Our Philosophy

The Young Explorers Club Difference:

We focus on creating outdoor and growth-oriented adventure camps for our participants. We are intentionally a small business. Long-term relationships are important to us and we see ourselves more like family than a business. Our commitment to creating a close-knit community is what sets us apart. The size of our larger group gives us unique flexibility to optimize youth experiences and ensures that youth truly get to know everyone during their trip, including the instructors. Plus, our trips are technology-free, so students learn how to “survive” (and even thrive!) without electronics. We emphasize shared responsibility and a culture of caring, so that everyone can grow and enjoy a positive, click-free and respectful social environment.

Safety, safety, safety!

Our participants and instructors know that these are our three most important words. Risk management is at the heart of everything we do. We hope you’ll agree that nothing at a youth summer camp can be 100% sure. But from the moment your child leaves home until they come back to you, minimizing that risk is our top priority.

The 8 main results

Our philosophy is to bring out the best in our students, and there’s no better way to do that than to share the challenges and joys of adventure travel with a supportive group of friends. Young people often tell us that they feel closer to their friends at the Young Explorers Club after only a few weeks together than to their friends back home…

Develop skills, attitudes, and memories to last a lifetime.

The
Young Explorers Club
was created with a very simple mission: to foster environmental stewardship, teach responsible recreation, and provide opportunities for personal growth by facilitating impactful wilderness experiences.

Our goals for our youth program are to use the natural environment and outdoor activities to teach participants the skills and attitudes needed to lead successful lives. Through expert risk management and adventure-based programming, our team of guides helps encourage participants to improve their self-esteem, self-esteem and self-confidence. In addition to creating lasting memories, our goal is for participants to end their adventures with a better knowledge of themselves, the world, and the environment around them.

Best investment we could have made

"The travelling summer camp in Graubünden was the best investment we could have made for our child's summer. Not only did they come back with new skills and confidence on a bike, but they also came back with hearts full of unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships. Attentive and knowledgeable instructors made the trip possible, and the breathtaking scenery provided the perfect backdrop for our child's personal growth. We are truly grateful for the experience and the positive impact she had on our child. Thank you for giving them the gift of adventure and self-discovery.

Mana Blaga , Parent 2020

As parents,

As parents, sending our child to the Swiss bike trip camp was a decision we will never regret. Not only did they come back physically stronger and more confident on a bike, but they also came back with a new sense of independence and maturity. The memories and friendships formed at the camp will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We are truly grateful to the experienced and supportive instructors who guided our child on this incredible journey. Thank you for giving them the gift of adventure and self-discovery.

Jake et Caroline Luc , Parents 2020

Explore new challenges in a fun, safe and caring environment

This camp helps children overcome their fears and explore new challenges in a fun, safe and caring environment. The best part is really that our son was so hesitant to go to camp and had a very negative experience at other summer camps. The YEC changed all that. Raising children in today's high-tech and social media-driven world is a real challenge. The Young Explorers Club allows our child to be themselves, make friends and have fun in a safe and stimulating environment. It's a real break with city life where our children grow up too fast. His camp experience had an incredible impact on his self-confidence and willingness to be himself!

Pauline Blanchet , Parent 2018

His self-esteem and independence have increased tremendously.

It is interesting to note that there is no shortage of technology and the discovery that the great outdoors are a wonderful place. YEC was an amazing experience for my kids! My son conquered his fear of heights and continued to spend more time outdoors. My shy, quiet and reserved daughter was loudly singing camp songs, laughing and showing me the field when I picked her up. His self-esteem and independence have increased tremendously. They can't wait to go back next summer! Also: So impressed with the inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ parent and camper population. We were very pleasantly surprised and impressed. Especially with staff and camper introductions, including preferred pronouns.

Estella Moulin , Parent 2018

Great strategies to help kids feel comfortable and overcome challenges.

Because our children have anxiety or social problems, we were worried about how they would do or if they would stay all week. The camp had great strategies to help the children feel comfortable and overcome challenges. Everything went well and we are very grateful parents! It makes me happy to see my kids come back from camp with a newly acquired skill and lots of stories about his adventures. Last year, they learned to play guitar at camp. This year, they conquered the difficult rock face in the middle. The advisors are all very positive and supportive; It's a great place to gain self-confidence!

Xavier Chapdelaine , Parent 2018

She enjoyed the activities she participated in that she would never have if she were at home.

My child is not the most athletic or outdoor child. I love how this camp allows him to disconnect from social media and enjoy the outdoors. When she comes home from camp, she wishes she could go back and it's nice to hear how much she enjoyed her time at camp and all the activities she participated in that she would never have if she were at home. The staff was very supportive and helpful in guiding the children in developing their wilderness skills. There is a great sense of belonging, acceptance, tradition and camaraderie.

Jacques Toussaint , Parent 2018

It's the best investment in our child we've made over the years.

BEST part of our daughter's summer!!! My daughter has already participated twice and every year when we pick her up, she is so excited to tell us about her time at camp. Every aspect is above expectations and we can't talk better about the YEC team. Guillem (Wham!) does a great job and guides the whole process. Impressive. It's such a great experience. As a parent of a teenager, I can only recommend him more. It's the best investment in our child we've made over the years.

Héléna Dupont , Parent 2018

Truly exceptional.

My son loved his experience with the club. He met new friends from across the country and had new experiences, from rafting to hiking to mountain biking without his parents. Being outside with great instructors and kids and doing new things renewed and strengthened confidence. It was a very healthy experience in building independence. He and his friends are already planning the YEC trip they want to take next year. In addition, I am amazed at the organization of the club and the excellence and rigor of your communication. I also appreciated Guillem's attention to detail and responsiveness on all travel arrangements. Truly exceptional.

