Friends of the Four World Centres UK

1 October 2011

From 13th – 21st September 2011, 35 participants attended a unique, tailor-made international event held at Our Chalet. 

Friends of the 4 World Centres UK 2011 Friends of the 4 World Centres 2011 Friends of the 4 World Centres UK 2011

Organizers of the event started with planning and preparation over a year ago to ensure a high quality programme, suiting the wishes of everybody.

The event started with the Opening Ceremony, followed by an Our Chalet Tour and on-site activities, including a Campfire Cooking Competition, Orienteering and Swiss Crafts. The most delicious moment of the day was the BBQ for everybody with the traditional Swiss bratwurst! 

Their Day Programme included a combination of excursion days such as a trip to Interlaken, with its breathtaking views over one of the highest mountains in Switzerland (the Jungfrau), the Lötschental excursion to a beautifully remote valley and Ballenberg open-air museum.

Participants also enjoyed the true outdoor autumnal bliss of the Swiss Alps on several longer walks they completed. They visited the famous Woodcarver family who have been connected to Our Chalet for over 50 years. Participants also walked to Engstligen Fallsand spent a day enjoying the views from one of the most famous mountains in Adelboden valley, Sillerenbühl.

During Evening Programmes participants had the opportunity to enjoy the traditional Swiss Night, International Night and Cheese & Wine Night, as well as learn about the current Global Action Campaign WAGGGS is involved with, and more about the different Millennium Development Goals. A true Guiding event called for celebration of successes of the week around the final Campfire, where participants who have completed the Our Chalet Challenge were presented with a special badge.

The event was a great success, and everybody had fun - we could tell from the laughter and joyous talk coming from aroundOur Chalet. Participants went home tired and happy with the determination to come back soon as participants of similar upcoming events.

Interesting facts of the week:

  • Of all 35 participants nobody was a vegetarian,
  • There were only 33 participants from the UK. Guess where the other two were from! (Ireland and TheNetherlands),
  • Many members of the group’s Four World Centres are members of each centre’s Friends groups as well,
  • the median age of the group was 72 years,
  • 1260 cups of tea were drunk over the course of the event,
  • Many participants brought us gifts.Thank you very much for the generous donations and mindfulness.

The dream of the founders of Our Chalet was that this should be a place where you can find Challenge, Adventure and Peace for the Soul – we are confident that everybody attending this event found all three, here in the embrace of the Swiss mountains andOur Chalet.

More photos can be found here.