Switzerland isn't open to US travelers right now

My 15-YO DD did Concordia last summer virtually and it was completely useless. It was terribly planned, with absolutely no thought as to how to engage the students who didn't yet know the language. It was a mixed-level camp (norwegian), so many kids already knew some of the language. They were also many kids who knew one another from past years at camp, so those kids bascially chatted with each other while my daughter stared at the computer screen wondering what the heck was happening.

Their total immersion idea is a great idea in person, but their virtual version was a huge fail. Maybe they've improved their methods since last summer, but I would investigate that before you write a check.

My DD has loved her summers at Concordia (mandarin). They do a great job.

Swiss German is a different language really. I would forget to idea of trying to learn it in summer camp. Also Switzerland is really behind on vaccinations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, what about covid?

I love that perception has caught up with reality and so many people are all done with COVID. Enjoy folks!

+1. Adults who want the vaccine will have had access to it by then. After that, time to move on and surge vaccines to the rest of the world.

How is Switzerland doing with vaccination? Also, there is no kids vaccine. Are you comfortable sending your unvaccinated child overseas during a global pandemic? What if your child gets covid? Who will help him/her? This is absolute selfishness.

The same people who would help him if he came down with a cold or flu? Stop advocating for vaccines in children to return to normal. It’s selfish and not necessary. Severe Covid cases in elderly and high risk folks around the world = more spread and variants.

I cannot believe how many people equate vaccines for children to returning to normal. There is not a significant amount of data to prove that they are safe in children but there is a ton of data showing how covid does not typically cause severe illness in children. Once children get the vaccines, the next reason will be variants for why people still arent' ready for their children to go back to school/soccer/camp.

I have a feeling these posters wouldn't typically send their children overseas for summer camp anyway.

Inexcusable to vaccinate kids in this country before high risk adults overseas. Questionable to vaccinate them to alleviate adult concerns anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, what about covid?

I love that perception has caught up with reality and so many people are all done with COVID. Enjoy folks!

+1. Adults who want the vaccine will have had access to it by then. After that, time to move on and surge vaccines to the rest of the world.

How is Switzerland doing with vaccination? Also, there is no kids vaccine. Are you comfortable sending your unvaccinated child overseas during a global pandemic? What if your child gets covid? Who will help him/her? This is absolute selfishness.

The same people who would help him if he came down with a cold or flu? Stop advocating for vaccines in children to return to normal. It’s selfish and not necessary. Severe Covid cases in elderly and high risk folks around the world = more spread and variants.

There’s no way I’d send my kids to a camp overseas. Something is very wrong with OP.

Fine. Totally separate from Covid concerns.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, what about covid?

I love that perception has caught up with reality and so many people are all done with COVID. Enjoy folks!

+1. Adults who want the vaccine will have had access to it by then. After that, time to move on and surge vaccines to the rest of the world.

How is Switzerland doing with vaccination? Also, there is no kids vaccine. Are you comfortable sending your unvaccinated child overseas during a global pandemic? What if your child gets covid? Who will help him/her? This is absolute selfishness.

The same people who would help him if he came down with a cold or flu? Stop advocating for vaccines in children to return to normal. It’s selfish and not necessary. Severe Covid cases in elderly and high risk folks around the world = more spread and variants.

I cannot believe how many people equate vaccines for children to returning to normal. There is not a significant amount of data to prove that they are safe in children but there is a ton of data showing how covid does not typically cause severe illness in children. Once children get the vaccines, the next reason will be variants for why people still arent' ready for their children to go back to school/soccer/camp.

I have a feeling these posters wouldn't typically send their children overseas for summer camp anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, what about covid?

I love that perception has caught up with reality and so many people are all done with COVID. Enjoy folks!

+1. Adults who want the vaccine will have had access to it by then. After that, time to move on and surge vaccines to the rest of the world.

How is Switzerland doing with vaccination? Also, there is no kids vaccine. Are you comfortable sending your unvaccinated child overseas during a global pandemic? What if your child gets covid? Who will help him/her? This is absolute selfishness.

The same people who would help him if he came down with a cold or flu? Stop advocating for vaccines in children to return to normal. It’s selfish and not necessary. Severe Covid cases in elderly and high risk folks around the world = more spread and variants.

There’s no way I’d send my kids to a camp overseas. Something is very wrong with OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, what about covid?

I love that perception has caught up with reality and so many people are all done with COVID. Enjoy folks!

+1. Adults who want the vaccine will have had access to it by then. After that, time to move on and surge vaccines to the rest of the world.

How is Switzerland doing with vaccination? Also, there is no kids vaccine. Are you comfortable sending your unvaccinated child overseas during a global pandemic? What if your child gets covid? Who will help him/her? This is absolute selfishness.

The same people who would help him if he came down with a cold or flu? Stop advocating for vaccines in children to return to normal. It’s selfish and not necessary. Severe Covid cases in elderly and high risk folks around the world = more spread and variants.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, what about covid?

I love that perception has caught up with reality and so many people are all done with COVID. Enjoy folks!

+1. Adults who want the vaccine will have had access to it by then. After that, time to move on and surge vaccines to the rest of the world.

How is Switzerland doing with vaccination? Also, there is no kids vaccine. Are you comfortable sending your unvaccinated child overseas during a global pandemic? What if your child gets covid? Who will help him/her? This is absolute selfishness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, what about covid?

I love that perception has caught up with reality and so many people are all done with COVID. Enjoy folks!

+1. Adults who want the vaccine will have had access to it by then. After that, time to move on and surge vaccines to the rest of the world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is a kid going to learn German in Switzerland? Swiss German isn’t very practical to know, no one is going to understand you outside of the Alpine regions.

I was coming here to type this. However, if the ability to learn proper German - I'd go for it.

My grandfather was Swiss German and he always felt that the Germans pretended not to understand him because they were snooty about German and looked down on the Swiss. I’ve been told by other Swiss though that it’s legit difficult to understand (in addition to the Germans maybe being snooty about it).

They teach standard German on the schools. Maybe socially it might be a bit awkward but the camp should teach high german

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is a kid going to learn German in Switzerland? Swiss German isn’t very practical to know, no one is going to understand you outside of the Alpine regions.

I was coming here to type this. However, if the ability to learn proper German - I'd go for it.

My grandfather was Swiss German and he always felt that the Germans pretended not to understand him because they were snooty about German and looked down on the Swiss. I’ve been told by other Swiss though that it’s legit difficult to understand (in addition to the Germans maybe being snooty about it).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the Leysin camp (tennis) and had a great time! I was an older teen when I went.

If you want to prep your kid with German prior to international camp, Concordia Language Villages could be a great stepping stone. (I went to French camp starting after 2nd grade and went for many summers—loved it!)
http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/youth-village-life" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/youth-village-life

Thank you so much, this looks great! I love the village idea and will look into it.

Yes, love Concordia Language Villages! I went to both the German and French camps, both recreationally and later for high school credit. Had an absolutely amazing time.

Anonymous wrote:Um, what about covid?

I love that perception has caught up with reality and so many people are all done with COVID. Enjoy folks!