In Lausanne and across the canton of Vaud, parents want holiday camps that are safe, structured and human-centred, where every child feels expected. In 2025, warmer weather in Switzerland, diverse profiles, and the presence of young children and teenagers with varied needs require clear procedures. This resource, up to date as of October 1, 2025, gathers practical tips to choose a camp or workshops with confidence, week after week, leaving nothing to chance.
In Lausanne and across the canton of Vaud, parents want holiday camps that are safe, structured and human-centred, where every child feels expected. In 2025, warmer weather in Switzerland, diverse profiles, and the presence of young children and teenagers with varied needs require clear procedures. This resource, up to date as of October 1, 2025, gathers practical tips to choose a camp or workshops with confidence, week after week, leaving nothing to chance.
Safety is not only about activities or a typical day. It includes staff-to-child ratios, team training, venues and settings, lunchtime and allergy protocols, communication in French and English, as well as insurance and price transparency in CHF. The aim is to offer children a positive learning and leisure experience, with supervised games, adapted workshops and classes that make them want to keep progressing.
In Lausanne, many centres welcome a wide age range. The right camp adapts to the child and offers a programme with secure workshops, well-prepared classes and an organisation that reassures parents. Use the checkpoints below to compare local holiday camps methodically and calmly.
Ratios and supervision by age (the heart of safety)
Staff-to-child ratios by age and activity
Ratios are the first indicator. Ask in writing exactly how many supervisors for how many children by age and planned activities. Younger children need close support during games and leisure, especially on a full day. For a child aged 4 to 7, favour a strengthened ratio with a designated adult for emotional support.
For young people and teens, a slightly wider ratio can work if supervision remains attentive and available. Learning is more effective when every child is known by name and workshops are adjusted to their pace. Request written figures by type of programme and by week to compare several camps fairly.
Training, background checks and first aid
Ask the school or organiser about training: first aid, group management, conflict management, emergency protocol. Check whether criminal record checks are systematic at their centres. Quality also relies on the team’s experience, a clear educational culture and well-documented ongoing training.
Locations, settings and outings (Lausanne, Pully, nature and lake)
Built environment vs nature: ventilation, shade, heatwave plan
The setting matters as much as the content. In summer, ask for a heatwave plan, shaded areas, ventilation or effective air conditioning, and water available throughout the day. Sun protection should be integrated into children’s routines, with regular reminders. In autumn and spring, balancing indoor and outdoor time remains essential to vary activities without overtiring.
Favour bright, airy rooms for creative workshops. Outdoor outings must be mapped with a clear meeting point. A well-prepared camp plans the week with quiet time in the shade, low-effort activities in the hottest hours and simple instructions to limit fatigue and support focus.
Transport and meet-up points: TL/M1/M2, Pully and neighbourhoods
Lausanne benefits from a useful TL/M1/M2 network. Ask for routes, stops, group travel procedures and meeting zones. In Pully, expect fixed points known to families and visible signage. Centres that also operate in Geneva often apply similar Romandy standards, which can guide your expectations for a smooth, safe week.
Activities and risk levels: climbing, theatre, drawing, manga, art
Activities requiring heightened vigilance (e.g., climbing, adventure)
Climbing, certain adventure games and any highly dynamic activity require compliant equipment and appropriate insurance. Ask how centres handle the safety briefing, warm-up and PPE checks (personal protective equipment). Ask about ratios specific to climbing and adventure—often stricter than for other leisure activities—and verify the presence of an evacuation plan.
Plan a fallback in case of storms or extreme heat. A good camp details sheltered locations, group rotations and pausing physical activities in the hottest hours. This rigour distinguishes a well-prepared programme and protects children’s motivation throughout the week.
Creative activities (drawing, manga, theatre, show)
For drawing, comics/manga, theatre, shows and art, assess the educational supervision and materials. Workshops should promote small-group learning, with clear supports and achievable objectives. A camp that plans its classes as a guiding thread allows each participant to progress at their own pace.
Ask for examples of previous classes and programmes, the week’s progression, and the final presentation (show or exhibition). Make sure workshops alternate concentration and active breaks to support attention for children, young people and teens, while preserving the joy of creating.
Meals, lunchtime and allergies: health checklist
Meals, snacks and water: what to check at lunchtime
Who manages lunch and snacks? Clarify whether the camp provides a hot meal or if the family brings a lunchbox. Require unlimited water and fixed break times. Children need quiet time at midday to recover and make the day go more smoothly. Check how teams support the youngest to limit stress and ensure balanced nutrition.
Allergies and protocols: documents and first-aid kit
Before enrolling, ask for the written allergy protocol and the first-aid kit. Building autonomy includes explaining rules to children and properly passing information to teams. Supervisors must know warning signs, where sun protection and medicines are kept, and the steps to take in an emergency. Follow the organiser’s advice to provide precise documents.
