Crazy Valley Balance Camp 2023
Play like a child, and grow as a person
Would you like to take a break from your busy life? Immerse yourself in mountain hiking, yoga and meditations, crazy group games, simplicity, and enjoy the hot tub under a starry sky? Then the Crazy Valley Balance Camp in August 2023 is for you.
Break away from your routines and your frequent social environment.
Cut the cables!
Imagine yourself in a faraway place in magical nature.
Lose control & find yourself.
Enjoy being who you really are.
Share this special and heartful experience with a nice group, people of all ages and nationalities.
Welcome to the world of CrazyCamp.org!
Feel authentic connection with yourself and with your fellow humans
This experience is not everyone's cup of tea. Do you feel totally inspired by the full description, the 'natural high' aspect, the intense participation, the FAQ and the testimonials? Then sign up!
13 - 19 August 2023
12
Simple mountain hut
Very small
Eastern Switzerland
18-81
Plant-based
EUR 699 You may be qualified to receive a €100 reduction if conditions are met.
Activities
Imagine this – we're going on a thrilling adventure to a mountain hut at an altitude of 1.350 meters. We'll be in a cosy valley, completely surrounded by breathtaking mountain landscapes and immersed in nature. We'll be far away from noise and stress. During the day, we'll explore the beauty of the mountains while hiking, enjoying picnics, and taking refreshing dips in wild mountain lakes. We'll gather in the fields and mountain tops for yoga and meditation sessions, submitting ourselves to the peaceful tranquility of the mountains.
In the evenings, you'll bond with your fellow adventurers through fun and meaningful group activities. We'll cook and share delicious meals together, attend massage workshops to unwind, and create memories that will last a lifetime. This is more than just a trip; it's the Crazy Valley Balance Camp, an exciting and unforgettable experience that's perfect for people looking to connect with nature, themselves, and others.
Natural High
Let's enjoy a splendid escapade high in the breathtaking Alps, with no need for artificial stimulants! We'll steer clear of alcohol and other substances, relying on our bodies to produce adrenaline, endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and plenty of oxytocin for an euphoric experience :) Read more here. All food is plant-based.
Location
Our accommodation is a summer farm in a narrow valley, in the middle of beautiful nature. Gorgeous mountains with peaks of up to 2.500 meters above sea level, valleys, streams, fields and forests are our backdrop. In our proximity there are only some summer farms here and there (more about seasonal migration in the Alps here).
We are in the east of Switzerland, in a very rural area. From our hut, it is around 2 hours walking to get to the village (altitude difference: 500m). In that village there is a bus stop.
Accommodation
The mountain hut where we are staying is normally a summer farm and is therefore simple and functional. The beds are bunk beds in a group room. There is an open kitchen. Toilet and shower are simple. Please do not expect luxury things like comfort, personal privacy or decent mobile network coverage. No smoking in the house. In and around the house, and during parts of the hikes, clothing is optional [faq]
The big bonus of this accommodation: there is a hot tub for our exclusive use! Nothing beats being together in the hot tub, while stars and Moon are shining their light on us ♥♥♥
How to get there
Our meeting place is one bus ride away from a railway station. That railway station is very easy to reach.
For example, the following cities have a convenient (night train) connection, only ONE change needed at the end of the trip: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bologna, Budapest, Dijon, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Genova, Graz, Hamburg, Hannover, Köln, Leipzig, Ljubljana, Milano, Munich, Paris, Salzburg, Stuttgart, Utrecht, Vienna, Zagreb.
And here is a small selection of cities from where you would have to change trains only twice: Barcelona, Belgrade, Gdansk, Kopenhagen, Lyon, Marseille, Prague, Rome and Warsaw.
The other option is to offer or join a ride-share, for example through blablacar or with other Crazy Valley Balance Camp participants [faq].
Switzerland is a member of the Schengen agreement. If you can travel in any other Schengen country, you can travel in Switzerland.
Mind & Body
Just being on these amazingly beautiful, uniquely located mountains is already a good reset for your stressed brain. Moreover, we will be actively working on bringing back balance to your life. Every day there will be yoga sessions and meditations – in the hut and outside, even during our hikes. We will be doing massage workshops.
There are measureless light-hearted moments of fun and laughter at the Crazy Valley Balance Camp. And there are moments of emotional release. One of the house rules is "Feel happy at all times – except when you don't feel happy." All feelings are welcome, and the intention is to not judge any of them. We will be doing plenty of exercises and games (eye gazing, for example) to connect with ourselves and with the others. We will experience deep levels of sincere connection, radical self-acceptance, body positivity, sharing and letting go of judgement.
Are you ready for this intensive experience? Are you ready to engage in those exercises and games? To be there with all your light and all your darkness? If not, or if you are only interested in the "light & fun" side of reality, then the Crazy Valley Balance Camp can be rather challenging for you :)
Our Yoga Facilitator
Hello! I'm Juliet. Yoga has always been a valuable part of my life, as a practice to connect mind and body. I completed my Yoga Teacher Training in Ubud, Indonesia. This taught me the deeper meaning of yogic philosophy as a way to centre ourselves and our journey to consciousness.
My main focus is on instinctive movement that nourishes us from the inside. I believe that yoga should be playful and accessible, so I teach a mixed-style vinyasa with plenty of moments for calm and reflection through breath-work.
I look forward to connecting with you all in the beautiful mountains!
Namaste ♡
Too much yoga and deep stuff?
