Best Summer Camps in Lausanne
Outdoor mountain adventures, creative workshops, and language immersion come together in Lausanne’s summer camps, showcasing the city’s unique blend of nature, innovation, and international education.
Summary
How do families choose the best camp for their child?
For many expat families, choosing a camp in Lausanne means finding enriching experiences that balance learning and fun. Parents often seek dependable childcare that fits around work or travel, while helping children build confidence, social skills, and independence.
With its strong international community, Lausanne offers many bilingual French-English camps that support language development and cultural connection. These programmes often combine outdoor exploration, creative activities, and new friendships, making them ideal for children settling into a new environment and discovering what they love.
Practical considerations for choosing a camp in Lausanne
Planning school holidays often involves considering the destination, a child’s age, and the type of experience desired. Lausanne offers a broad selection of day and residential camps, from creative programmes for younger children to international boarding-style experiences for teenagers.
All Ages
ISL Holiday Camps
The International School of Lausanne (ISL) offers summer camps for children aged 3 to 16, providing a safe, bilingual setting that emphasises outdoor play, creativity, and teamwork. With activities ranging from sports and arts to science, the programmes nurture curiosity, build confidence, and help children form lasting friendships.
Haut-Lac International Bilingual School Holiday Camp
Haut-Lac International Bilingual School offers a range of enriching summer camps for children and teens, including bilingual Activity Day Camps with sports, creativity, and cultural outings, Sport Camps in golf, tennis, and basketball with expert coaching, and a Swiss Residential Summer Camp that combines alpine adventures, Lake Geneva water sports, and international friendships in a fully immersive setting.
Pre-University
EHL Junior Academy
Older teens curious about hospitality and business can join the EHL Junior Academy for a one- or two-week introduction to hospitality management. Through hands-on workshops and team projects, participants explore leadership, communication, and global service while experiencing life on one of the world’s leading hospitality school campuses.
Mountain Camps
The Young Explorers Club redefines what a summer camp can be. Focused on outdoor education, teamwork, and authentic adventure, it’s designed for young people who crave real-world experiences beyond the classroom. Options like the Mountain Biking Camp and Adrenaline Multisport Camp in the Swiss Alps combine physical challenge with environmental learning, helping children grow through discovery and connection.
Each two-week summer camp session includes five full-day excursions to some of Switzerland’s most breathtaking destinations, at least 18 hours of intensive language tuition, and an exciting programme of adventure activities and professional sports coaching — making it a truly unforgettable European summer camp experience.
TechLabs delivers the Alpine RC Aviation Camp, an immersive residential model aircraft experience in Switzerland for young people aged 9–16. Scheduled for July 2026 at Pestalozzi Kinderdorf in Trogen, the camp focuses on hands-on aviation activities, innovation, and teamwork under the guidance of skilled instructors. It offers a unique setting where participants can discover the science of flight while connecting with peers from around the world.
Why camps matter for expat families
Summer camps in Lausanne offer expat families structure, community, and peace of mind during the school holidays. They provide dependable childcare while giving children the chance to make friends, discover new interests, and connect with local life.
Camps help children settle into their surroundings and create a healthy balance for families, with time for parents to work or recharge while children learn, play, and grow in a safe, inspiring environment. From creative programmes at ISL to mountain biking adventures and hospitality experiences at EHL, Lausanne’s camps turn school holidays into meaningful, memorable experiences.
ARTICLES
This section features blog articles on children’s camps, providing practical tips and expert insights to help families choose programmes that balance fun, learning, and meaningful experiences.
