Why not join other like-minded teens and meet new friends in an action-packed ski week in one of Italy's top ski resorts?
Winter Camp 2024
16th - 23rd February 2023
Cavalese - Hotel Panorama
The Camp
The 2024 Winter Camp organised by The Ski Company is a supervised residential winter sports programme for unaccompanied individuals aged 8 to 17 years. The camp is a multicultural, coeducational and non-denominational event that brings together teenagers from the UK.
The focus of the Winter Camp is on safety, enjoyment, learning, achievement and above all, after such a difficult year, simply being young and having fun again.
It is also about teamwork. We provide alpine winter sports coaching from the Italian Ski School and a range of other activities, supervised by friendly and experienced staff, so that campers can make the most of the wonderful opportunities on offer.
The Setting
You will get many WOW experiences. Words like “spectacular & breathtaking view”, “amazing & unforgettable landscape” will be used a lot during your holiday.
The Dolomites are the perfect setting for a ski holiday. Here, UNESCO-protected landscapes combine with a sunny climate and immaculate pistes to create one of the world’s most beautiful and enjoyable ski regions. Meanwhile, state-of-the-art snowmaking systems ensure the slopes are fast and fun, whatever the weather.
The Skiing
The huge Dolomiti Super Ski region of Italy is located on the southern flank of the Alps offering great weather and one of the most beautiful mountainous regions in the world as recognised by UNESCO. It comprises of 12 valleys, 450 ski lifts with 1200 kms of piste. We are visiting one of these valleys, the Val di Fiemme and skiing in the resorts of Latemar, Alpe Cermis, Alpe Lusia and Passo Rolle with 110 kms of piste.
Latemar alone has been given as many as 17 awards by the world's largest test portal for ski areas (Skiresort.info), designating it as top ski area, worldwide best ski area with up to 60 km of slopes, top ski lifts, and overall best-kept secret. With snow conditions during a season ever more of a concern it is also worth noting Skiresort.info's further awards.
The Accommodation
The Albergo Panorama, located in the heart of the Dolomites, is a warm and comfortable hotel. The amazing landscapes surrounding the beautiful mountains in Val di Fiemme will leave you breathless.
This hotel is in a particularly quiet location, but is near the Cermis cable car and just 5 minutes away from the village centre.
The comfortable rooms all have en-suite bathrooms and balconies. Breakfast is buffet-style, and there is live music at dinner every week.
Facilities in the hotel include a Tyrolean lounge, a bar (with WiFi), dining room and terrace, garden, solarium and sauna.
A typical day at the Winter Camp
As much as we would like campers to wake up bright and alert and on time each morning we appreciate that the chances of that happening each morning are close to zero so you will be delighted to know that each morning a small army of Ski Company staff will be knocking on doors bright and early. For breakfast a broad selection of foods, reflecting various dietary requirements, is available and campers are encouraged to fuel up for the energetic day ahead.
Leaders help their group to prepare for skiing, gathering together items such as gloves, goggles, sun cream etc, and making sure that each camper has taken a picnic lunch. The campers will then assemble in their ski groups for the short trip with their leaders to the slopes to meet their ski instructors.
Ski groups are determined more by ability than age – though there will, undoubtedly, be opportunities to meet up with friends during the day, as arrangements are often made to rendezvous for lunch or a quick drink.
Coaching is structured for each group’s needs and the instructor decides how the day will be spent, according to the conditions of the snow, the weather and the campers’ abilities. The aim is to challenge each group, helping the campers to develop their skills, to learn respect for the mountains and, of course, to have fun.
For those who have skied before there will be more “learning on the move” than some may be accustomed to, with the instructor acting much as a coach and guide, particularly with the higher ability groups. This gives campers more responsibility for their own progress but at The Ski Company, we firmly believe that you can’t improve your skiing by standing still!
The campers are accompanied back to the hotel once skiing is over by their leaders at the end of each day. Campers then have time to relax before their evening meal, leaders are on hand to answer any questions or resolve any equipment issues.
After supper, evening activities are organised by the leaders and all the campers are encouraged to take part. These activities energise campers to have a go at different things and, perhaps, to find new strengths or hidden talents.
Although children often find it difficult to wake up in the morning they do seem to have the opposite issue at night, however after a fun-packed and energetic day on and off the slopes campers tend to have no trouble getting to sleep once they have been corralled into their rooms. Bed times are always sensible and age dependent though, as with all youngsters, there is sometimes a little room for negotiation !
Leaders and Ski Company staff all live in the same building and are in effect available 24/7 in case anyone has any questions or concerns that need addressing. Our night watch staff are also on call throughout the night if any assistance is needed.
Health and Safety
The health, safety and general welfare of each camper are of paramount importance. The Ski Company and its staff take every precaution wherever campers eat, play or sleep. But the week’s activities are also designed to encourage campers to take responsibility for their own safety and that of their peers. The camp aims to teach students a healthy respect for their alpine environment and to take on challenges.
The tuition on the slopes is provided by fully qualifies instructors from the local Ski & Snowboard School, Evening activities will also be supervised by leaders and Ski Company staff with the appropriate training or experience.
No activities take place in which undue risk is involved. Unaccompanied skiing is not allowed at any time.