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Meet Our Elf Armaan J Sarna

MOLE BOOKS by Armaan J.Sarna

When Armaan was in the 5th grade at Vasant Valley School he decided to write short stories revolving around his fictional character MOLE!  a fictional character in his mind, ever since he had been a 3 years old nursery grader.

It was the summer of 2015 when Armaan a nine and a half years old, breathed life into MOLE  by sketching him out with the help of a  good friend and sketch artist.

Once  clearly identified MOLE, he sat down to write short stories revolving around MOLE, his central protagonist ……and Armaan’s first series of MOLE BOOKS was published as three illustrated children’s story books under the Sub Title ‘The Community Helper’s Series’

The Community Helper’s Series were initially contained in a total of three MOLE BOOKS with ten short MOLE stories. In his first MOLE BOOKS story series Armaan showed MOLE’S interaction with various persons in the immediate community around us in our daily lives like Peter the Policeman, Gina the gardener, Baker Tim and so on thereby helping very young children identify the roles the various people around them play in their daily lives!

The MOLE BOOKS titles are

1) MOLE BOOKS: From ‘The Community Helpers Series’ MOLE CALLS THE POLICEMAN, A VISIT TO THE BAKER&MOLE TAKES WOOFIE TO THE VET

2) MOLE BOOKS: From ‘The Community Helper Series ‘MOLE WANTS TO BE A FIREFIGHTER, MOLE THE GARDENER, MOLE VISITS THE DOCTOR AND THE PLUMBER VISITS MOLE HOUSE

3) MOLE BOOKS: From ‘The Community Helper Series ‘CHEF MOLE, PAINTER MOLE&THE TRACK RACE AT MOLE VALLEY

4) MOLE BOOKS: From ‘The Little Scientist Series’ MOLE WITNESSES A MIRACLE IN NATURE& EXPLORE THE WORLD OF FROGS WITH MOLE

A year later Armaan graduated  a step higher when as a  10 years old sixth grader he wrote his fourth MOLE BOOK under the Subtitle  ‘The Little Scientist’  It revolved around MOLE’S first brush with Science thereby answering many of the young children’s How’s and Why’s.

All the four books have been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews, the ultimate authority in book reviews and these reviews are available for anyone to read on the Kirkus Indi website under MOLE BOOKS

Published in March 2016 By Partridge a Penguin Random House Publication all the  four MOLE BOOKS are currently  available for online purchase on over 50 major worldwide online sites such as all the Amazon, Barnes and Noble, fish pond,alibris, HarperCollins, WHSmith etc

MOLE is a brand new character in fact MOLE is emerging as the new brand.MOLE character and all MOLE stories are universally copyrighted and Trademark protected.

Do visit Mole books web page www.molebooks.net for some interesting updates on MOLE BOOKS and do like MOLE BOOKS   Facebook page especially as encouragement for a young author.

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Views of a first time chaperone from India at a Les Elfes Camp

My First Time Experience as a Chaperone

Ruchi Mohunto

ruchi1

Having taught in a school for a dozen years and more , I have come to believe strongly that if we want our kids to grow – the only way to do so is through experiential learning. The best way to ensure it is to push them out of their comfort zone and see the magic begin. I have been conducting my own national camps by the name of Nature Diaries. Inspite of my past experience I must say , just like the kids, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and I have returned today a much more experienced person. Amongst all the things that I noticed , three things stand out fresh as I write this . Firstly, the high level of efficiency and professionalism with which the Monitors conducted all the programs. Extremely well trained and patient with the kids, it was a tough decision to choose their favourite at the end of the camp. Secondly, the clock work precision with which all the activities were conducted. Not once were the kids left idle or made to wonder – what do I do next ? And thirdly and most importantly , the food that was served to the kids. None of the days was the menu repeated- the comfort of having Indian food such as chola bhatura, pav bhaji and even Biryani !! At the end of the day, the kids miss home largely because of the comfort food !!

So , all in all it was a great 2 weeks where learning and fun happened hand in hand. It is difficult to design a course where we can teach kids to be more responsible , more independent , punctual etc etc- The easiest and the quickest way to do so is to send them on a camp where all these are part and parcel of the learning.

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The Educational & Personal Development Courses Now At Les Elfes

Learning Through Adventure since 1987” has been our byline.

Leadership Module

The  Educational & Personal Development Courses in Leadership & Arts, Cooking & Theatre make the program complete by having equal emphasis on physical and soft skills, thus developing and enriching both the left and the right brain.

 We at Les Elfes have constantly been changing and developing various facets of our program to ensure best deliverables for our participants

The aims of the Educational Courses which, from 2015, will become a trademark feature of our Spring Camps are to:

  1. Provide Adventurous Activities built on a well-established foundation of professional and safe practices.
  2. Inspire holistic personal development and an exploration of inter-personal identities through culturally diverse experiences.
  3. Outdoor Learning which enables young people to discover their true potential to be dynamic and prosperous in their future lives.

