• CHECK THE PHONE REGULARLY

The camp leader's phone is the connection between the kids and their parents and as such, should be valued and prioritized. Please check the phone for new messages and calls constantly throughout the day

• MAKE SURE THAT THE PHONE IS CHARGED 24/7

Letting the battery hit the 0% mark is a big no-no, so please keep it always ON.

• E-SIM INSTALLATION

Please get in touch with the office or with your camp manager if you are not sure how to install the appropriate eSIM.
Swisscom: Estavayer and Schwarzsee
Digital Republic: St. Bernard and Braunwald

• BE IN TOUCH WITH THE OFFICE VIA THIS PHONE

This device is connected to the office via different apps, not just WhatsApp - all the vital information, contacts, pdfs etc. is in this phone.

• DON'T LOSE THE PHONE DEVICE

Make sure to bring the camp leader's phone to all activities and excursions with you - especially on full-day excursions on Saturdays because of the student departures! Also, losing the device is a big no-no. ^^

• RESPONSIBILITY

Be a responsible driver, don’t drive too fast, check that the seatbelts are on, and don’t scare the kids with your driving

• CAR PREPARATION & DRIVING LICENCE

The car needs to be cleaned entirely from snow, check the fuel level before you depart. Always check before you turn on the car if you have your driving licence + car licence with you

• LIGHTS ON

You always need to have the lights on in Switzerland

• RESPECT SPEED LIMITS

The maximum speed limit on motorways/highways is 120 km/h, on expressways it is 100 km/h, on main roads and minor roads outside built-up areas it is 80 km/h and in built-up areas it is 50 km/h. Whoever gets caught by a speed camera needs to pay the fine himself

• DIESEL VS PETROL

Before refuelling, always check which fuel you can put in the car (on the dashboard behind the wheel, on the fuel tank lid, etc). If you misfuel you pay half of the repair!

• A KID SHOULD NEVER GO/BE SOMEWHERE ALONE

On excursions, to the lake, on sports fields etc.

• NO SWIMMING WITHOUT ADULTS

No swimming without a teacher or other staff members, tell about the risk and be aware

• STAFF PARTIES

If you plan a party remember that there must always be one teacher/staff that doesn’t drink. Clean up after the party, kids should not see or smell alcohol or drugs (including marijuana) on you, otherwise, you will be sent home

• COMMUNICATION

For kids (especially under the age of 13) on excursions/workshops/evening activities - always give exact instructions on where and what time to meet, one leader should always be at the end of the group to see that we don’t lose anybody

• SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

Per sleeping house one responsible adult or two (one man and one woman) if necessary

• PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND STREETS

On the train and in the streets be aware that kids need guidance

• HYGIENE

Keep the kitchen clean at all times; properly store the food in the containers (with labels and other sanitary and regulatory rules)

• SAFETY

Always be aware of potential dangers in the kitchen - hot surfaces, sharp edges, slippery floors, heavy pots, etc. Kids are NOT allowed to reside in the kitchen area

• PUNCTUALITY

Make sure that the meals are ready on time - we’re running tight, tight schedule and late meals can and will cause problems in the afternoon and/or evening program

• FOOD WASTE

Always try to minimise food waste; if there are leftovers, it’s a good idea to organise a once or twice-per-week leftovers dinner (if the food is servable)

• FOOD VARIETY

Keep a nice mix of healthy and fast food; keep an eye on special cases sheet information, like student and staff allergies and dietary requirements (vegan, vegetarian, gluten and/or lactose intolerance)

Below are a few points that we find important and that we think will contribute to the success of friLingue:

• Safety (THE MOST IMPORTANT)

Security is paramount. We are responsible for the health and safety of the participants. The participants should always be surveilled when possible and no one should be left alone at any point.

• Punctuality

It is very important for teachers to be on time for class, so please be ready for class at least ten minutes in advance. Camp leaders must also be punctual.

• Openness

If something is bothering you, you should seek to discuss and resolve the problem at the earliest opportunity, as we seek to cultivate open communication and conflict resolution.

• Enthusiasm, Improvisation, Proactivity and Independence

friLingue is now in its 17th year and, as is the case every year, there will be a few obstacles to overcome, but with enthusiasm, improvisation and ability, we’re confident that we’ll always find a constructive solution.

• Teamwork and mutual respect

Together as a team, we are responsible for everything in the camp. We should therefore support each other and combine our abilities to function as one efficient machine, rather than as isolated individuals - and besides, collaboration and friendship make work more fun. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work, to use a cliché. We will live by our motto: "Joy teaches languages!"
Our charisma motivates our students, and when reciprocated, their charisma in turn motivates us. We should aim to teach and learn as much as we can from our students during the short time available to us.