Jean Ansermet - Parent 2018

He was exhausted, happy and full of funny stories.

What an incredible adventure for our son. He was exhausted, happy and full of funny stories when we picked him up. He even told us that he would spend less time on his phone in the future (we'll see...). He is excited to take another trip with the club next year and also wants to continue learning rafting. What was most valuable to him was getting into nature with peers, forging relationships without media, working with the group toward a common goal, stretching to do things he wouldn't otherwise do, and finding inner strength. We are so happy that he was able to do this adventure!

Isabelle Piccart - Parent 2018

We can't recommend it enough!

While an outdoor experience wasn't our daughter's first choice, she came home thrilled with her trip. Not only has she been able to see a beautiful part of the country and make good friends, but she has learned that she is much stronger than she thought, both physically and mentally. She learned new skills (cooking, pitching tents in the rain, etc.), perseverance, and how being clumsy can help you get through almost anything. We wanted it to have a fun and technology-free experience, and with the Young Explorers club definitely delivered. We can't recommend it enough!

Farzanah Gangjee - Parent 2018

She feels like she's made friends for life

Young Explorers Club has been an incredible, challenging and life-changing adventure! What was so precious was the community and our daughter's realization that she is stronger than she thought. She feels like she's made lifelong friends and can't wait to travel with them again. It's a magical place, the Young Explorers Club. Everything you imagine in a camp experience. Our daughter was reluctant to get away from mom and dad for several weeks. Now she can't wait to go back. Lots of new friends, new experiences and, most importantly, a new sense of independence. In addition, the camp is run like a finely tuned machine - non-stop activities, lots of structure, encouragement and advice.

Anne Odile - Parent 2018

It was the best combination of children.

We searched the web and found Young Explorers Club. At first the camp seemed too extreme but we liked the age of the instructors and the ratio of children to instructors. The focus on community and good behaviour was essential. Young Explorers Club exceeded our expectations. It was an experience we had to push our child to sign up for, but he came back so optimistic, grounded, happier than we've seen in years and incredibly confident. He said, "It was the best combination of kids. An experience that changed my life and shook my world! Our son has learned that he CAN take care of himself, and despite the obstacles, he can overcome them and feel really good about himself.

Clara Potterat - Lausanne , Parent 2018

Our objectives:

The objectives of
the Young Explorers Club
programs include:

Increase personal confidence through activities that offer a physical and emotional challenge.
Develop character behaviors and skills that include integrity, honesty, responsibility, respect, compassion, and self-discipline.
Provide experiences in leadership and problem-solving skills in a group setting.
Have fun and develop lasting relationships and great memories!
Additional outcomes of this adventure will include: hiking skills, backcountry ethics, and environmental awareness.

Founded in 2018,
Young Explorers Club
has earned a reputation as one of the most accessible organizations in the field of outdoor adventure. With a summer program for young people in French-speaking Switzerland, our first year with more than 50 young people on a mountain trip was a success. Now, after our COVID break, we’ve created memorable, life-changing outdoor experiences for students in Switzerland and beyond.
Young Explorers Club
is more than just a summer camp for teenagers. Our multi-week teen outdoor adventure programs for students ages 11-15 help kids learn skills to succeed in the future. While our students are having the time of their lives rafting, climbing, hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, and canoeing in some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet, something else is happening. They grow in many ways: self-confidence, social success, teamwork, leadership, and new outdoor skills, to name a few.

TEAM

Why Choose Us?

Our Values, Goals and Philosophy:

In addition to a fun adventure summer camp, we strive to learn our 8 great results through adventure, immersion in an outdoor environment, and interaction with great models. Our focus on using close-knit community and fun and challenging outdoor activities makes the
Young Explorers Club the
perfect place to enhance those skills needed to thrive in the 21st century:

EXTREME

Stress

Our club offers a chance to set aside the competitive demands of school life. To slow down, open up and explore. And in doing so, discover who you are. Our members often say they feel more alive, more connected, and more themselves in our multiple camps and weekly activities.

Collaboration and Social Success

Together, our activities inside and outside the camp are aimed at achieving our primary goal of creating caring, thoughtful, and responsible human beings. We realize that each individual is unique and special in their own way and our program is designed to guide each person to their own greater potential.

La Nature

We enjoy the moments of beauty, fascination, and wonder that nature offers, as we explore the surrounding forest and mountains of Switzerland. The rustic environment of the camp is full of surprises, constantly regaling us with new sensations and encounters. Camp is a life immersed in the natural world.

Critical Thinking

These incredibly important skills are used in everything from assembling puzzles to figuring out the best route to work. It is the process of using focus and self-control to solve problems and set and follow goals. It uses other important life skills such as bonding, perspective taking, and communication. Basically, critical thinking helps us make good, informed decisions.

Fun

We encourage you to compare our travel itineraries to other programs. We thoroughly review each of our trips after each summer so that all Bold Earth students get the most out of every travel experience. Our trips offer a myriad of activities among spectacular scenery in the best adventure destinations

Team

With a support team and the outdoors as a teacher, students learn to dig deep to find greater compassion for each other and push the boundaries of what they thought they could do. At the club, teens and adults embark on a journey measured not just in miles of mountain, river, desert, or ocean, but essential personal growth.

Resilience

In all of our camps and programs, our participants venture off the beaten path, go to places and do things that most people can only dream of. As a team, we have spent years building close relationships with local and global organizations and communities to ensure that every camp and trip, in Switzerland or abroad, our participants engage in truly intimate and authentic encounters with the people, cultures and places they visit.

Optimism and a Culture of Caring

Instead of competition, we value enthusiastic cooperation, friendly communication and playful participation. The camp’s positive community creates a magic where girls feel safe, supported, and valued.