Vivre Sans Frontières

TRANSPORTATION SCHEDULE
2007

Our Staff will welcome campers arriving from around the world exclusively at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
Transfers to the camps are made by Coach (buses) and TGV train, Supervised by our camp Staff.

Flight Arrivals in Paris CDG Airport:
For ALL CAMPS except for Le Château and Le Moulin Bleu, Campers flights should arrive one day earlier in the afternoon if possible.

Departure dates from Paris CDG Airport:
For ALL CAMPS except for Le Château and Le Moulin Bleu*, return flights should depart one day later in the morning if possible.

Upon arrival VSF’s Team welcomes campers at the airport and transfers them to the Hotel. Dinner is planned at the hotel or nearby (same for the return). During that time, our team is there to answer any questions your children may have before leaving to camp. Each child will have a chance to call home that evening. Departures to camps are scheduled in the morning the following day.

*For Campers attending Le Château or Le Moulin Bleu: flights must arrive at CDG airport on July 9th before 6:00 pm. Departure to the camp is scheduled on July 9th in the evening, therefore campers do not have to stay overnight in Paris (same for the return). Return flights home must be scheduled to depart from Paris on July 31st in the afternoon.

Important Information: Transportation schedules may change, camp organizations can only confirm their transportation schedule approximately one month prior to the beginning of each camp session, therefore we ask parents NOT to book their children’s flight before June 1st in case such changes occurred.

A personalized Pre-trip / Pre-camp Packet will be sent to parents one month prior to departure including all the details of their child’s itinerary and transportation schedules, confirming dates of arrivals and departures.

Upon request, parents who wish to visit the camp may bring their children to camp or pick them up at the end of session directly at the camp location.

Dates of Arrival and Departure
For each Camp Program

Session: July 16 – July 25, 2007 (10 days)

If your child flies to Paris to meet our group:
Flight must arrive in Paris on July 15th
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Departure to Camp will be by TGV train on July 16th.

On July 25th, Campers will return to Paris by TGV train
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris, return flight home must be scheduled to depart from Paris on July 26th in the afternoon.

If you bring your child yourself to meet our group in Paris:
Parents should meet us directly at the train station 1 hour prior to departure on July 16th. Our team will be there to welcome you. We will send you details on time and location in your child’s pre-trip/pre-camp package in June. If you wish to pick up your child directly in Paris upon his return from camp on July 25th, we will send you the train schedule as well.

Session: July 6 – July 25, 2007 (20 days)

If your child flies to Paris to meet our group:
Flight must arrive in Paris on July 5th
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Departure to Camp will be by TGV train on July 6th.

On July 25th, Campers will return to Paris by TGV train
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Return flight home must be scheduled to depart from Paris on July 26th in the afternoon.

If you bring your child yourself to meet our group in Paris:
Parents should meet us directly at the train station 1 hour prior to departure on July 6th. Our team will be there to welcome you. We will send you details on time and location in your child’s pre-trip/pre-camp package in June. If you wish to pick up your child directly in Paris upon his return from camp on July 25th, we will send you the train schedule as well.

Session: July 5 – July 17, 2007 (14 days)

If your child flies to Paris to meet our group:
Flight must arrive in Paris on July 4th
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Departure to Camp will be by TGV train in the morning July 5th.

On July 17th, Campers will return to Paris by TGV train
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Return flight home must be scheduled to depart from Paris on July 18th in the afternoon.

If you bring your child yourself to meet our group in Paris:
Parents should meet us directly at the train station 1 hour prior to departure on July 5th. Our team will be there to welcome you. We will send you details on time and location in your child’s pre-trip/pre-camp package in June. If you wish to pick up your child directly in Paris upon his return from camp on July 17th, we will send you the train schedule as well.

Session: July 9 – July 27, 2007 (19 days)

If your child flies to Paris to meet our group:
Flight must arrive in Paris on July 8th
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Departure to Camp will be by TGV train in the morning July 9th.

On July 27th, Campers will return to Paris by TGV train
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Return flight home must be scheduled to depart from Paris on July 28th in the afternoon.

If you bring your child yourself to meet our group in Paris:
Parents should meet us directly at the train station 1 hour prior to departure on July 9th. Our team will be there to welcome you. We will send you details on time and location in your child’s pre-trip/pre-camp package in June. If you wish to pick up your child directly in Paris upon his return from camp on July 27th, we will send you the train schedule as well.

Session: July 16 – July 29, 2007 (14 days)

If your child flies to Paris to meet our group:
Flight must arrive in Paris on July 15th
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Departure to Camp will be by TGV train in the morning July 16th.

On July 29th, Campers will return to Paris by TGV train
VSF Campers will stay overnight with VSF’s team in our hotel in Paris,
Return flight home must be scheduled to depart from Paris on July 30th in the afternoon.

If you bring your child yourself to meet our group in Paris:
Parents should meet us directly at the train station 1 hour prior to departure on July 16th. Our team will be there to welcome you. We will send you details on time and location in your child’s pre-trip/pre-camp package in June. If you wish to pick up your child directly in Paris upon his return from camp on July 29th, we will send you the train schedule as well.

