Charlotte Santens is a proud Roeland cooperator since 2009, which means she has a lot of camp experience. Nevertheless, in 2023 she decided to team up for 2 more camps. After a week of skiing in the French Alps she added the enchanting Paris Magique on her summer schedule.
An invigorating arrival in Paris
“We did not let the rioting in the Paris suburbs get to us and left for the City of Light with plenty of zeal. When the coach full of teenagers arrived on the school premises, one could feel the energy rush through the hearts and minds of the volunteers. When the participants are up for it and the feeling is right, a great and successful camp is inevitable.”
Où est Robbe? A Parisian scavenger hunt.
“It was already a feat to escort 52 teenagers on a ski slope, using public transportation in Paris with 44 youths came in a close second. We played ‘Where is Robbe’ (a variation on ‘Where is Wally’).”
Firsthand French and activities of your choosing
“Learning French happens, for instance, by immersing yourself in a French city, finding directions in the subway, talking to strangers in order to gather helpful information – it really works! A camp like Paris Magique proves that point beyond a doubt. The participants experience straight away how useful practical knowledge of the French language proves to be; it is the best motivation one can have.”
“After a chilling escape game at the Musée d’Orsay, we were allowed to have our pick from a wide range of activities: Paris Chic, Versailles, Emily in Paris, Mode & Père Lachaise. Something for everybody. And the best had yet to come: Disneyland! The top experience for myself (and my fellow students) at camp”, Charlotte says with a smile. “You sip from a language while you engage in a number of crazy adventures”.
A hilarious closing day
“One of the funniest moments from the camp week for me came after a fitting goodbye during a boat ride on the Seine. To return to Belgium, we had to get to the train station on time to catch our ride home. Because of a slight misunderstanding, the first group that left ended up on the wrong side of the river. A – hilarious, I must add - high speed sprint effort from that group to cross the bridge ensued. Luckily, the entire group was familiarized with the Navigo routine by then and did catch the train on time, but only by a small margin. Teamwork makes the dream work!”
“There has to be a lot of trust within a group, especially when you are on an adventure abroad – like in Paris. Trust was exchanged between students and teachers, and everyone involved played its part well. Assigned tasks were executed perfectly. What an exhilarating experience it was, again. Paris, tu étais magique!"