• General

During the welcome meeting, emphasize the point that the kids should behave responsibly and respect the staff as well as each other and that their respect will be reciprocated by the staff to create a fun, family-like atmosphere within the camp. We should reinforce this through active listening and an evaluation on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

• Contact persons

Appoint one male and one female member of staff as the responsible contact people for boys and girls respectively (camp monitors, camp leaders, teachers or co-leaders are all suitable for this role). This person should be available to listen and deal with any problems/issues the kids may have and should also keep an eye out for any problems that may arise amongst the group.
Write the phone number of each contact person on the board during the welcome meeting and leave it there throughout the week if possible. For teachers:
Teachers should be attentive and engage with their students to ensure that they are satisfied with the classes, and always encourage students to give suggestions of their own. It’s also important to look for indicators of bullying/ problems within the class and deal with any incidents as appropriate.
For more serious problems contact the camp manager.

• Mobbing (IMPORTANT)

Reason and cooperate with kids and keep an eye out for anyone who might be being victimised; a joke is only funny when both parties find it funny (kids should laugh with each other, not at each other).
If you find that someone is being victimised or bullied and the situation is escalating, then it is worth discussing the possibility of said individual changing camps. Caution (What not to do):

1. Don’t mix guesswork and facts: this often makes problems worse, rather than solving them.
2. Don’t talk with several people about a person without also talking to the person in question - the person(s) at the centre of any incident should be the first to be approached.
3. Don’t try to be a therapist. Remember that you are a camp leader and that you are not a trained expert in this area, so be careful what role you play.
4. Try not to become crushed by a problem and give up. Remember: a little help often goes a long way.

• Customer Focus

Customers of friLingue: Parents & Children
On the one hand, the children should learn languages and have a good time; on the other hand, they need clear structure. We have to remember that the parent’s motive is different to that of the child; kids will obviously want to work as little as possible and have more fun - we need to ensure the work-fun balance is right!

All staff should seek to maximize contact with the kids as much as possible, for example, during meal times staff should sit and eat with the kids - no staff-only tables!

1. You should involve the kids in the simple preparations of some activities where possible (such as building the campfire, preparing the disco etc.). You can even appoint leaders amongst the kids for certain activities.
2. Discipline measures are allowed, such as; cell phone removal, cleaning/kitchen work and detention during free time.
3. Food: The kids should always be served first before the staff serve themselves. To encourage healthy eating during snack times, fruit and water should always be made available.
4. Order & Hygiene! No beer bottles or other waste should be left lying around and the kitchen and toilets should always maintain decent standards of cleanliness and hygiene - parental visits are possible at any time!
5. Do not use drugs (nicotine, alcohol, cannabis) in front of the children.
6. You should also be prepared at all times in case the kids have problems during the night, such as illness or disruptions within the room etc.
7. The team should always try to be seen as open and approachable so that even shy students feel at ease when it comes to reporting any problems or discussing any doubts.

CAMP LEADER
As a general rule

• The ultimate goal in every camp is safety, which means no accidents, offences or discipline cases of any kind. We demand punctuality at all given times by all staff members.
• At the same time, all parties involved should take some responsibility when it comes to the management of the camps, even the kids in some respects; Joy and enthusiasm, exciting lessons and workshops, interesting encounters and conversations create the spirit of every camp.

Tasks for camp leader

• Is in charge of the overall management of the camp and is therefore responsible for security, punctuality and creating the weekly programme including workshops and evening activities.
• He is the contact person for all employees, participants, parents, camp house owners and local authorities.
• Assistance with workshops (if needed).
• Create a cleaning plan for the kids' rooms, toilets and waste along with the teacher-leaders - and ensure that it is implemented.
• Organisation and management of excursions with the teacher-leaders.
• Appoint a substitute for the camp leader for periods of absence.
• Execution or delegation to teachers-leaders of bedtime duties.
• Monitoring and adhering to the appropriate budget specifications for excursions, workshops and special editions (excluding purchasing food). Each camp leader receives a credit card, which is shared with the chef.

LANGUAGE TEACHER / ACTIVITY LEADER
As a general rule

• The ultimate goal in every camp is safety, which means no accidents, offences or discipline cases of any kind. As a basis, we demand punctuality at all given times by all staff members - all meeting times given by the camp leader must be strictly adhered to.
• At the same time, all parties involved should take some responsibility when it comes to the management of the camps, even the kids in some respects; Joy and enthusiasm, exciting lessons and workshops, interesting encounters and conversations create the spirit of every camp.

Language teacher / Activity leader tasks

• Conducting the level test as a team
• The level test will take place on Sunday evening for the new participants.
• Lesson planning: setting out clear goals and ensuring the lessons are fun and interesting.
• Guidance and assistance with workshops (depending on the subject).
• Create and carry out your workshop (if needed).
• Create a cleaning plan for the kids' rooms, toilets and waste along with the camp leader and ensure that it is implemented.
• Disco preparation (Friday or Saturday)
• If required, and if interested, you may be required to take on certain camp management duties during times when the camp leader is otherwise occupied.

The ultimate goal in every camp is safety, which means no accidents, offences or discipline cases of any kind. As a basis, we demand punctuality at all given times by all staff members - all meal times given by the camp leader must be strictly adhered to.
At the same time, all parties involved should take some responsibility when it comes to the management of the camps, even the kids in some respects; Joy and enthusiasm, exciting lessons and workshops, interesting encounters and conversations create the spirit of every camp.

