Kandersteg International Scout Centre
2024 Summer camp and we’ve been to KISC in Switzerland
40 Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Leaders all flew out from Manchester to Zurich to meet Scouts coming in from around the World to Kandersteg International Scout Centre located in the Kander Valley in the Bernese Oberland
A chance to camp with and take part in Activities with Scouts from all over the World.
After our arrival we set up camp. Here we have have the Sunday meet-up on the Sports Field.
Scouts also got out and about doing all manner of activities and badges.
Enjoying the sunshine and scenery after a lake swim for our Swiss Explorer Award Badge! Brrr…
Meeting up with other Scouts at the International evening where we served Welsh cakes freshly made by some of the Scouts and Explorers.
Swapping Badges with USA Scouts!
Enjoying a Swiss Fondue night back at camp after a long day out! Mmmm..
Taking part in the Light Trail, followed by twists over an open fire up in the woods above the Scout Centre!
Scouts take part in a Solar Workshop, investigating electrical solar panels, solar heat using a parabolic reflector which can cook popcorn in minutes, plus using solar powered nanobots to have a race then using the power of the sun to burn names in blocks of wood.
A trip to a local town in the valley, Thun which gives its name to the lake. Scouts spent time discovering the culture of the old time and seen here visiting the old bell tower, which was a bit of climb up the hill and then the stairs! Found a Maccy D’s on the way back though!
Explorer Scouts headed over towards Grindlewald and had a wet day on the River Lutschine on grade 3 white water aboard rafts. What a blast!
The crew on the rafting… taking a bath on the way down
The Explorers went on an Alpine Hike up the Gasternal Valley, before spending a night in the Gfellalp mountain hut. Next day they struck out to reach 2690m on the Lotschenpass to gain their High Adventure Award.
Lots of other things happening during the week, Pizza Night in a local restaurant, Scouts posing on the steps of Kandersteg Chalet with all the flags of the nations flying.
We also visited the Swiss Culture evening where six Swiss Horn players entertained the visiting Scouts. A few lucky Scouts (Brave?) got to experience what it is like to blowdown one of the biggest horns in the World!
Its Friday and nearly time to head home. But first an early start, a train journey to Grindlewald, then onto the Eiger Express, a Gondola that can hold 40 persons that takes us to Eigerwand where we board another train, this time through the North Face of the Eiger Mountain!
On arrival at the top, its a quick journey up a lift onto the Sphinx Terrace, where both Scouts and Leaders got invested into our Scouting Family. Above us an space observatory clinging to the pinnacle of rock! Below us the Alech Glacier flowing for miles down the other side of the mountain.
We were able to head out on the top of the glacier and enjoy the snow in July! Leadrs took a short hike around to a mountain hut on the Eiger side, whilst others used some snow tubes for a bit of fun.
It was time to head inside the tunnels once more and discover the ice caves with their intricate carvings called ice sculptures. Lots of other pretty things to see before it was time to go back. Jungfraujoch is the highest train station in Europe at 10,500 feet.
Back at Camp it was a quick Dinner before having to take down the tents and head for the International Campfire, which was heaving by the time we arrived.
Lots of groups from all nations stood on the hallowed stage and entertained us for the rest of the evening. It was a great end to the week.
We headed back to the campsite to finish clearing away before lugging our bags back to the Chalet to await the coach back to Zurich Airport at 2am! Luckily we were able to crash out in a couple of rooms in the Chalet before getting picked up.
We arrived back where we started at Manchester Airport, before getting picked up in the minibuses’ for the journey home… and some sleep!
It was the end of a good week!
Hope you enjoyed the potted story of our trip to Kandersteg International Scout Centre in the Swiss Alps.
