GENEVA AND THE CERN

Course Description

The trip is organized by a CAS Trips educational student travel tour operator. They focus on sustainable tourism and tackle the UN SDGs whilst engaging in volunteer projects inspired by the notions of Creativity, Activity and Service. Every trip has destination-specific elements that focus on the creative, active and service-orientated parts of volunteer travel.  

Geneva is a picturesque city in Switzerland located on the shores of Lake Geneva, with stunning views of the nearby Alps. The city is also home to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, where groundbreaking research is conducted to deepen our understanding of the universe and its fundamental properties. CERN is most famous for its Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Let's dive into an adventure of getting to know this city and what it has to offer. Moreover join us for a delicious journey to Switzerland where you will discover the secrets of Swiss cheese and chocolate-making during our immersive workshop. Indulge in a unique cultural experience and learn from local experts while enjoying the stunning landscapes and charming towns of Switzerland.

Program (subject to change) 

Day 1: Walking Tour of Geneva

Start your journey with an exciting walking tour of the historic Old Town of Geneva, where you'll explore the city's most popular sites and learn about its diverse culture and fascinating history. Get ready to stroll through the narrow streets and admire the beautiful architecture while gaining a deeper understanding of this charming Swiss city.

Day 2: Future Labs Workshop

Participate in the Futures Wonder Lab workshop and learn about rapid innovation and entrepreneurship processes that enable the Lab to imagine solutions for real-world problems and connect them to solving one or more of the UN SDGs. This creative thinking session will build your wellbeing and core life-skills needed to unfold flourishing futures through the innovation and entrepreneurship process. You'll be invited to look through this lens as you complete your week and take your learning back home to become problem-solvers in your local communities.

UN Visit - Palais Des Nations Tour

As part of this visit, students are taken on an exclusive tour led by UN staff, which is not available to the public. Learn about the work of the United Nations and gain an understanding of the global issues they are addressing. This visit will be a highlight of your trip to Switzerland.

Day 3: Service Challenge - Food Packaging

Make a contribution to the city by working with a local NGO and assist in the sorting of food donations into packages to be distributed to those in need. This service challenge is a great opportunity to give back to the community and make a difference. (Only available for students 16+)

CERN Tour

Visit CERN, one of the world's largest and most respected centers for scientific research. You'll receive a guided tour through the European Organization for Nuclear Research and learn about the work of the organization. Explore two of the permanent exhibitions: Microcosm and the Universe of Particles. Get ready to be amazed by the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, which runs for 27km.

Day 4: Chocolate & Cheese Factory Visit

Embark on a sweet journey and visit a world-famous Swiss chocolate factory to learn about the production process and, of course, sample some of the good stuff! You'll then move on to visit a cheese factory where you'll witness the famous Gruyere cheeses being made. Don't forget to bring your appetite!

Gruyères Medieval Town Visit

Take a trip to Gruyères, a picturesque pedestrian town with cobblestones, fountains and a 13th century castle, perfect for photo ops and ‘selfies’! Visit the museum and cafe of Oscar-winning artist H.R. Giger (creator of Alien) or simply spend time buying souvenirs from the many shops.

Day 5: Hiking Trip and Creativity Think Tank Lab

Experience the beauty of Switzerland's countryside on a scenic 11km hiking trip in the westernmost region of the country, where you'll see the famous border stone no.1 and walk along the Rhone river. Then, unleash your creativity in the hi-tech creative technology lab, where student teams can test drive state-of-the-art equipment, including 3D printing, robotics, and experiment with virtual reality. This fun and dynamic think tank introduces project-based learning and cross-disciplinary thinking, all aimed at tackling the SDGs.

CAS Opportunities for IB Students: This trip relates to the “Activity” aspect of CAS. The first half of each day is the active part, and full participation and cooperation with the farmers and your student team is expected. Talk to the trip chaperones in advance if you would like the trip to become part of your CAS portfolio. ​

Learning Goals

The program above has several learning goals for the students participating in the trip. First, they will gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Geneva through a walking tour of the city's historic Old Town. Second, they will participate in a workshop that focuses on rapid innovation and entrepreneurship processes, aimed at tackling real-world problems and connecting them to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Third, students will visit the United Nations Palais des Nations and learn about the work of the organization.

Fourth, they will participate in a service challenge aimed at making a contribution to the city by working with a local NGO and sorting food donations to be distributed to those in need. Finally, students will visit a world-famous Swiss chocolate factory and a cheese factory, learning about the production process and gaining knowledge about Swiss cuisine. Overall, the trip's learning goals focus on history, culture, innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and service.

ISP Mission Links

The trip's focus on learning about Swiss culture and history, innovation, and problem-solving aligns with the ISP mission to inspire learners to be curious and competent. The visit to CERN and the Future Labs workshop promote engagement in scientific research and entrepreneurship, encouraging students to become changemakers. The food packaging service challenge and visit to the UN Palais des Nations connect to ISP's goal of nurturing compassion and empathy by exposing students to the reality of food insecurity and the work of international organizations. The Chocolate and Cheese Factory visit and Gruyères Medieval Town visit allow students to immerse themselves in Swiss culture, promoting cultural competency. The Hiking Trip and Creativity Think Tank Lab encourage students to think outside the box and apply cross-disciplinary thinking to tackle real-world challenges, promoting a growth mindset and empowering students to become changemakers.