Our Chalet
Experience
by “Texas Two Steppers”
As we tromped up
that initial slope, surrounded by the moving beauty of the Swiss Alps,
the realization finally set in: We’re almost at the Chalet!
From gazing at the sunrise to soaking up Swiss culture, we shall never
forget those magical five days: Our Chalet experience.
Eight
dedicated Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council took on the challenge
that Switzerland offered: that of adventure, culture, and friendship.
Each day we learned more of the natural beauty surrounding us,
the rich Swiss culture that embraced us, and the diverse friendships
that greeted us. Highlights of the trip covered many different
aspects: the adventure, the culture, and the camaraderie.
Naturally, none of us would normally
awake at 4:30 a.m. to hike up steep slopes! However, who could
pass up the opportunity to experience the sunrise over the Swiss
Alps? The overnight hike to the Cheese-maker’s cabin was
a stunning challenge! As we fell asleep in the loft to the fading
ringing of cowbells, we all wondered if we would actually make
it all the way up Bonderschpitz when we awoke. Although dragging
oneself out of bed at 2 a.m., then hiking up a steep mountain
in the dark of the night may not seem appealing for everyone,
it was the most exciting thing some of us have ever done! We
hiked by the light of the moon, listening to the cowbells in
the chill of the night, gazing at the endless array of stars
above us: breathtaking, to say the least! A sense of accomplishment
filled our hearts as we watched the warm pinks and orangesof
the chilly Swiss sunrise from high up on Bonderschpitz. |
Visitors
are greeted by the Our Chalet sign. |
The Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg. |
Later in our session,
we took up another challenge to take the glacial polar bear
dip into a 34 degree-Fahrenheit lake. Not only did this help
some of us complete the Chalet Challenge, but it also gave us
another opportunity to try something we’ve never dreamed
of doing. Swimming in this gorgeous lake gave us an even better
view of the snow-speckled Alps, towering above us. At every
turn a new adventure awaited us, beckoning for us to disregard
our mental boundaries and go for it! The adventures that Chalet
had to offer helped us discover a little something about ourselves
that was locked away, waiting for the perfect escapade to reveal
itself.
Chalet not only immersed us in
authentic Swiss culture, but also the cultures of Girl Scouts
and Girl Guides from a variety of places. Swiss Culture Night
offered up many wonderful aspects of Swiss culture and lifestyle.From
the drone of the alphorn, to the warm scent of fondue, all the
attendees loved learning about this rich culture. Another bonus
in the session was having the opportunity to meet nearly 100other
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from different places. We shared
stories and experiences: all so distinct, yet all so similar.
International Night was a wonderful time |
Mountains as far as the eye can see.
|
to learn about these different
lifestyles and places. An overwhelming sense of unity with
Girl Scouts everywhere swept over me at Chalet. We discovered
a bond, a firm link between ourselves and all the other girls:
we are all, truly, Girl Scouts together. We are so privileged
to have shared these unforgettable experiences with these
other Girl Scouts and Girl Guides. We owe our deepest thanks
to the dedicated and enthusiastic staff and volunteers at
the Chalet, who helped make this wonderful lifetime experience
happen!
|
|