 The sessions in these educational courses have been designed to be flexible in their content and structure to suit the requirements of the individuals participating in each course, building on their current level of experience and confidence.

 During the Educational & Personal Development Courses our Learning Outcomes  include:

  •   Verbal Communication – Considering appropriate use of Verbal communication; instruction, encouragement, direction, humour, tone, projection of voice and managing verbal communication during conflict.
  •        Alternatives to Verbal Communication – Appropriate circumstances to use different methods of communication, the impact of body language and posture as a leader on the behaviour of a group, using clapping, whistles and touch to communicate effectively.
  •         Characteristics of an Effective Leader – Exploring ideas of the expectations of a leader, the character traits which influence leadership styles, role models, behaviors and the individual characteristics of participants in the group and the ways in which their characteristics shape their group.
  •       Time Management & Personal Organisation – Learning to plan an effective session in leading, accurately approximating the time for each activity, managing equipment & facilities to produce an effective session, giving clear and precise instructions and motivating others when leading a session.

 Our Educational & Personal Development program is a question as much as an answer. Through our activities we pose questions to our young people that spark creative action and engender reflective thinking, giving them the tools to cultivate a leadership style which is truly their own. The experiential learning pedagogy employed in Les Elfes Leadership is focused on the unlocking of innate potential within the young people we teach.

 Les Elfes Educational & Personal Development  Programs are designed and facilitated by graduates of LJMU’s Outdoor Education degree where they have studied under some of the UK’s foremost academics in the field Development Training and Outdoor Leadership.

Together with the team of experienced and dedicated staff and the fabulous resources available in and around our alpine campuses, Les Elfes are able to offer some of the most exciting, contemporary and relevant leadership programmes in the Alps.

The Learning Objectives for this years classes , but are not limited to were:

  • v   Communication skills
  • v   Interpersonal skills
  • v   Intra personal skills
  • v   Team building skills
  • v   Goal setting skills
  • v   Reflection skills
  • v   Time management skill

With the success of this session, we will be making this resource of learning for our participants more intense. We will have 6-8 such classes through the two week session

For under 12 years of age, cooking will be replaces with public speaking & creative writing and art and theater will be integrated to maximize the participants creative skills. Different tools will be used each year to eliminate repetition for repeating participants.

 In Spring 2016, for over 12 years of age, areas addressed in the Leadership classes will be

v Self-awareness

v Organizing

v Listening

v Thinking strategically

v Critical thinking

v Conflict resolution

v Optimisation

v Self Actualisation

And the classes in Spring 2017 will focus on

v Innovation

v Setting expectations

v Delegation

v Recognition

v Stress management

v Crisis management

v Emotional intelligence

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ski danceparasailigEXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME IN SPRING

Spring Camp at Les Elfes combines the best there is to offer in a
Summer Camp & WinterCamp.
​One week of glorious skiing on the slopes of Zermat followed by an action packed
week of adventure sports & excursions at Verbier 
Les Elfes is now even offering structured programs in
​Career Development,Leadership Skills & Arts & Theatre

Sking & Snowboarding 

One week of pure skiing or snowboarding on the gorgeous slopes of Zermatt under the supervision of the trained staff of Les Elfes
Helps the uninitiated fall in love with this sport after the first baby steps 
Takes the basic skier to the advanced levels of the sport
Provides sheer joy to the advanced skier gliding down some of the best ski slopes there are in Europe

A letter from a Spring Parent

Dear Bibi,
Hope all is well.
The spring ski camp at Les Elfes has truly been a remarkable experience for both my kids. Shiv(10)  and Avantika(8).
They both have picked up a good amount of ski skills, but most importantly they had a whale of a time doing it. Besides the skiing they were exposed to ice skating, ice carting and a host of activities like swimming, making music videos, evening jaunts to the market and late night hikes which have made memories that will last a lifetime!
As parents the care by all members of the camp (special mention for Charlotte, Elliot, Ibrahim and Bianca) made us feel relaxed and has made the kids eagerly look forward to the next camp.
Thank you Les Elfes for a super time and all the smiles and fun!
Looking forward to next spring….
Warm Regards,Madhu and Vishal 

Visits & Excursions

Cultural and sightseeing excursions include two full day excursions to Lausanne, Geneva, Bern, Montreux or Gruyère..

These cover a chocolate factory,a cheese factory ,the olympic museum ,the cheteau de chillon & the UN 

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Besides the already listed exciting activities which ensure that each child acquires new skill there are language classes ,Evening activities: Group games, Cinema, Disco, Visit to Europe’s largest  labyrinth.
And of course the exposure to an international group enhances networking abilities .

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Arts, Theatre, Cooking Training Course During Les Elfes Camps

art t artOur comprehensive Art/ Theatre & Cooking course will be run in Verbier, consisting of 5 2-hour sessions

Certificate of Completion including the modules covered in the training

The structure of the programme will combine Practical sessions in Art, Theatre and Cooking in 
creative contexts designed to challenge campers and to develop a range of life skills.

