Spring is a great time to experience the Alps. Snow is giving way to trails, the days are longer, and the mountains are rejuvenated. Making the most of the season, HIF Spring Camp offers a three-week programme for young people aged 12 to 17, with life on the Ftan campus, followed by a journey through three European countries. HIF Spring Camp sits between Winter Camp in Switzerland and Alpine Summer Camps in summer. For the summer programme itself, see Summer Camps in Switzerland. Here is what the Spring programme looks like.

The Programme at a Glance

HIF Spring Camp 2027 runs from 10 to 30 April (21 days and 20 nights) and is taught in English. Students spend 14 nights at HIF in Ftan, followed by seven nights of organised travel and learning across Italy, Austria and Germany. The camp is designed so that students use English naturally every day in an international community, while building confidence through purposeful Alpine experiences.

Week 1: Settle In and Connect

The first week is about arriving and belonging. Students settle in at the HIF campus, get to know their group, practise English in everyday situations and take part in Alpine orientation. Cultural celebrations, including Songkran, add to the international atmosphere. By the end of the week, most campers have formed their first friendships, which make the rest of the programme even better.

Week 2: Explore and Challenge

In the second week, Spring Camp in Switzerland takes to the mountains. Hiking, climbing, navigating, rafting, and team challenges are adapted to April conditions, giving students a new environment in which to build confidence and judgement. Real-world science, geography, data and problem-solving are connected to the landscape, so learning feels applied rather than abstract.

Week 3: Discover Europe

In the final week, the group travels from Switzerland through South Tyrol, Italy, and Salzburg, Austria, finishing in Munich, Germany. Highlights include the historic towns of Merano and Bolzano, the Dolomites, Salzburg’s Old Town, Mozart House, Hohensalzburg Fortress and the Deutsches Museum. After two weeks at HIF, campus life works as a springboard for supervised international travel.

Safety and Supervision

For a young person travelling internationally, feeling safe and known comes first. The camp is run by experienced HIF staff, with 24-hour supervision and pastoral care, qualified specialists for technical and outdoor activities, activity-specific risk assessments and appropriate first-aid provision. The hospital in Scuol is around ten minutes from campus.

A Taste of Boarding at HIF

For the first two weeks, campers live at HIF, sharing meals, activities and everyday life with peers from around the world. For families considering international education, the camp offers a first-hand introduction to boarding. To understand boarding more fully, read What Is a Boarding School?, A Day in the Life of a Boarding Student or Swiss Boarding Schools: What Makes an International One Different.

What Students Take Home

Spring Camp aims to leave students with confidence, stronger English communication skills, cultural awareness, practical judgement, independence, resilience, and international friendships. For many families, it is also a way to see how their child responds to boarding and to travel before making longer-term plans.

How to Register

Registration follows three steps: fill in the website enquiry form, complete the application form that HIF sends by email, or arrange a call, and then receive confirmation of your place along with pre-camp details. To find out more or apply, visit the Spring Camp page and complete the enquiry form.

Key Learnings

• HIF Spring Camp 2027 runs from 10 to 30 April for ages 12 to 17, taught in English.
• The programme combines 14 nights at HIF in Ftan with 7 nights of organised travel across Italy, Austria and Germany.
• Weeks 1 to 3 move from settling in and connecting, to Alpine challenges, to a European journey.
• Safety includes 24-hour supervision and pastoral care, qualified outdoor specialists and activity-specific risk assessments.
• Spring Camp also offers a first-hand introduction to boarding at HIF, and registration starts with an enquiry form.