The big news
In April 2028, Vale of Clwyd District will send its first ever international contingent to Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC) in Switzerland, one of the official World Scout Centres and a place Scouts and Explorers from across the globe have travelled to since 1923.
Forty young people and fifteen adult leaders will spend nine nights in the Swiss Alps, hiking, exploring, taking on new challenges, and meeting Scouts from all over the world. It’s a once in a lifetime trip, and we want as many of our young people as possible to be part of it.
Dates: 12 to 21 April 2028
Location: Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland
Who can apply: Young people who will be 13½ or older by the date of travel. To be 13½ or older by the departure date (12 April 2028), a young person needs to be born on or before 12 October 2014
For young people
Why go?
This is your chance to swap a weekend camp for nine days in the Alps. Think hiking up to Oeschinensee, one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland, taking on a high ropes course in Interlaken, curling and ice skating, and exploring Bern as part of a team challenge. You’ll meet Scouts from other countries, try things you’ve never tried before, and come home with friendships that last well beyond the trip itself.
Two days of the programme are being left open on purpose, so once the contingent is picked, you’ll get a say in what happens on those days. This is your expedition as much as anyone’s.
What it involves
Getting picked for the contingent isn’t just about turning up on the day. Everyone selected will take part in a series of preparation camps and training weekends through 2027 and into early 2028. These aren’t optional, they’re where the group becomes a team, and where you’ll build the skills and friendships that make the actual trip work. If you’re picked, you’re committing to the whole journey, not just the nine days in Switzerland.
How to apply
Applications open in October 2026, shortly after the expedition is launched at the District Scout and Explorer Camp in September. Selection is based on your commitment to Scouting, attitude, teamwork and behaviour, not just first come first served, so it’s worth thinking about how you show up between now and then. The contingent will be confirmed by mid-November 2026.
For parents and carers
The essentials
We know a trip like this raises a lot of questions, so here’s what we can tell you now.
Group size: 40 young people, 15 adult leaders
Supervision: Fully led by experienced, DBS-checked Scout leaders throughout
Accommodation: Indoor bunkhouse accommodation at KISC, a purpose-built, secure Scout centre
Insurance: Group travel insurance is included in the fee, covering the trip and activities
Cost
We’ve worked hard to keep this as accessible as possible, and to be upfront about where the money goes.
| Young Person | Adult Leader | |
|---|---|---|
| Total fee | £1,650 | £850 |
The fee covers travel (coaches and flights), accommodation, food, all activities and excursions, expedition clothing, insurance, and the mandatory preparation camps and training weekends in the run-up to the trip.
We know £1,650 is a significant amount for any family. A hardship fund has been set up specifically to support young people for whom cost would otherwise be a barrier. If this applies to your family, please get in touch confidentially, we don’t want cost to be the reason a young person misses out.
Payment plan
Places are secured with a 25% deposit, with the balance spread across instalments through to early 2028. A full payment schedule with exact dates will be published once the contingent is confirmed in November 2026. No family will be asked to pay the full amount up front.
| Payment | Due date | YP (£1,650 total) | Adult (£850 total) | Cumulative % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | 30 November 2026 | £412.50 | £212.50 | 25% |
| Instalment 2 | 28 February 2027 | £247.50 | £127.50 | 40% |
| Instalment 3 | 31 May 2027 | £247.50 | £127.50 | 55% |
| Instalment 4 | 31 August 2027 | £247.50 | £127.50 | 70% |
| Instalment 5 | 30 November 2027 | £247.50 | £127.50 | 85% |
| Final balance | 31 January 2028 | £247.50 | £127.50 | 100% |
Preparation and safety
Every young person and adult leader attending is required to take part in the full preparation programme, camps and training weekends run through 2027 and early 2028. This isn’t just paperwork, it’s how we build a team that knows each other, trusts each other, and is properly prepared before we travel. Full risk assessments and safeguarding arrangements will be in place throughout, in line with Scout Association policy for international travel.
Key dates
| Date | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | Expedition launches at District Scout and Explorer Camp |
| October to November 2026 | Applications open and selection process runs |
| Mid-November 2026 | Contingent confirmed |
| 2027 to early 2028 | Preparation camps, training weekends and fundraising |
| 12 to 21 April 2028 | Expedition to Kandersteg |
Want to know more?
Come along to the District Scout and Explorer Camp in September 2026 for the full launch, or speak to your Group Scout Leader in the meantime.
Applications
We want to make sure every member of the contingent, young person and adult, is a good fit for the trip and ready for what it involves. That’s why the process looks slightly different depending on whether you’re applying as a young person or as an adult. Both processes are about finding the right team for Kandersteg, not just filling places. We’ll be in touch with next steps once applications close.
Young People Applications
Young people will be asked to complete an application form, followed by an in-person selection event. This gives us the chance to meet you, see how you get on with others, and get a real sense of who you are, not just what’s on paper.
Adult Applications
Adults will be asked to complete an application form, followed by a brief interview or informal chat. This is a relaxed conversation to talk through your experience, your role in the contingent, and answer any questions you have.
