Junior Counselor & Leadership Program in Switzerland

29th June – 8nd August 2026
St.Cergue VD & Saignelégier JU
from CHF 1450 for 2 weeks

Age range:
17 if you have done Filolo before
18 as newcomer

Accommodation:
10-bed | 8-bed

Address:
Domaine de Monteret
Chemin de Monteret 4
1264 St-Cergue VD
and
Saignelégier
Les Mottes 91D
2362 Montfaucon (JU)

Are you ready for the next step after being a participant?

JCL is for the ones who love camp life., enjoy helping others and want to grow as leaders – whether you already know FILOLO or are joining us for the very first time. In a safe, international setting you practise leadership in small steps, always guided and supported by our experienced team.

The program runs at our two main locations, St-Cergue (Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc view) and Saignelégier in the Jura region. You still enjoy classic FILOLO camp life – activities, excursions and evening programs – but with extra leadership sessions, mentoring and real, age-appropriate responsibilities. You go home with new friends, more confidence, practical skills and a JCL certificate you can use for school projects, your CV or future jobs with children and youth.

What’s included in a week at our JCL Program?

Pre-camp training & official certificates – you complete recognised training in:
- First Aid (valid for 2 years, valued at CHF 250.–)
- Camp Counsellor training (accredited in Canton Vaud, lifetime validity in Switzerland, valued at CHF 240.–)
- ESPAS training on the prevention of sexual abuse (lifetime validity in Switzerland, valued at CHF 65.–)
Accommodation & homemade full board – at Château de Monteret / Maison Blanche in St.Cergue or at Centre Les Mottes in the Jura (depending on the week)
Daily JCL leadership sessions (approx. 60–90 minutes) on topics such as group dynamics & teamwork, communication & giving instructions, conflict management & dealing with “mini-crises”, responsibility & safety at camp
Shadowing & practice – you follow experienced team members during activities, excursions and evening programmes and see how they organise games, warm-ups, briefings and daily routines
Co-leading activities – depending on your age and experience, you help run warm-ups, group games, creative workshops or parts of the evening animation
Project “From idea to activity” – in a small JCL team you design, prepare and run one activity for the other participants (with guidance from a mentor)
Excursions & adventures with the main camp – for example high rope course, lake days, Jura hikes, city trips (e.g. Biel/Bienne, Nyon, Geneva or Lausanne) and, in the Jura weeks, Europa-Park or another big highlight excursion (depending on the week)
Reflection & feedback – daily short check-ins (“What went well? What was hard? What do I want to try differently tomorrow?”) and personal feedback from your mentor at the end of the week, plus a JCL certificate with a short written summary of your strengths and suggested next steps
Comprehensive care – you are still a participant, not staff: our team is responsible 24/7 and creates a clear, safe framework for all leadership practice
Multilingual camp environment – this camp takes place without language lessons, but in a multilingual setting with English, French & German every day

Price Overview

Filolo Language Camps Switzerland — Filolo Swiss Language Camps

Why choose our JCL – Junior Counselor Leadership Program?

The perfect bridge from camper to camp leader

Open to returning campers & newcomers – ideal if you already know FILOLO and want to take more responsibility, but also if you’re joining us for the very first time and already feel drawn towards leadership, teamwork and working with children & youth.
No previous FILOLO experience needed – many JCL participants already know our camps, but every year we also welcome teenagers who are with FILOLO for the first time and want to start directly with a more “leadership-focused” program.
Real, hands-on experience – not just theory in a classroom: you learn directly in the camp environment, with real groups, real situations and real feedback.
Safe framework – you are never the only person responsible for a group. You always act together with an experienced team member who guides and supports you.
Two inspiring locations
- St-Cergue: Lake Geneva & Mont Blanc view, large forest property, sports fields and many excursions in the Lake Geneva region.
- Saignelégier (Jura): huge camp house with lots of outdoor space, sports fields and short distances to many nature excursions and bigger attractions.
Personal growth – you strengthen your communication skills, learn to stay calm in stressful moments and discover your own leadership style.
International environment – you practise switching between languages, dealing with different cultures and communicating clearly – skills that are useful far beyond camp.
Visible outcome – you receive a JCL certificate that shows what you have learned and done, perfect for school portfolios, future job applications or future staff positions at FILOLO.
Same FILOLO spirit – relaxed, family-like atmosphere, lots of humour, respect and support – just with one more level of responsibility for you.

Is the JCL Program a good fit for you?

The Counselor in Training CiT weeks are for you – whether it’s your first time at FILOLO or you’re already a “camp veteran” – if you can honestly say things like:

“I enjoy helping younger kids and making them feel included.”
“I want to understand how camp really works behind the scenes.”
“I’m ready to wake up on time, be reliable and be a role model for others.”
“I still want fun, games and friends – but I also want to learn something useful for my future.”

If you recognise yourself in this, JCL is your place.

Language Camp for teens in Switzerland FILOLO — Language Camp for kids in Switzerland

JCL Sample Week Program

Sunday
16:00–18:00 – Arrival, check-in and time to settle into rooms
18:00 – Camp intro, safety briefing and JCL welcome circle
19:00 – Dinner
20:00 – Get-to-know-you games & JCL goals for the week
Monday
Morning: JCL Session 1:
“What does a good leader at camp actually do?” (roles, responsibilities, team culture)
Day: Collective excursion (e.g. high ropes course / other adrenaline activity). JCL participants shadow the activity leaders and help with group organisation (meeting points, partner checks, transitions).
Evening: Theatre or group game night + short JCL debrief
Tuesday
Morning: JCL Session 2:
Communication, voice & presence (how to explain games, give instructions and keep attention).
Day: Full-day excursion – e.g. Europa-Park in the Jura weeks, or a big city/lake trip in the St-Cergue weeks. JCLs support their mentor with group management throughout the day.
Evening: Campfire & BBQ – JCLs run one short activity (song, icebreaker or mini-game).
Wednesday – Practice & reflection
Morning: Excursion or workshop (e.g. chocolate factory, hike, laser tag, lake afternoon).
Afternoon: JCL “shadow & help”:
– set-up of activities
– running small group games
– supporting younger groups
– helping with clean-up and transitions
Evening: Movie night & JCL reflection circle (“What did I try today? What did I learn?”).
Thursday
Morning: JCL Session 3:
Conflict & “mini-crises” (homesickness, arguments, rule-breaking, safety).
Afternoon: Project time – in small JCL teams, you plan a special activity for the evening: from idea and materials to timing and roles.
Evening: Special evening program designed and run by JCL groups (with support from staff).
Friday
Morning: Choice activities & 1-to-1 mentoring talks – individual feedback from your mentor and discussion of strengths & possible next steps.
Afternoon: Filol’Olympics – JCLs help manage stations, motivate teams and lead parts of the event.
Evening: Disco night & JCL closing circle.
Saturday
Day: Excursion to Biel/Bienne, Nyon, Geneva or another regional highlight, often with a city game or scavenger hunt.
Late afternoon – Departures, hugs, photos and “see you soon”.

For More Information

Location & Accomodation

Depending on the week, the JCL program takes place either at our St-Cergue campus or at Centre Saignelégier in the Jura.

St-Cergue – Lake Geneva Campus
Our two group houses (Château de Monteret & Maison Blanche) stand on a large, private forest property above Lake Geneva. The site offers a football field and basketball court, plenty of space for outdoor games and Filol’Olympics, cosy common rooms for workshops, planning sessions and evening programs, as well as direct access to hiking trails and the small local train station for excursions.

Saignelégier – Jura Campus
Centre Les Mottes is located in the gentle hilly landscape of the Jura, surrounded by meadows and just a short drive from Saignelégier. It offers large fenced grounds for football, volleyball and outdoor group games, several activity rooms inside for workshops and evening programs, table football and chill-out corners for breaks, and easy access to regional highlights and bigger excursions.

In both locations, JCL participants stay in shared rooms with peers of a similar age – the perfect setting to practise your new leadership skills already in everyday life: from organising your room together to making sure everyone is ready and on time for breakfast.

Food

Good food is a big part of camp life – and of JCL life too.

Our kitchen teams in St-Cergue and Les Mottes cook freshly on site every day, with a mix of healthy, regional food and real soul food favourites. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, a big meat fan or “I don’t like tomatoes”, there is always something for you.

As a JCL participant, you also get a look behind the scenes: