It’s that time of year when the entire Leysin American School community comes together for Faculty Family Day, a full day off campus dedicated to fun, enrichment, and unforgettable adventures. This tradition gives students and staff a chance to step away from academics and campus life to bond through shared experiences in the spectacular Swiss Alps surrounding us. 

Faculty Families are foundational to the LAS experience. These small, close-knit groups pair 5–8 students of similar ages with 2–3 staff “parents.” Meeting weekly throughout the year, Faculty Families provide a built-in support system, helping students feel connected, cared for, and at home. Faculty Parents take a holistic approach to guidance, focusing not just on academics but also on social connection and emotional well-being.

Students and their Faculty Parents worked together to curate an incredible assortment of activities and destinations to experience. Families enjoyed hiking, canyoning, sailing, zip-lining, paddle boarding, go-karting, wakeboarding, laser tag, escape rooms, a via ferrata, and even cheesemaking. Zurich, Gstaad, Interlaken, Bern, Neuchâtel, Chateau d'Oex, Aletsch Glacier, the Cailler Chocolate Factory, and Gruyère, were also explored. These adventures gave students the chance to experience Swiss culture, breathtaking landscapes, and plenty of laughter with their LAS families.

By venturing out on these special excursions, students return to campus recharged and ready to thrive—with strengthened friendships and a renewed excitement for the region they call home. Faculty Family Day is just one of many times throughout the academic year when students create lifelong memories and deepen their sense of belonging within the LAS family.

Here are some photos of just a few experiences our Faculty Families enjoyed:

 

Hiking to Lac des Chavonnes with a Swiss picnic lunch:

Cruising on a historic sailboat on Lake Geneva:

Funicular, panoramic train, and mini-funicular to Dam Emosson and the 450m long zipline:

Wakeboarding on Lake Geneva:

Hiking to Auberge-Refuge La Vouivre Lac de Taney (followed by fondue!):

Canyoning in Chateau d'Oex:

Trampoline park (followed by a movie):

The via ferrata on the Tour d'Aï in Leysin: