At LAS, the Swiss Alps Are Another Classroom
At LAS, bringing the classroom into the real world means creating financial and marketing plans with real businesses, visiting the United Nations to witness policymaking firsthand, seeing history come to life at ancient European sites, and experiencing vibrant culture in iconic cities. Surrounded by the stunning Swiss Alps, our campus also offers abundant opportunities to learn from the outdoors. Programs like the Alpine Institute and the 4000-Meter Club encourage students to explore nature while developing independence, problem-solving, teamwork, and wilderness navigation skills, as well as the ability to prepare for and respond to challenging weather, building resilience and confidence along the way.

One cornerstone of the Alpine Institute is facilitating student participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. Grounded in non-formal education, the award encourages students to find their purpose, place, and passion through service, physical activity, and skill development. Its most celebrated component is the Adventurous Journey, a multi-day outdoor expedition designed, planned, and executed entirely by students. Working in small teams, participants must be self-sufficient, carrying all their own equipment and food while navigating an agreed route with only remote adult supervision. Core skills include navigation, camp-craft, first aid, and teamwork, with a minimum of six to eight hours of purposeful activity required each day depending on award level.

These past few weeks have been an exciting time for our Duke of Edinburgh's participants, with students across multiple year groups heading into the surrounding Swiss Alps to complete their qualifying journeys and put their learning into practice.

Silver Success on the Jura Crest
Last weekend, four students successfully completed their Silver level qualifying journey, the culmination of ten months of planning and preparation. Before even setting foot on the trail, they were responsible for planning their routes, packing their own gear, and organizing their meals. Over three days, the group hiked more than 60 km along the Jura Crest above Lake Geneva, with a panoramic view of the Alps stretching out behind them the entire way. Once in the field, they worked as a team to navigate, cook, and camp with minimal support, while their experienced teachers remained nearby to ensure safety. The students rose to the challenge beautifully, demonstrating the independence that is central to the award. Despite variable weather and demanding terrain, they pushed forward and learned a great deal along the way, reflecting on how valuable it was to rely on one another in difficult moments and returning home proud of the resilience, leadership, and adaptability they had developed.

Bronze and Silver Groups Take to the Pre-Alps
Five younger students also completed their Bronze level qualifying journey over two days, a wonderful reminder of how this program builds valuable skills from the very beginning. Meanwhile, a second Silver cohort of 14 students aged 15–16 set off on their own qualifying journey through the Pre-Alps. In the days before departure, they had been deep in route planning, carefully mapping primary and alternative paths, and after an exceptionally snowy winter, melting snow on the higher peaks added a layer of complexity to their preparation, which they approached with maturity and thoroughness.

Student Reflections on the Experience
"My Duke of Edinburgh adventurous journey was an experience that definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me many valuable lessons. One of the best parts of the trip was being able to share this experience with my friends. Throughout the journey, we developed many important skills, like how to read and follow a map properly, how to cook meals, and how to redirect ourselves in tough situations. There were moments that were difficult, especially the inclined hike. However, through the challenges there were also positives. Overall it was a very rewarding experience that we will remember. " - Lyla '28

A huge congratulations to all students who took part this season, and to the staff who support this remarkable program. We are so proud of everyone!