School trips: Adventure, culture & spirituality

Our Champittet students took learning beyond the classroom in May with a stimulating variety of school trips. From outdoor exploration to cultural immersion and reflections on faith, these trips enabled our students to discover new frontiers and experiences.

Camps and outdoor adventures

Our Grade 5 students headed to Chenex-Saint-Paul-en-Chablais for five days of camp adventures, including orienteering races, accrobranche (climbing and rope obstacle courses in the trees), forest laser games and other outdoor activities. 
Meanwhile, our Grade 4 students explored nature and participated in survival workshops over several days of camp in Le Reposoir. They also visited a cheese factory and dairy farm, as well as Chamonix and other villages in the region.
These outdoor adventures gave our students a thrilling opportunity to build independence, resilience and teamwork while strengthening friendships with classmates. 

Cultural discovery across borders

A group of our students in Grades 8 to 13 spent a marvellous week discovering culture, archaeology and science in southern Italy. Our travellers explored the breathtaking landscapes of the Amalfi Coast and Mount Vesuvius, the treasures of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, and other cultural touchstones in the city, such as the Royal Palace and the iconic Maradona mural. They also met students at I.T.I. Righi, where they took part in a cultural exchange, discussing topics like computer science and biochemistry.

Meanwhile, our Champittet boarding students explored the natural and cultural highlights of Ticino, Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region. Over an action-packed weekend, they visited the beautiful waters of the Verzasca Valley, the charming city of Locarno and the sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso.

Finally, some of our Grade 7 students experienced Irish culture and innovation-focused learning at the Dublin STEAM Festival. With visits to the Microsoft Dublin Dream Space and the Explorium – National Sport & Science Centre, the four-day trip showed our learners the power of creativity, science and collaboration to shape the future.

Personal growth, reflection and faith

Boarding and day students in Grades 9 and 10 immersed themselves in the spirituality of Fátima, Portugal, where they visited sacred sites and considered the impact of faith on culture and daily life. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, the Moeda Caves, and the Convent of Christ in Tomar (a UNESCO World Heritage site) were among the highlights of this four-day trip.

Some Champittet students also took an important step on their own journey of faith by joining a retreat for their first communion in Saint-Maurice. From meeting with Bishop Bernard Sonnet to attending Mass at the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Scex, the retreat gave students the opportunity to step away from daily life while engaging in prayer and spiritual reflection. In addition, several students attended a confirmation retreat in Estavayer-le-Lac.

As these journeys remind us, the most meaningful learning often happens beyond the classroom – through discovery, connection and shared experiences.