One of the things I am proudest of during my time at Our Chalet in Adelboden, Switzerland was completing the Our Chalet Challenge. Since I participated in an official program, the patch was included if I earned it. As a lifelong Girl Scout and current leader, I was going to earn it! There were various steps I completed over a week. As I completed activities, volunteers, staff, or leaders from other groups initialed my progress. Then my booklet was reviewed and the next morning, right before I departed, I received my patch! Talk about cutting it close!
Not everyone who attends Our Chalet completes the challenge and some steps were definitely harder than others. You can work on the Leadership, Packing, and Fitness elements in advance of the trip. For the elements completed while at the World Center, there were several options to accommodate a wide ranger of interests and abilities. Here is what I did to earn it:
Our Culture
Compulsory: Meet a Swiss person, talk to them and find out three facts about living in Switzerland. I spoke with a Swiss staff member about education and we were comparing our educational systems and standards based grading! It was a great conversation that ended only because of dinner.
Complete any three of the following:
c. Find out how you would travel by public transport from Our Chalet to the Capital City of Switzerland. This was easy for me since I did it only days before.
e. Carry out a traditional Swiss craft. We worked on Scherenschnitte, or paper cutting, while watching a movie one leisurely afternoon.
WAGGGS & Five World Centers
Compulsory: Learn five facts about a Guide's / Scout culture that differs from your own member organizations. One night was International Night so we shared more about our countries as well as local communities and Girl Scout and Girl Guiding cultures and traditions. And of course, we swapped patches!
Complete any three of the following:
a. Explain to a Staff member why you like being a Guide/Scout and give an example of something you do to be a good world citizen.
b. Recite your Guide / Scout promise and law and explain what they mean to you.
c. What is the theme of World Thinking Day this year? This was another fun thing to discuss with other leaders since many of us run the same WAGGGS World Thinking Day badge!
Personal Challenge and Service
Complete your own personal challenge. This is very personal to you and can be anything you decide - as long as it is a challenge! Examples could be hiking a mountain, navigating your group using the map, completing the high ropes course, learning some German, being away from home for the first time, and much more! My personal challenge was the number of hikes we went on! I did not have time to get into the best shape but I never gave up and overall with the help of my hiking stick, was able to keep up with everyone else. I only needed a few extra "photo breaks" while going up the Our Chalet hill.
Physical Challenge
Compulsory: Complete one of the following hikes: Engstligen Falls, Woodcarver's or Bunderfalls and Magic Tree OR do an activity that is a physical challenge for you. I solo hiked to the Woodcarver.
Complete any two of the following:
a. Pack your rucksack with all the important items you need to take hiking in the Swiss Alps. Show a member of staff and explain why you need each of them. Having a properly packed backpack is essential!
f. Tell someone from another country about a hike or walk you went on back home. What was different from hiking around Our Chalet? Was anything the same? Trying to compare the mountains to walking around your neighborhood in the Midwest...what a comparison!
Our Chalet Knowledge
Compulsory: Talk a staff member through the history of Our Chalet.
Complete any three of the following:
a. Write a blog post for the Our Chalet blog. Done! This was my first time writing a blog post on my phone.
e. Find out what Our Chalet was used for during World War II.
g. There is a special tradition that is held in Baby Chalet. What is it and why is it special?
