That's a wrap on Summer 2026, here's our notes...
However we try to sum up Summer 2026, the numbers are a good place to start: 842 pupils and 101 teachers joined us in the mountains this year.
But honestly, the numbers that matter most are the ones we’ve stopped even trying to count. The raft trips. The kayak sessions. The kilometres hiked. The ice creams bought. The first times for things. The “That was amazing!”s. Somewhere in amongst all of that, we made an awful lot of memories – and it was such a good summer.
New faces, brilliant additions
We welcomed three new staff this year – Ed, Hilly and Hannah – and they were brilliant from the word go.
Returning staff, raising the bar
Our returning team were just as impressive, leading sessions with real confidence, getting to know our guides even better, and feeding brilliant observations back to management so we could keep ironing out the small stuff and making every session that bit better.
Everyone stepping up
One of the things we’re proudest of this season: we didn’t run with “team leads” on each school. Instead, everyone worked with genuine ownership and responsibility across the team, and it was brilliant to watch people lean into what they’re actually great at. Taylor made sure everyone understood why fuelling properly for the day actually matters. Amy went on runs with the Gold DofE crew. Claire was quietly managing the French bus drivers & their timetables. Sophie brought her forest school skills into bushcraft session planning. Katie ran a yoga session. Ed and Lisa, both ski instructors, made sure everyone had chairlift safety nailed – even in the height of summer. Oh and Graham made sure that during the hottest week of the summer, our hikers had ample water supplies – by biking jerry cans up the mountain! That’s just a handful of examples, but it’s the pattern that mattered: a team working to its strengths, without needing to be told to.
New partnerships, familiar favourites
We worked with Hotel du Lac for the first time this season, hosting a brand new school in week one – and it was awesome. A great team up there, a stunning location, evening activities by the lake, and genuinely delicious food. A brilliant start to a new partnership. We’ve launched 3 exclusive weeks for lucky schools to stay at the lake for Summer 2027 – more info HERE.
And as ever, Escalade continues to be a joy to work with — we love being based there for the majority of the season, and that relationship just keeps getting stronger.
Gorge Walking – an absolute hit!
“Scrambling, traversing, jumping from height – down a gorge” – how Graham summed up this new activity we trialled with some of our returning schools. Think of it as canyoning’s crazy little brother – great for younger groups as there’s less abseiling off a bridge involved, but still huge levels of fun! Taking us to a new location – the “Foron” gorge, Graham, Gav and Sophie went on this activity with the Bureau des Guides guys. The kids loved it, the teachers loved it and schools who’ve heard about it have signed up for 2027. A pretty good success rate if you ask me!
Gold DofE
Our three Gold DofE weeks went brilliantly. Amy and Sophie ran the programme, Taylor kept everyone fed, and the reviews from kids and parents alike said it all. More on that HERE.
September: three year groups, one big undertaking
September brought one of our biggest logistical challenges of the year: a school bringing three year groups at once, each on a different programme, staying at Les Eaux Vives and trying out some brand new activities. Sophie and Katie planned it beautifully between them – Katie on logistics, Sophie on the workshop content – and the whole team pulled together, including through a genuinely difficult weather day, to make it happen. The school loved it, the kids loved it, and we’re already looking forward to next year.
What’s next…
We’ve now rebooked most of our schools for 2027 (bar a couple coming back in 2028 instead), flights are booked, trains are almost there, and we’re launching our remaining 2027 availability – with half an eye already on 2028. Oh, and winter planning is well underway too! It’s all going on behind the scenes.