CHEF Tasks

• Has overall responsibility for serving good food on time assisted by the team of volunteers.
• Responsible for cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen.
• Planning with consideration of free days for the volunteers.
• Create a plan for volunteers regarding environmentally friendly waste disposal and cleaning etc.
• Monitoring and complying with the food budget; shopping should be done by the camp leader and one assistant (if needed) with the credit card provided.

Purchase and preparation

• The budget per person per day is 9 CHF and should be stuck to as far as possible
• The chef should aim to buy quality products at a budget-friendly price. "Prix ​​guarantee" products are generally good quality and friLingue will provide a 10% Coop discount card.
• Bread, salad and vegetables can often be purchased at a good price from a local farmer or bakery.
• Coop often has daily offers and low prices.
• From our experience and feedback, the kids generally don’t like gourmet-style food; spices such as coriander and ginger etc. have not proved popular in the past. You may use such spices, but we’d recommend serving them as an optional condiment so that those who wish can add them.
• Each meal should include either salad or fresh vegetables.
• Always be prepared to adapt the menu to suit those with special dietary requirements (vegetarian, allergies etc.)

CO-LEADER / VOLUNTEER LEADER
Tasks of the co-leader
Responsible for the volunteers, ie:

• Planning the volunteers’ work schedule and rota in collaboration with the chef.
• Assist the camp leader with daily planning, workshops and evening programme.
• Help in the kitchen as needed.
• Responsible for the cleanliness in the camp (excluding kitchen); surrounding bedrooms, WC, and living rooms. This should be done with the volunteers.
• Responsible for preparing the daily plan and writing it on the information board.
• The daily schedule is provided by the camp leader.
• Responsible for the first aid kit and replenishing items when needed.
• The co-leader should take instructions from the camp leader.

In addition to the rules for the children, there are also internal rules, which have to be adhered to by staff and volunteers.

• Smoking

Smoking is only permitted in the smoking area (out of sight from kids). Do not smoke during activities!

• Alcohol

Drinking is only permitted from 10 pm once the kids have gone to sleep and the children should not see any staff members consuming alcohol. The mess should also be suitably cleared and no kids or parents should catch sight of any empty cans or bottles.

• Responsibility after hours

Someone from the team should be completely sober in case of emergencies that require a driver.
Someone from the team should be completely sober in case of emergencies of all kinds.

• Distance between staff and participants

Be aware of your role as a leader and pay attention to what is deemed appropriate, for example, don’t rub sun cream onto a kid's back. Don't curse or use offensive language (at least not in front of the kids). Don't raise socially sensitive topics in front of the kids. Dress appropriately. Use common sense.

• Supervision

1. One staff per 8 kids (for excursions, evening programs, swimming)
2. Kids under 13 years
3. Kids under 13 must always be cared for, even during free afternoons, free evenings and on Sundays!
4. Sleeping

All the kids should sleep at 10 pm! Kids should not and cannot change rooms during the night, particularly those of opposite sexes!

• Evaluation

On Friday the kids must complete the evaluation, and all leavers must complete the online form: https://www.frilingue.ch/en/assessments
Those who will stay an additional week or more must complete the printed midterm evaluation.

• References & Testimonials

Encourage any super-satisfied kids to give us a written reference and a filmed testimonial for the website.

• Google & Facebook reviews

Encourage kids to give us a positive review on Google or Facebook. Every kid who gives us a positive review will be issued a free t-shirt.

• Security instructions/guidelines

1. Safety is the top priority - we do not want any accidents and no property damage
2. No smoking in the camp except in designated areas.
3. Absolute alcohol ban in the whole camp.
4. Absolute drug ban in the whole camp
5. Sleeping times must be respected.
6. Every organized activity (lessons, excursions, workshops, swimming, parties) is supervised by a member of staff.
7. Anyone who violates these principles will be warned for the first time and will be sent home at the next occurrence. In the case of drugs, alcohol consumption and night-time disturbance, this will happen on the first occurrence.
8. The camp leader is responsible for the decision and enforcement. In any case, Philipp Weber must be informed.
9. Continued improvement by everybody
10. The rules sheet can be found on the information board in every camp

• Safety information for all leaders

1. Information for all supervisory staff (leaders, teachers & co-leaders)
2. In each camp there is an emergency first aid kit; during organised activities outside the camp (excursions, sports etc.) the leader has to take one with him.
3. For all outdoor activities (excursions, sports, hikes, etc.), the leader is responsible for the safety and order.
4. In the case of activities outside the camp, every participant with a special medical condition must carry his/her form with them.

• Swimming

Remember: As a leader or supervisor, you are the role model.
To be consulted in cases of serious difficulties: camp manager

• The course of action in case of fire

1. Use extinguishers provided
2. Evacuate the building and ensure everyone is safe
3. Call emergency services

• Behaviour in case of an accident

1. Secure person and perform first aid
2. Call the doctor or ambulance
3. One volunteer or a co-leader should accompany the student to the hospital
4. Notify the camp manager about the progress