Be involved in daily staff meetings and feed back on the day’s ELECTRONICS Your child and their teachers will get to know each other very events well over the months leading up to the expedition, so that your child has a familiar face and someone that they can turn to Trip Organiser: while in Switzerland. These teachers will help with pre-trip Game consoles, tablets and laptops should not be brought on the expedition. preparation and be a point of contact for any expedition However, your child is welcome to bring their own mobile phone and camera, but Trip Organiser will also be tasked with the above duties in addition enquiries. While on expedition, teachers will be in charge of they do so at their own risk. Nord Anglia Education cannot be held responsible for to the following responsibilities: pastoral care managing the group and ensuring the general the loss, damage or theft of any of these items. health and wellbeing of your child. Act as the in-school point of contact for the parents and NAE The expedition is an excellent opportunity for your child to unplug and spend some Expedition staff Here is a list of responsibilities for your school’s Trip Organiser time getting to know fellow students from the Nord Anglia Education family away Ensure all relevant paperwork is distributed to students, and expedition support staff. from technology. While in Switzerland your child’s access to their mobile phone will parents and Group Leaders be limited, phones will be locked in a secure office when not in use. Your child will Receive all completed paperwork from parents and students have access to their phones at allotted imes during the week, so they can message Organise all transport to Switzerland and in your country of home and share their experiences. Students WILL NOT be able to use their mobile residence phones as cameras during the day, under any circumstance; if they wish to take Support students where necessary in gaining the appropriate photos of the trip they will need to use a camera. visa Oversee collection and verification of passports and travel All members of our expedition team carry a range of communication devices documents prior to the trip departure at all times, including satellite phones, two-way radios and mobile phones for international and local calls, to ensure we are able to freely communicate at all times in the event of an emergency or otherwise.

Travel adapter

Switzerland uses 220 volt power outlets with a three pinned plug. Your child will need to bring a travel adapter with them if their electrical appliances do not comply with these.

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