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While your child is at French camp

Equipment
We provide all the equipment necessary for all the activities, although youngsters do need to bring personal items such as water-proof jackets, hats, footwear and casual clothes. We ensure that children are equipped with activity equipment which conforms to European standards. Approved lifejackets are provided and must be worn during water sports sessions. Strict range disciplines are enforced for archery. Climbers are always protected by helmets and a safety rope, and all our motor-sports vehicles have their speeds regulated.

Please note that we are continually up-dating our equipment to reflect current best practices and therefore equipment used may differ from that shown in photographs in our brochure.

Bedding
All our holiday centres automatically supply bedding. Depending upon the centre, bedding consists of pillow and pillowcase and either duvet, cover and sheet or sleeping-bag and sheet inner.

Fire Safety Drill
All children are made aware of safety procedures and shown exits and assembly points before they start camp.

Personal Hygiene
While Group Leaders are responsible for taking care of the children also outside of daily camp activities, they will also be supervising the children during shower times and before bedtime and encourage regular use of soap and toothpaste. However all children are expected to take personal responsibility for showering and cleaning their teeth during their holiday.

Contacting your Child
Of course for some children being away from home may initially be a little stressful, this is natural and only to be expected – even adults can experience ‘homesickness’! VSF’ camp staff is fully trained in the sensitive skills of identifying and dealing with children’s concerns and worries. In the vast majority of cases, a day or two of getting to know new friends and being involved in exciting activities usually helps dissipate most worries.

You will be kept informed if there are any persistent problems. While all children are encouraged to send a postcard home, we do ask you not to telephone the centre to speak to your child, this particularly during the first couple of days, this rule is important and must be respected, for the well being of the entire group. Apart from the fact that your child is probably in the middle of an activity session/in the shower/eating dinner, and therefore far from the telephone, our experience has shown that children really do settle in much better if undisturbed by personal telephone calls, therefore telephone calls are not permitted during the camp session. We will, of course, pass on any important personal messages, all of our centres have a fax machine for in-coming messages/letters. Finally, VSF Staff is always available should you wish to telephone to ask about your child.

Catering
Fun may be important, but so is food! In recognition of this fact, our camps are committed to provide three healthy, high-energy meals per day, a balanced diet and plenty of variety. We also provide a drink and a small snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon if the program allows. A vegetarian alternative can be provided, if requested before the start of the holiday. We can accommodate most special diets required on medical or religious grounds but we will require full details at time of booking.

Breakfast: Typical French Breakfast, with a choice of cereals, toast and preserves; hot chocolate or coffee, yoghurts and fruits.
Lunch: Either a choice of hot meals with vegetables and salad or a packed lunch including sandwiches or bread rolls with a choice of fillings, packet of crisps; piece of fresh fruit…
Dinner: A hot meal including vegetables and mixed salads, fresh fruit or choice of French deserts.

Sensible Bedtimes
Even the fittest youngsters feel tired after a full day of activities followed by our evening entertainment program (veillées), so we try to insist on sensible bedtimes for youngsters to ensure that everyone gets a good night’s rest. Exact times may vary from centre to centre, but are usually between approximately 20.30 for 7 year olds to 22.30 for 13-17 year olds.

Night Time Supervision
It is part of the camp staff’s role to get everyone to bed reasonably on time – sometimes easier said than done! Once ‘lights out’ has been called, the staff on duty for the night takes over. They re-assure the anxious, encourage the high-spirited to settle down and continue their vigil until all is quiet.

At centres where children need to leave their tent or lodge to get to the toilet facilities, security staff patrol the camp-site or accommodation area throughout the night. During the night a member of staff can be contacted at any time should the need arise. Centre doors are locked, although these can be opened from the inside in case of emergency.

Laundry
If your child is staying for more than one week, please note that each camp provides one machine wash a week.

