A Swiss summer camp for American teens: what to know for July 2027

The BHMS Summer Camp runs July 11 to 24, 2027, in Lucerne, Switzerland: two weeks at a Swiss hotel management school, for ages 16 to 19, at CHF 3'900 all-inclusive.^[10] For a family in the United States, three things come first: who the camp is for, what it costs in dollars, and what a US passport holder needs at the Swiss border.

Who it is for, in US terms

The camp is for students who still have one year of school ahead of them. For July 2027, that's rising seniors, the class of 2028. If you graduate in 2027, you're ready to look at a bachelor's degree program instead.

Participants are 16 to 19 on July 11, 2027. US students typically finish secondary school by 18,^[1] so for a rising senior the limit to check is the lower one: 16 by check-in day.

Two tracks, taught in English

There are two tracks. Culinary & Pastry Arts happens in professional kitchens and covers pastry and fine-dining plating. Hospitality & Guest Experience is about luxury service, with visits to five-star hotels. Classes are in English. Pre-intermediate is enough, and there's no test.

Excursions include Mount Pilatus, a Lake Lucerne cruise, the Swiss Transport Museum and a chocolate workshop.^[10]

The price in dollars, and what it covers

The fee is CHF 3'900. At the Federal Reserve's published rate for October 2, 2026, 0.8293 Swiss francs to one US dollar, that's about $4,703.^[2] The fee is set in francs, so the dollar figure moves with the exchange rate.

It covers daily workshops and study materials, shared accommodation, all meals, afternoon activities and excursions, a Certificate of Attendance, and transfers to and from Zurich Airport.^[10] The arrival window is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 11; the departure window is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 24. If your flights fall outside those windows, check with us first. Flights to and from Switzerland aren't included. Details are on Dates & Prices.

Every participant also gets a CHF 3'900 credit toward first-year tuition of an eligible BHMS Bachelor program if they enroll within two years.^[10] The conditions are on the Pathway page.

Entering Switzerland on a US passport

A US citizen doesn't need a visa for a stay in Switzerland of up to 90 days without paid work; so says the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).^[3] A two-week camp sits inside that limit.

The passport has to meet two conditions. It must be valid for at least three months after the day your teen leaves the Schengen area, and it must have been issued within the last 10 years.^[3] For a flight home on check-out day, that means valid through at least October 24, 2027.

Then there's ETIAS, the European travel authorization for travelers who don't need a visa. The EU's official ETIAS site lists Switzerland among the 30 European countries that require it and the United States among the countries whose nationals need to apply.^[5] The same site says today that ETIAS is "currently not in operation," that no applications are being collected, and that the EU will announce the start date several months before launch.^[6] It names no start date, so it can't tell you whether a traveler in July 2027 will need one. SEM agrees: for now, there's nothing to do.^[4] The fee is EUR 20, and applicants under 18 are exempt.^[6][9]

The EU's Entry/Exit System has been rolled out step by step across the Schengen area since October 12, 2025.^[4] See also our Visa & travel page.

A teen flying without parents

If your camper is under 18 and flies alone, USA.gov says they may need a letter of consent signed by both parents, preferably in English and notarized. It also suggests asking the airline about its rules for minors traveling alone.^[7]

On the Swiss side, SEM says minors may enter without a parent if they meet the normal entry requirements. It recommends a declaration of consent with the parents' details and phone number, and accepts one written in English.^[4] Supervision, accommodation and how to reach us are on the Parents & safety page.

What this means for your family

• Check the class year and the birthday. Class of 2028, and 16 to 19 on July 11, 2027.
• Check the passport now. A US passport issued before age 16 is valid for five years and can't be renewed; your teen applies in person for a new one. One issued at 16 or 17 is valid for 10 years.^[8]
• Arrange health insurance. Every participant needs it, along with a valid passport.
• Look at the ETIAS site again before you book flights. There's nothing to do today.^[4][6]
• Book flights inside the transfer windows on July 11 and July 24.
• Write the consent letter if your teen is under 18 and travels without you.^[7]

Applying is simple: the application form, filled in, plus a scan of the passport. Places are limited and given first come, first served, so it's best to apply early. Start on the Apply page, or read Dates & Prices first.