THE OUTDOOR PROGRAM
A Boarding School With an Extensive Outdoor Program
The outdoor education program at the Ecole d’Humanité is unparalleled. Surrounded by thousands of kilometers of hiking and mountain biking trails, ski pistes, and mountain climbing routes, our boarding school in the Swiss Alps is the perfect jumping-off point from which to explore the outdoors. As our students hike, bike, camp, and ski through majestic vistas, they develop a profound appreciation for the natural world and discover within themselves deep reserves of strength and grit.
At the Ecole d'Humanité I learned fundamentals that have served me as a professional athlete on the Alpine skiing circuit, as a mountain guide, as an entrepreneur, and as a father. I learned what it is to be 'responsible' on many levels.
—Bernhard Fahner, former student, mountain guide (Mount Everest, Shisha Pangma), Olympic downhill skier, and owner of Pollux Sport, Meiringen
Hiking Program
Each year at the Ecole d’Humanité we offer several multi-day hikes. Some hike groups sleep in huts and explore trails in their immediate vicinity, while others shoulder tents and four to six days worth of food, leaving civilization behind.
Students are rewarded with breathtaking views as they push themselves physically and discover the joy and togetherness that flows from overcoming challenges as a group. They find in themselves strength and mettle, learning they are capable of more than they dreamed possible. Through the hiking program, Ecolianers learn self-reliance, perseverance, problem solving, and creativity - all skills that will carry them through their adult lives.
Why we Hike
Skiing and Snowboarding in the Swiss Alps
The Ecole is a boarding school in the Swiss Alps, and is situated just minutes away from an expansive alpine ski resort. We offer an extensive array of ski and snowboarding lessons, catering to all skill levels and styles. Once students can ski or board with enough proficiency, they can opt to join our ski and snowboard touring courses and experience the unmatched thrill of riding down untouched powder on backcountry routes.
A Boarding School with a Mountain Biking Program
The Ecole offers co-curricular courses in mountain biking, catering to both new and experienced riders. Besides experiencing nature on two wheels, students develop athletic ability and technical skills, and bicycle maintenance. Students learn to pick a line through forest trails, bunnyhop over ricks and braces, or dominate the pump track.
Rock Climbing + Bouldering
Rock climbing courses are a perennial favorite at the Ecole. Our boarding school offers climbing courses for enthusiastic beginners and experienced climbers, and students can improve their skills on the many climbing routes that surround our campus. Climbing courses provide instruction in climbing, bouldering, and belaying techniques. Students learn and practice the DAV climbing protocol alongside continuous risk assessment. In climbing classes, students see firsthand the vital importance of teamwork and they develop a safety mindset - both lessons that have wide reaching impact.
In the immediate vicinity of the Ecole d’Humanité there are many practice cliffs with bolted routes in all grades of difficulty. Climbers can further hone their skills by practicing holds and solving problems in our bouldering room.
The Ecole Sports Program
In the Ecole Athletic Program, all students participate in a variety of individual and team sports activities. The athletic offerings at our international boarding school foster a life-long appreciation for physical activity, teaching the myriad benefits that come from an active lifestyle. We offer a wide selection of competitive and non-competitive sports including basketball, soccer, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, skateboarding, weight lifting, trail running, hiking, unihockey, touch rugby, climbing, mountain biking, yoga, and meditation.
The sports program at the Ecole d’Humanité encourages students to find joy, grounding, and personal satisfaction.
Unique Educational Experiences and Love for the Outdoors
Not every student who comes to us is a seasoned outdoors person. Novices in outdoor pursuits are gently supported (or sometimes strongly encouraged!) to spend time in nature, walking along gentle trails, exploring the mountains on snowshoes, or even swimming in the crisp, cool waters of the nearby lake. Over time, many reluctant adventurers develop a deep appreciation for the outdoors, discovering firsthand the restorative power of the natural world. Unenthusiastic hikers often surprise themselves with unknown resources of strength and grit, gaining confidence and nurturing a profound love of the alpine landscape.
