Laila Rodriguez
Swimming in Lake Annecy in neighboring France
ANNECY, FRANCE – Kayaking, sailing, rowing, climbing, orienteering, mountain biking and exploring the beautiful outdoors are some of the summer sports activities offered for free by the city of Annecy in neighboring France.
450 spots are offered, primarily for Annecy kids, and to other children willing to engage in fitness activities this summer.
Outings are offered to children aged 5 to 14.
Find all the information for a fun, outdoor summer here.
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Laila Rodriguez
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – If you’re looking for some fun science activities for kids check out the Wednesday afternoons workshops sponsored by the city of Geneva.
Help your kids discover how to measure time without a watch or a clock, in two afternoons.
The first afternoon, activities will take place at the Rath Museum as part of the Geneva Watchmaking exhibition. The second, at the Science History Museum, where kids will try to measure time.
Workshop is for children aged 8 to 11.
Price: CHF20 for the two afternoons.
Registration required: +41 (0) 22 418 25 00 (9:00-12:00) or adp-mah@ville-ge.ch.
Two sessions: 7 & 14 March or 18 & 25 April.
In addition on 28 March, 9 May and 13 June, the museum holds special science sessions for kids and families, free of charge.
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Laila Rodriguez
Kids skiing... two have more fun!
SWITZERLAND – On 22 January the Anzère ski station joins hundreds of ski stations around the globe, and 30 more in Switzerland, for “World Snow Day,” by offering one free day on the slopes.
Children 15 and under will get to ski or snowboard, rent equipment, ride the ski lifts and participate in all outdoor activities planned for the occasion, free of charge.
In other words, kids get to celebrate “all things snow” at selected ski stations thanks to the International Ski Federation and other sponsors.
Laila Rodriguez
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – This Sunday 16 October the largest second-hand items sale takes place at the Sacre Coeur Church in Plainpalais from 13:00 to 17:00.
Bikes, roller blades, snow boards, skis, books in English (and French, German and Spanish) for children and adults, video games, DVDs, hundreds of toys and board games, strollers, cribs and top quality baby equipment, as well as clothing and shoes for children and women, can be found under one roof.
If you are new in town and have never been to one of the bi-annual sales, think of reading our survival and reference guide to the sale before heading there.
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Laila Rodriguez
Kids, seniors and nature, a winning combination in Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland - Calling all kids: The Botanical Garden’s Green Workshops are on!
If your kid is not registered for any Wednesday activities or you simply want her/him to enjoy nature and interacting with older adults this activity could be just what you are looking for.
Aimed at children aged 8 to 11 years of age, the workshops at the Geneva Botanical Garden seek to instill in smaller kids a love for nature.
Laila Rodriguez
Letters to Santa mailed in Switzerland reach the thousands- Photopress/Peter Schneider
Geneva, Switzerland – It is not too late to write to Santa! If you’re spending your Christmas somewhere in Switzerland, the Swiss Post service offers special delivery of your letter to Monsieur Santa himself.
“In most cases they receive an answer,” says the Post who reported receiving more than 17,000 letters in 2009.
If you wonder how Santa and the Elves manage the load, the answer is with, not one, but five jolly Santas and several helpers at the Swiss Post.
Why five Santas? One for each of the four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch, plus one that speaks English.
Italian speakers can address their letters to the “Gesù Bambino in cielo” or to “Babbo Natale al Polo Nord”; German speakers to “Christkind im Himmel” or the “Samichlaus”; the Swiss post will delivery to either one.
Hurry to the post office; sending a letter to Santa Claus up to 100g costs just 85 centimes.
Tracking Santa Worldwide
Laila Rodriguez
Ludobus at a park in Geneva
- Family playing at the outdoors Ludotheque
Geneva, Switzerland – If you are looking for ideas to keep your shorties entertained during the summer, how about taking them to the Ludo bus.
The ludos, for short, could be described as playrooms, or children’s community centers, with toys/games libraries.
Children can enjoy all activities for free at the ludotheque or may, for a very small fee, borrow toys and games to take home.
Until 25 September these “fun centers” are mobile in the form of a ludo bus that visits 16 areas around the City of Geneva.
You can download the Ludo bus schedule for 2010 here.
If you want to know more about what ludotheques are, and where to find them in Geneva, Nyon and Lausanne read my previous blog.
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Laila Rodriguez
Argentinian circus at Bastions Park
Geneva, Switzerland – For the past three weeks, kids and grown-ups who love the circus arts have been gathering at Bastions Park to watch free performances, take free circus lessons, listen to free concerts, and enjoy the weather.
Every Wednesday to Sunday at 20:00 performers from as far away as Australia, Argentina and Japan – as well as from Switzerland and neighbouring France, entertain the crowd at the Park.
Among the jewels who will be performing in the coming weeks are Dutch performers bringing “circus jazz,” Swiss performing contemporary acrobatic dance, mimes from Japan, and a Chilean tightrope-walker who will render his version of a Jean Genet piece on the rope. (See the full program here).
Laila Rodriguez
Librarian at work decades ago
Geneva, Switzerland – A question many new residents to Geneva ask is: where to find books in English? The Library in English is one of those great places! You can read at the library, become a member or buy books during their bi-annual sale.
The library is nestled in the beautiful Emmanuel church building near Lake Geneva and boasts a selection of over 14,000 books in English.
The library traces its origins to a small shelf in the church in 189, i has been in full service since 1930. Although it is located in the Emmanuel church it is independent of it.
Pam Scott, main librarian
“We carry a bit for everyone,” says librarian Pam Scott. “We have a really large and eclectic selection of books. There are American, Australian, British, and Indian popular authors available all year-round.”
Laila Rodriguez
The Botanical Gardens in summer
Geneva, Switzerland – It is Wednesday and workshop time at the Botanical Gardens! This means there’s more for your kids to do on Wednesdays in Geneva. Children aged 8 to 11 are welcome to the “green workshops” which includes building a bird house, setting up a herbarium and other mineral- and animal-kingdom related activities.
Children are taught and monitored by volunteer senior citizens making this an invaluable cross-generational experience for all involved.
Workshops are usually CHF12 – that is cheaper than the movies! Registration is now open. Go green kids!
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