The School

The junior school was opened in 1984 and welcomes 100 students per week. The school offers different programmes at Easter and in the summer, some for 12 to 14 and some for 15 to 18. Depending on which programme students are doing, they may be accommodated in the Pavillon or in the adventure base. Each programme has 16 to 20 students per week. A few French students also participate in the programme.

Location: The centre is located in a beautiful private provencal domaine near Gréoux-les-Bains.

Facilities: The domaine has two main sections: the Pavillion d'Aurabelle and the Adventure Base. The Pavillon d'Aurabelle is the main part of the centre, it offers various teaching areas (indoor and outdoor classrooms), a swimming pool, playgrounds, beachvolley, a basketball pitch, a circus corner, a giant chess and a computer room with internet access.

Students: The school welcomes students aged 12 to 18, split into 12 to 14 and 15 to 18. The majority of the students are europeans (mainly from Belgium but also from Germany, Switzerland, UK, Ireland,The Netherlands, Italy) and the rest come from America, China, Canada, Turkey and Thailand.

Bank Holidays: Lessons and activities take place as usual on bank holidays and weekends.

The school has the following affiliations or memberships:

FLE, Officially recognised as a "centre de formation" by the French ministry of Employment and Solidarity, member of Maison de France, Bildungsurlaub

Lessons

The French workshops take place every morning. The center has developed its own teaching method based on "la communication des 3P: parole, pratique et plaisir". You will be practising three hours a day, at your own level and in small groups of 6 to 8 students. The learning sessions are creative: role playing games, interviews, radio or video reporting. You will gain confidence which will make you feel like speaking French all the time.

Activities

On the first day, you will canoe on Lake Esparron and along undiscovered canyons. You will bivouac at the water's edge.

The next day, the highly experienced guide will carefully instruct you in rock climbing techniques and abseiling. With the special scaling gear, you will then descend to the riverbed.

The following day, you will tackle another canyon this time with cold fast flowing water. Don't worry the wetsuit will keep you warm. You will descend along natural slides, even through a waterfall.

Next you will go to the Grand Canyon of Verdon with a spectacular descent "a la nage". Once you are accustomed to the rhythm of the waters, the real adventure begins. There is a tumbling descent of the river Ubaye by mini raft, and you can skim the fast flowing rivers like flying fish by hydro speed.

On the last day, you will return into the civilised world for a visit of Aix en Provence and you will join the farewell party at Aurabelle. There are also activities in the evenings such as barbecues, quizzes, dance parties and a fantastic bivouac. The friendly monitors will join in everything with you.

Note that you do not have to have any experience for this programme but it is important that you know how to swim and have a spirit of adventure.

Accommodation

The programme includes full board accommodation. You will alternate comfortable stays at the camping site of the 'Pavillon d'Aurabelle' with stays in various hostels. You will camp under the Provencal starry sky, in the shade of a giant linden tree or at the lake's edge. Food is delicious! You will enjoy nourishing dishes, varied picnics and tasty snacks.

Practical Information

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