Session: July 10 – July 31, 2007 (21days)

If your child flies to Paris to meet our group:
Flight must arrive in Paris on July 10th
Departure to Camp will be by Coach Bus in the evening.

On July 30th, Campers will return to Paris by Coach Bus and will arrive in Paris early morning on July 31st. Return flight home must be scheduled to depart from Paris on July 31st in the afternoon.

If you bring your child yourself to meet our group in Paris:
Parents should meet us directly at the bus station 1 hour prior to departure on July 10th . Our team will be there to welcome you. We will send you details on time and location in your child’s pre-trip/pre-camp package in June. If you wish to pick up your child directly in Paris upon his return from camp on July 31st, we will send you the bus schedule as well.

If you have any questions regarding transportation
Please feel free to contact us.
We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have contact@vivresansfrontieres.com
or by telephone (+33) 675.851.871.

While your child is in PARIS

Transportation: We use the TGV train or French buses/coach with lap belts, WC and video. Our campers leave from Paris together with the French campers escorted by the camp staff (same for the return).

Contacting your Child: Of course for some children being away from home may initially be a little stressful, this is natural and only to be expected – even adults can experience ‘homesickness’! VSF’ staff is fully trained in the sensitive skills of identifying and dealing with children’s concerns and worries. In the vast majority of cases, a day or two of getting to know new friends and being involved in exciting activities usually helps dissipate most worries. VSF Staff is always available should you wish to telephone to ask about your child.

Meals: For all campers arriving in Paris one day prior to their departure to camp, VSF will provide a nice dinner and breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast: Typical French Breakfast, with a choice of cereals, toast and preserves; hot chocolate or coffee, yoghurts and fruits. Dinner: A hot meal including vegetables and mixed salads, fresh fruit or choice of French deserts. Extra meals while staying in Paris are not included, please plan some extra spending money for Paris.

A packed lunch is provided for all the children when returning to Paris with their group. A vegetarian alternative can be provided, if requested before the trip. We can accommodate most special diets required on medical or religious grounds but we require full details at time of booking.

Night Time Supervision (Paris): It is part of VSF staff’s role to get everyone to bed as early as possible that first night in Paris – sometimes easier said than done! Once ‘lights out’ has been called, the staff on duty for the night takes over. They re-assure the anxious, encourage the high-spirited to settle down and continue their vigil until all is quiet. At the hotel children do not need to leave their room to get to the toilet or to shower, our staff patrols the rooms throughout the night. During the night a member of staff can be contacted at any time should the need arise. Bedroom doors are locked, although these can be opened from the inside in case of emergency and a telephone is available in each room to reach us if necessary at all times.

Our Groups: We have three main age groups 6-12 year olds, 12-14 year olds, 13-15 year olds and 15 -17 years old. Within these separate age bands, our practice is to group children of a similar age together for accommodation, whenever this is feasible. (This may not be possible when numbers are small). Three or more children of the same sex will be in the same room together.

For brothers and sisters, if you particularly want your children to be accommodated together, then please request this at the time of booking on their application. If there is an age difference the younger child could, if it’s possible, join the older one’s accommodation and the older child would be expected to support his younger friend/sibling.

As always, our Staff will be pleased to advise you on any aspect of our accommodation groupings. Please note that our sleeping arrangements are single sex and it is not possible for brothers and sisters to share accommodation.

Language: VSF’s Summer Immersion program provides challenge and enjoyment for everyone. You don’t need any previous experience to participate in our program but in order for each participant to have a good experience we feel it is important to have the basic knowledge of the French Language, just enough to be able to communicate and understand the staff.

Our team is able and ready to instruct foreign campers of all levels of competence but a reasonable level of French is required for the well being of the child, and of the entire group. However, on the first night, during their stay in Paris, we don’t feel it is imperative for children to speak French right away, what is important is that they comfortably and slowly adjust to being in France. We encourage them to start speaking French but they are usually tired from their trip and it is important that they rest and feel happy and free to ask any questions they may have about the program and the camp they are getting ready to attend. They will have to speak French soon enough as they will meet the French campers on the following day!

Supervision: No child is allowed to leave the group unless accompanied by a member of our staff. Children are fully supervised at all times during their stay in Paris.

Pocket money: All VSF programs in FRANCE are fully inclusive and there is little need to bring a lot of spending money. However, while in Paris we sometimes have time to go to town to buy small souvenirs or take pictures. There is no obligation for children to buy any items.

For camp we recommend not more than 100 € pocket money. Please give your child some extra money in a separate envelope to spend in Paris or to buy some snacks for the trip (train or bus).

Passports, flight tickets, spending money (for camp): As soon as camper joins the group in Paris, our staff will collect each child’s spending money envelope, passport and return flight ticket and keep it in a safe place. These documents will be passed onto each camp director at the time of departure to camp.