Age Groups
We have three main age groups 6-12 year olds, 12-14 year olds, 13-16 year olds The ‘overlap’ between these age ranges allows flexibility when there are a few years difference between brothers and sisters. It also means that (for example) a mature 10 year old may join a holiday for 10-13 year olds, while a ‘young’ 10 year old may be much happier on a holiday for the 7-10 age group. You know your own child best, but please feel free to discuss the options with our Staff. Within these separate age bands, our practice is to group children of a similar age together for accommodation and activity arrangements, whenever this is feasible. (This may not be possible on some holidays when numbers are small, but this is rarely a problem because the interest in activities provides a common bond).

Two or more children of the same sex, if you wish, can be in the same room together. If you particularly want your children to be accommodated together, then please request this at the time of booking on their application. If there is an age difference the younger child could, if it’s possible, join the older one’s accommodation and the older child would be expected to support his younger friend/sibling.

As always, our Staff will be pleased to advise you on any aspect of our accommodation groupings. Please note that our sleeping arrangements are single sex and it is not possible for brothers and sisters to share accommodation.

Activities
Depending on the age group of your child, activities are either planned in advance by the camp director and its team or operate on a rota choice system. All camps have a fixed program. Details of the activities are described on our website, but if you have any questions, please call and speak to one of our team member. Please note that due to the large numbers of different activities available at each camp site we cannot guarantee to fit every activity into each holiday for every single child– there just isn’t time!

We also want the children to feel free to choose to participate in the activities they enjoy the most, they are here to have fun and enjoy their vacation! Please note that minimum numbers are normally required for off-site activities or field trips and may only operate on certain fixed days of the week and depending on the weather (we have no control over weather conditions…unfortunately).

Off Site Activities and Field Trips
Some of the evening entertainment (mainly for 13-16 years) may take place off-site (example Bastille day 14th of July French Holiday Celebration) . If you do not want your child to take part in any off site activities or excursions you must make this clear at the time of booking.

No Experience Necessary
VSF’s Summer Immersion program provides challenge and enjoyment for everyone. You don’t need any previous experience to enjoy all the activities offered but in order for each participant to have a good experience we feel it is important to have the basic knowledge of the French Language, just enough to be able to communicate and understand the cap staff.

Our staff is able and ready to instruct foreign campers of all levels of competence from novice to proficient, and there is always an English speaking counsellor to assist children if it’s absolutely necessary. A reasonable level of French is required for the well being of the child, and of the entire group.

Discipline and Responsibility
Living alongside and mixing with other children is a valuable part of the holiday experience and we try to ensure that no-one feels left out. Every member of the group has an equal right to enjoy themselves and we keep a close check on teasing, bullying or any other anti-social behaviour that may spoil an individual’s enjoyment. Our experience over many years means that this rarely becomes a problem, but please tell your children that if they feel they are being picked on, they should inform their Group Leader or any other member of staff immediately. The “don’t tell” ethos which often exists in schools is not applicable withVSF.

If your child should make contact with you regarding any negative aspect of their holiday, please check whether our staff has been informed. If not, please let us know as soon as possible so that we may take immediate steps to remedy the situation. When necessary, we will be firm with children who are jeopardising the enjoyment of others. If problem behaviour is persistent or serious, we will contact the parent or guardian to decide on further action.

We reserve the right to send any child home immediately at parents’ expense and to charge for any additional costs incurred. No refunds will be considered for any children sent home for behavioural reasons. Please ensure you have read our conditions for participation with your child prior to departure.

Supervision
No child is allowed off site unless accompanied by camp staff. Children are fully supervised at all times.

Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking bans in the past have led to unauthorised smoking in areas likely to be a fire risk – tents, dormitories, etc. To prevent this risk, an ‘official’ supervised smoking area is therefore set aside, although smoking is heavily discouraged. Smoking is only allowed for 16 year olds and only if parental permission has been granted on the medical contact form. Interestingly, when this age group discover that they are ‘allowed’ to smoke (albeit with great reluctance on our part), the overwhelming majority doesn’t bother. Smoking in unauthorised areas will be viewed as a serious offence for which guests could be sent home. Consumption of alcohol is banned at all centres. Please note guests aged 16 years and over may, legally speaking, consume alcohol (only beer and wine) in moderation in the rest of Europe. Please make sure your children are aware of the guidelines above, especially those applicable to their age range.