A softener now equips the water supply to the buildings in the upper row: Zwingli, Peupliers, Main Building and Office.

The water supplied by the municipal network is of excellent quality, but very "hard", it contains a high level of limescale, which accumulates in the distribution pipes, taps, water heaters and kitchen infrastructures. In the latter case, routine maintenance and frequent repairs disrupt its proper functioning and are costly. Recently, the intermunicipal connection of water networks has further worsened the situation.

After a thorough study and many contacts, the Camp chose an innovative system for the removal of limestone: the injection of small quantities of CO₂ into the network (the same carbon dioxide as that used for sparkling water), which liquefies the limestone and allows it to "flow" with the water without disturbance and even partially dissolve the limestone previously accumulated in the infrastructure. This system has been preferred to the other two classics in this field: demineralization with salt, which neutralizes all minerals, which is not recommended for drinking water, and the magnetic system, which breaks down limestone, which will thus tend to accumulate less, but does not remove it.

The installation of this water softener puts the Camp at the forefront of technology in this metter and will provide considerable comfort, both for our guests and especially for water drinkers, as well as for our cooks and our employees in charge of maintenance.

After its profound transformation, the main building receives a new livery.

During the transformations and renovations of the main building, the 3 "hard" facades on the lower level received only a cement plaster for consolidation purposes. After a "break" of nearly 2 years, the final objective is achieved, with a coat of waterproof coating and two coats of "off-white" paint with the most beautiful effect.

This work was entirely carried out by the team of volunteers, who do not shy away from any task, with our friends Reynald Jaquet and Daniel Schleppy in the lead. Over 2 days, no less than 25 Friends of the Camp were involved in the project (or rather in the painting). This generous and friendly commitment also made it possible to paint the wooded areas of the gallery fences and stair railings. The handrails on the stairs have also been reviewed and reinforced.

Without the help of the volunteers, many maintenance jobs would not be possible at the Camp. The Foundation Board is infinitely grateful to these Friends of the Camp, most of whom are faithful for a long time. Each year, 2 days of work with volunteers are planned, the next one will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2019, notice to amateurs: no professional qualification is required, there is always work adapted to each participant. Only good humour and empathy for the Camp are necessary. But be careful, this last quality is acquired very quickly and like a virus, it is not possible to get rid of it.

A big thank you to the entire team of volunteers and Friends of the Camp.

At the end of March, Thierry Loubet took over as head of the Camp's kitchen from Stéphane Martignoni, who decided to take on a new challenge.

Thierry Loubet's mission is to manage the Camp's kitchen, and he has all the needed skills to do so. With a solid experience in various fields of catering, from ski camps to gourmet meals and banquets for several hundred people, our new Chef de cuisine did not take long to feel at ease at the Camp, both in front of the stoves and within the team. With his very slight singing accent, Thierry Loubet can not deny his origins in the south of France. However as he is established in the region of the Three lakes (Switzerland) for many years he perfectly masters the gastronomic culture and specialities of our region.

For the moment, Thierry Loubet is supported on an ad hoc basis by the auxiliaries and temporary cooks, but the procedure for hiring a kitchen assistant is in progress. During high season, the kitchen team will be further strengthened, as needed.

The Camp sincerely thanks Stéphane Martignoni for the excellent meals he cooked during his stay with us and wishes him good luck in his new position. The Camp, with its Foundation Board, its Management and all its team of collaborators, wishes a warm welcome to Thierry Loubet, assures him of its support and offers him its best wishes for success in his ô so important and appreciated responsibility as Chef de cuisine.

It has been a long time since the Camp had a sign marking its location.

A panel with the inscription Le Camp on the east facade of the Zwingli building had suffered the ravages of time and had become almost invisible through the foliage of the trees that hid it. Or else, it was necessary to come to the Camp during the winter, but the show was pitiful, to the point that it was decided to remove this sign. But this has created a new problem: how to remedy this situation advantageously? Various proposals were considered, from a portico over the road at the entrance to the Camp to a totem pole on the right side of the road when arriving by car, to a variety of signs and flags. Faced with the impossibility of finding a good solution that is largely appropriate, the brand's problem has been “forgotten” for many years. I mean, once you get there, it's not hard to guess that you're at Le Camp, isn’t it?

The lack of furniture storage space in the renovated main building prompted the purchase of 2 maritime containers installed in the parking lot just in front of the pyre. Although new and galvanized, it must be recognized that these new premises don’t have the greatest look, nor are in accordance with the general architecture of the Camp. Moreover, when getting out of the car, the visitor cannot fail to see the east side of a container first, but the Camp offers better views. However, this location was the one that proved to be both the most functional and the least disturbing. . . .

Sothe sign issue suddenly came back on the agenda to kill two birds with one stone. The presentation of the new logo and design of the Camp in the form of a tarpaulin stretched over the visible side of a container very quickly brought everyone to an agreement. The Camp hopes that you will enjoy this enhancement of the site that is dear to us.

You don't see them… or very little, but they are essential to the success of your stay at Le Camp.

Béatrice Rognon and Anabela Marques Fonseca take care of the interior maintenance of the camp's dozen or so buildings : cleaning from floor to ceiling, washing and ironing laundry, replacing bedding, inventorying dishes and kitchen utensils and many other tasks, not always very fun, and that must be repeated every day throughout the year. The same applies to Pascal Dugon, in charge of infrastructure and external maintenance. Whether it is raining or windy and even under the snow, you will find him on a ladder, at the wheel of the tractor for grass cutting or with a whole set of tools in hand. If the Camp is lit at night, if the premises are heated in winter and if the water runs at the tap, it is thanks to him.

Hats off to the three of them! Motivation, versatility, perseverance, excellence, these are the qualifiers that best characterize them, but let us not forget their smile and their sense of service to others. In this way, they put into practice a motto that the founders of the Camp in 1915 would not deny and that has been valid, since 1915: “to serve with discretion". On behalf of all the Camp hosts, their colleagues and the members of the Foundation Board, we extend a heartfelt thank you to Béatrice, Anabela and Pascal.