In 1929, the World Committe of WAGGGS met in Holland and decided that a Wrold Centre should be built for all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in the world to share...
Immediately an American Girl Guide Leader, Helen Storrow said that she would donate the money for the construction for such as world centre and the funds for its operation for the first four years if it was built in Switzerland. Unsurprisingly, WAGGGS agreed and plans began for the first world centre. The World Committee appointed Ida Von Herrenschwand or Falk, a Swiss Scout, to help locate the perfect location.
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| Helen Storrow at Our Chalet |
Falk on the other hand, had reservations. She remembered that when she was 17/18, she wanted adventure, skiing, mountain climbing - she hadn't been overly concerned about her soul! Falk believed that the site in Aeschi was too far away from the real mountains and that the altitude was too low for winter sports. Mrs Storrow still wanted to present this location to at the next World Conference. Falk asked Mrs Storrow not to let them ask her what her opinion of the site was, for she did not want to publicly disagree with her. Mrs Storrow said that if she was asked her opinion, then she should give it honestly and not worry about who it may upset.
The World Committee agreed that Aeschi was a lovely spot. Lord Baden-Powell then asked what Falk thought about the location. After hearing her thoughts he told her that if she was going to make trouble she would have to find a spot on her own. She eagerly accepted and left the meeting with a lost of location requirements:
- Must be near a main train line, but away from tourists
- Must be Hotels in the neighbourhood, but not a fashionable place
- Must be high enough for skiing in the winter and climbing in the summer, but not too high for people with heart conditions
- Must be sufficent ground and pleasant neighbours
She rushed back and eventually found the perfect spot high on a hill in Adelboden. After a very unlady-like climb over fences and hedges, she was struck by its beauty. The setting sun shed its light over the mountain tops, cowbells rung in the distance and she could not help thinking to herself that here there were possibilities for adventure and peace for the soul!
In June 1931, Mrs Storrow and the World Committee came to inspect the sight. Mr von Sinner, the architect, rushed ahead of the main group with a large pole to erect the American flag to greet the group. They celebrated the confirmation of the location with a tea party.
Building began with the concrete basement, cutting the wood for the rest of the house, and on December 21, 1931 the roof was put on. Mrs Storrow returned in May 1932 to see the completed Chalet. Baby Chalet was built for her to stay in and to receive her own guests in preparation for the official opening.
On the 31st July 1932, Our Chalet was officially opened by Olave Baden-Powell, the first World Chief Guide and Mrs Helen Storrow. Most of the village of Adelboden was present along with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from around the world.
I'm currently sitting in the Helen Storrow room at Our Chalet, in the second building Spycher, after completing our first day of training. Today we started with breakfast at 8 am and then an opening ceremony to start off the season. At this ceremony each country represented in the staff had a flag put into a log to be displayed in the Main Chalet. We also were officially welcomed to Our Chalet and received our pins, the ones you can only buy if you visit.
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| Australia at Our Chalet |
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| 2014-2015 Winter Vollies |
Afterwards we started our training! We begun with the above history of Our Chalet and then continued on with an inside tour of both the original Our Chalet building and Spycher. Then we were taken on a outside grounds tour, to see Stockli (the staff house), Squirrel House (So named as a squirrel was the first animal to cross the threshold), the campfire ring, the tool shed, Baby Chalet and Camp House. It snowed a little whilst we were out.. and I managed to avoid swipping the trees with my head and having snow fall all down my jacket as I did last night after the campfire!
After lunch and a break we were given our official Our Chalet Staff uniforms - polos and a hoodie. That took a lot longer than expected! We also had the opportunity to get extra white long sleeve shirts and navy pants which previous vollies had left behind.
An introduction to life at the Chalet, through the use of a massive floor board game followed. We had almost a bedsheet size board on the floor and we had to roll the dice and move along until we got to 60 and if we landed on a space which had a piece of paper on it we had to read it out loud and then we discussed it. It was a fun and entertaining way to get through some of the dry content about life at Our Chalet.
We then moved back to the Helen Storrow room to discuss what we wanted to get out of our time here and what were our goals and worries. My personal goal - to be able to ski a blue slope before I leave. My worry - My exam and University results!
Break and then dinner (sausages, mashed potato and peas and corn). Then we made our 'notice board art'. The posters which hang in the entrance to Our Chalet to introduce you to the current staff members.
We are now all sitting in the Helen Storrow room watching Elf before bed!
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