Communication and languages: French/English, safety briefings
Lausanne welcomes international families: prioritise a camp that briefs in French and English. Young people and teens understand better when instructions are illustrated, repeated and accessible. A serious organiser adapts its communication approach to the age group, offers simple supports and checks understanding with direct questions.
Ask whether safety sheets, notices and end-of-day messages exist in English and French. This clarity improves the experience, builds trust and keeps classes and workshops safe from the first to the last day.
Drop-off/pick-up times, check-in/out and authorisations
Morning, midday, end of day: reception procedures
Demand secure check-in in the morning, midday tracking and rigorous check-out at the end of the day. An attendance sheet, name badges and the identity of authorised pick-up persons are essential. Parents should know about extended hours by week where possible, for all camps, to fit commutes and availability.
Registration documents: how to complete them correctly
Check that the registration form asks for emergency contacts, allergies, authorisations for outings and photos. On an online form, click the Autofill button to display all required fields. Some systems show a “to complete” label when a field is missing; make sure you clear that indicator before submitting. If there’s an error, correct the “medical” field before final submission.
Ask for transparency on fees in CHF and any additional price related to the programme (insurance, materials). A clear organiser specifies the cancellation policy, the procedure in case of absence and the documents to keep for the week.
Insurance, extra costs and transparency
Request proof of public liability insurance and accident coverage terms. In Switzerland and in Vaud, standards are high, but it is still useful to confirm what is covered during holidays and outdoor outings. Also clarify coverage in case of weather events and incident traceability.
Transparency of prices in CHF prevents surprises. Request a list of what is included or not (meals, materials, transport). These tips help you compare offers without getting lost in the details, whether you are evaluating a camp in Lausanne or camps near other Romandy cities.
The final 15-point checklist (printable)
1) Staff-to-child ratios adapted to age and activities
Request written figures by camp, by programme and by week, with extra vigilance for the youngest.
2) Verified and ongoing training
First aid, group management, educational culture in the school, and certificates visible on reception day.
3) Official checks and identified contacts
Criminal record check, stable reference persons, clearly indicated and reachable centres.
4) Heatwave and bad-weather plan
Shade, hydration, sun protection, ventilated rooms and a simple fallback protocol to activate.
5) Secure, legible setting
Clear signage, meeting point per workshop, controlled access and smooth circulation.
6) Bilingual safety briefings
Instructions in French and English, visual supports and reformulation for any hesitant child.
7) Rigorous check-in/out
Badges, attendance sheet, signed authorisations, a single contact person for parents.
8) Lunch and midday breaks
Unlimited water, clean and quiet spaces, clear distribution and cleaning procedures.
9) Allergies and first-aid kit
Written protocol, medicines available, assigned responsibility, complete registration documents.
10) Controlled higher-risk activities
Climbing and adventure: compliant PPE, verified insurance, strengthened ratios, protected areas.
11) Structured creative activities
Drawing, manga, theatre, show: well-structured workshops, safe materials and realistic objectives.
12) Nature and lake outings
Planned routes, life vests if needed, supervised games, meeting point reminded before every departure.
13) Proactive communication
Daily summary for parents, official channel, quick responses and a caring tone.
14) Complete administrative file
Reread every field and the final validation before sending, keep copies and emergency contacts.
15) Financial transparency
Clear prices in CHF, no hidden costs, consistent conditions in Lausanne, Pully and comparable benchmarks in Geneva.
Example of applying this to a creative Lausanne camp (neutral)
Imagine a holiday camp in Lausanne focused on art workshops over one week. In the morning: drawing and manga; in the afternoon: theatre and preparing a show. Analyse ratios by age: 1:6 for 6–7-year-olds in small classes, 1:8 for 10–12-year-olds. Check the quality of materials, room ventilation, the heatwave plan, water breaks and how outdoor outings are organised, with a clear fallback in case of storms.
Check communication in French and English, the registration protocol, public liability insurance, price transparency in CHF and the list of materials provided. Serious centres apply homogeneous standards across French-speaking Switzerland, useful if you compare a programme in Lausanne with benchmarks from Geneva for similar holidays.
If you are assessing a Romandy provider active year-round, one sentence is enough: to check for a coherent educational framework, you can apply this checklist to Apolline Ecole d’Arts and ensure that the Apolline approach, Apolline camps, Apolline workshops and weekly classes meet the stated criteria.
Conclusion: choosing a camp/programme in confidence in Lausanne
By applying this checklist, you can evaluate any holiday camp in Lausanne methodically. Compare camps and each programme week by week, question the setting, training, communication and lunchtime management. Parents save time, children enjoy a rich experience, and both young people and teens progress safely without giving up the pleasure of activities.
Finalise registration when all documents are complete and your form is validated. Stay attentive to simple signals: staff availability, price transparency in CHF, clear instructions in French and English. These tips help you find the right balance for your family and approach the next holiday week with peace of mind.