Guest Author - Diana Laulainen-Schein

Girl Scouts is not just about selling cookies and doing activities in the local community; for older girls, it's about wider opportunities in the world. One way that Girl Scouts can explore the world is to travel to different countries. To make that dream a reality, the World Association of Girl Guide and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) owns and operates four international houses that are open for all Girl Scouts and Girl Guides.

The first center build was Our Chalet, located on eight acres in Adelboden, Switzerland. The center was built in 1932 and is still in operation, Our Chalet is thirty minutes (northeast) from my favorite place in Switzerland, Interlaken. The Interlaken area is simply beautiful and the capital of Switzerland, Bern, is just a short train ride (north) away from there as well. Bern is nestled in the alps and boasts village square fountains and bears and just oozes quaint.

Winter skiing is a top draw, but hiking in Alps in the summer runs a close second. You can also mountain bike, rock climb, snowshoe, and try your hand at curling or paragliding. If you're like me, and prefer to keep your feet on the ground, sightseeing and shopping is also available.

Our Chalet welcomes all Girl Scouts and Guides and their families. They even offer babysitting if you go as a family and have some younger ones in need of care. A variety of other services from tea and coffee to internet to bike hire are also available. To learn more about these amenities and to check on current rates, click the Our Chalet link to the right.