Module 1 – Expressing Emotions

Module 2 – Applied Arts & Theatre in Marketing

Module
 3 – Mixed Media Art

Module 4 – Script Writing & Direction

Module 5 – Individual and Group Performance

PROGRAMME


Session 1

Introduction to the week ahead

Module 1 – ‘Expressing Emotions’

Group activity to identify a range of emotions

Adding Emotions to Scenarios – Role Playing Exercise

Associating Emotion with colours and materials to create art

Session 2

Module 3 – ‘Mixed Media Art’

Mythical Animals Mask Exercise

Using s range of materials and techniques in art to create masks which best represent the 
characteristics and behaviours of different animals

Session 3

Module 4 – ‘Script Writing and Direction’

Using the animal masks to create a group performance consolidating the sessions about the 
characteristics, behaviours and emotions

  • Using Storyboards, the role of improvisation & creative directing

Session 4

Module 2 – ‘Applied Arts and Theatre in Marketing’

The cookie branding challenge, combining presentation and marketing skills, graphic design and 
baking to market a product to potential buyers

Session 5

Consolidation of all of the modules

Module 5 – ‘Individual and Group Performance’

In groups the campers create a cooking show with individual presenters, live cooking

and directing
 their own teapot create a great tasting food dish and an entertaining 10minute television show

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Career Guidance Programs During Les Elfes Camps

careerCareer career nlGuidance Sessions

Les Elfes offers an exclusive Career Guidance Program consisting of 5 x 2 hour sessions, while the students are in camp.Students will be able to relate individual strengths, motivation and talents to their preferred career and studies.

  • A certificate of completion/attendance will be handed out at the end of the course

PROGRAMME

  • Day 1:
    • Introduction Day, Look at the week ahead
    • Identify the programs content and overview
    • Look at different job roles/fields and identify the skills/traits required (generally speaking) to become successful in those fields of work, g. Doctor, Lawyer, Actor, Banker etc.

Day 2:

    • Case Studies, look at staff members who are in les elfes, background, and where they have worked in the past, their qualifications, how they got there, how their careers have progressed and
    • Important to explain how a career path can change?
    • Role Play with identifying skill sets of the students, and what careers they could potentially be suited I.e. are you a natural leader? Are you very analytical? Organised? Arts orientated?

Day 3:

    • Famous Verbier residents/guest speakers with exceptional jobs

Day 5:

    • Business Day, interactive learning task, involving students being put into groups, set a directive, working as a team, design and sell a product, pitch to potential buyers (staff) judged on various criteria

Day 5:

    • Reflection of the Week
    • Results of day 2 and 4 reflection on how the week has given you a better understanding of what your skills are, and what you want to achieve in life as a career
    • Certificates and
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Leadership Training Program During Les Elfes Camps

Leadership SkillsLeadership Training Course

 Our comprehensive Leadership Training course will be run in Verbier, consisting of 5 2-hour sessions

  • Certificate of Completion including the modules covered in the training
  • The structure of the programme will incorporate practical development training activities with group presentation and discussion sessions to enable campers to develop their confidence and competence in Leading a group. It is designed to provide a good foundation for progression in a range of modules, including:

Module 1 – Characteristics of a Leader

Module 2 – Developing Effective Communication Skills

Module 3 – Time Management & Personal Organisation

Module 4 – First Aid

Module 5 – Risks and Responsibility in Leading

Module 6 – Leadership Styles

PROGRAMME

Session 1

  • Introduction to the week ahead

Module 1 – ‘Characteristics of a Leader’

  • Group activity to identify role models and personal attributes which affect different leadership styles
  • Module 2 – ‘Developing Effective Communication Skills’
  • Development Training Activities – considering roles within a group and leadership styles (e.g. Robots, Zin Obelisk, Code Breaker, Minefields)

Session 2

Module 3 – ‘Time Management & Personal Organisation’

Development Training Activities (e.g. Factory Task, Orienteering Challenge, Walk the Plank, Head to Head, Kvjork Shelves)

  • Exploring tools for managing time, maximising effectiveness in a limited time-frame, planning and preparing sessions as a leader

Session 3

Module 6 – ‘Leadership Styles’

A consideration of a spectrum of leadership styles, the best situations to adopt different approaches to leading & how personal attributes influence leadership styles

  • Improvisation Activity (groups are presented with situations/ scenarios in which to lead their group.

Session 4

Module 5 – ‘Risks and Responsibilities in Leading’

Considering the implications of being a leader in a range of environments & situations

  • Exploring managing fear when leading a group
  • Module 4 – ‘First Aid’
  • Practical session including emergency first aid & managing minor accidents as a leader

Session 5

Consolidation of all of the modules

  • An opportunity to reflect on the learning outcomes of the week
  • Personal Presentations