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Expeditions

The spirit of "ex" is central to Aiglon’s philosophy. There are many kinds of expeditions at Aiglon, and they are an important part of what makes an education here unique.

While many students may spend their weekend having a lie-in or catching up on homework, up to half of Aiglon’s students, of all ages, will be out on an expedition. These trips, scrupulously overseen by experienced and highly trained staff and experts, are both fun and challenging. They may involve the acquisition of new skills or trying out exciting activities like camping, orienteering, kayaking, rock climbing or mountain biking, amongst others.

Expedition activities vary according to the seasons, from Switzerland’s celebrated Via Ferrata in summer to ski-touring in winter. Examples of expeditions include kayaking and camping at Lac Léman, road cycling on the circuit at Bex, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing between mountain huts.

Every student will be exposed to activities new to them, some of which they may find extremely challenging or outside their comfort zone. Nonetheless, with encouragement and support, they all rise to those tests. Students consistently describe “going on ex” as among the highlights of their time at Aiglon. They experience the sense of accomplishment at achieving more than they thought themselves capable, the wonder of being in an environment very different from home and reliant on their own resources, and friendships forged amid the lows and highs of a demanding trip.

canoeing

Our aim through the expedition programme is to use the outdoor environment and adventure activities as a vehicle for transforming our students’ experiences into knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours. Genuine outdoor education through real experience.

You see students come who have no experience of the outdoors. And because they have to get involved, they have to walk — and they can reach the summit. You see them year on year gradually change and develop that resilience.Louise ThomasHead of Expeditions

By the Numbers

4

Average number of expedition experiences per term

170

Bouquetins awarded last year for expedition achievement (participating in at least 5 expeditions per term)

200

Average number of students on expedition each weekend

3,396

Our highest peak (Pigne de la Lé) climbed (in metres) as part of the High Expedition programme

Why do we do expeditions?

To Develop

  1. Confidence and self esteem

  2. Health and wellbeing

  3. Social and emotional awareness

  4. Environmental awareness

  5. Activity skills

  6. Personal qualities

  7. Skills for life

  8. Increased motivation and appetite for learning

  9. Broadened horizons

FOR Experience

Our aim through the Aiglon expedition programme is to use the outdoors as a vehicle to both develop and educate students. The expedition programme is not an ‘add on’ to the students' education but is integral to it.

We achieve this by offering an expeditions programme that is challenging and adventurous, that involves physical activity, that respects the natural environment, that increases our students' curiosity in the natural world, that will be memorable and fun, and that inspires.

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