What if I love mountains but don't want to join all that sharing and yoga and massage stuff?
Of course you can opt out of certain activities if you're tired after an extreme day of hiking, but if all these mind and body things are not your kind of thing, then the Crazy Valley Balance Camp is not your kind of thing.
This is important!
Please notice that there is no 'leadership team' or 'staff' at the Crazy Valley Balance Camp. Our yoga facilitator and Klaas will participate in the Crazy Valley Balance Camp activities just like the other participants. At best they are 'primi inter pares'. We're all in it together :) [faq]
Mountain hiking
The days in the Crazy Valley Balance Camp will see quite a bit of mountain hiking. Not mountaineering; no ropes, crampons or helmets. More info on the trail classifications (T1 etc.) here. Please do read!
There is a hiking program set up, but it is not an obligation to participate; if you are a seasoned mountaineer you might prefer to go rock climbing by yourself instead of hiking with our group. And also, if you want to spend your days relaxedly searching for berries or spotting birds, feel free to do so. Basically, everybody is expected to participate in the group life at the end of the day and in the evening [faq].
One thing about hiking in groups. Keep in mind that a 'stronger' person can adapt to a 'slower' person, but a 'slower' person cannot adapt to a 'stronger' person. So, when we hike in a group, we'll set the capabilities of the 'slower' group members as standard while the 'stronger' people will have the satisfaction of applying their social skills by adapting to the group :-)
The program might look something like this:
First day We'll all meet in the afternoon at the bus stop in the village. Walking up through the canyon to the hut (2 hours, T2/T3). The farmer will transport our luggage with their improvised little cargo ropeway.
Second day As a warming up we will make a hike (T2/T3) that is not very long and not very technical. We'll do some meditations during the hike to integrate ourselves in the landscape, and we'll have a picnic in the fields.
Third day A longer hike (T3) that takes us through paths of forest and through a neighboring valley. We will reward ourselves with a swim in a wild mountain lake at the highest point of our hike!
Fourth day No big hikes; rather chillax, do some meditations and yoga sessions. Also we might explore our creativity, expressing ourselves interacting with the mountains and trees, through for example photography, making rock structures, or whatever inspires us. It's about the process, not about the result.
Fifth day A long hike, 8 to 9 hours, T3, that will bring us to a unique natural phenomenon: a river in a natural tunnel.
Sixth day Another day dedicated to meditation, yoga and bodywork.
Seventh day Vacate the hut in the morning and descend back into civilisation. After this hike: the farewell hug in the village!
Weather conditions in the mountains can change fast and often. For this reason, the program can be changed according to what is safe and enjoyable.
Preparation
Although the Crazy Valley Balance Camp is intended to be a relaxed, non-competitive event, mountain hiking is a sports activity that demands some extra attention for two reasons: altitude and safety. You will need a fair condition, good mountain hiking shoes, a daypack, a water bottle, rain protection and something warmer as well. A pair of hiking poles is helpful, but not a necessity. If you suffer from vertigo or acrophobia, some parts of our hiking program might be challenging for you.
What if I love mountains but don't want to join that 'serious' hiking?
I really like the whole idea and I would really like to join, but I'm really not into all this T3 hiking. Are there options for me? Yes, there are. You can make easy hikes around the hut, for example. If you're into nature photography or drawing landscapes, you will find a multitude of subjects within 500 meters from the hut…
Most probably, you will not be the only one that will not join the bigger hikes.
Food and Drinks
Cooking will be done by the group for the group; no à la carte service :) Because we are high in the mountains, our resources are limited, and we'll all have to be flexible. If you are very precise with your food, then this is not the right experience for you, sorry.
Diets and restrictions:
- Gluten: Usually meals are low on gluten or gluten-stuff can be kept separate easily, but if you have a hard core allergy, you're not safe. At breakfast, there is oatmeal as an option.
- Nuts: Can usually be left out of meals/served apart, but if you have a hard core allergy, you're not safe.
- Sugar/Diabetes: Usually things are without sugar. However, you will not be able to follow that precisely engineered menu that your dietician wants you to follow.
All food is 100% plant based. The provided food is vegan. Also, please don't bring any animal origin foods with you, such as meat, chicken, fish, seafood, honey, milk, yoghurt, cheese, products containing gelatine, etc. If you can't do without them, please choose another Crazy Camp :)
This is an alcohol-free event. The provided drinks are non-alcoholic. Also, please don't bring any alcoholic drinks yourself. We'll do without external stimulants :) So no drugs as well. Only for coffee, we'll make an exception. If you can't commit to this, please choose another Crazy Camp :)
Participation Fee
The deal
Your participation in the cost for these 7 days / 6 nights is (depending on your situation) between EUR 599 and EUR 699 per person for accommodation, food (that we will cook together), yoga sessions, guided meditation sessions, massage workshop, and life enriching experiences.
Reductions
If you feel that the Crazy Valley Balance Camp is really the right experience for you, and you are seriously struggling with the participation fee: please reach out to me. Because I wouldn't want that money issues would stop you from participating. There are, for example, possibilities for volunteering.
What is included/provided?
+ Accommodation
+ Luggage transport from the village to the hut
+ Yoga sessions
+ Guided meditations
+ Massage workshop
+ Breakfast
+ Simple lunch (sandwiches, leftovers of yesterday's dinner)
+ Dinner (we will cook together)
+ Coffee, tea, water, juice
+ Fun and meaningful experiences
Not included:
x Snacks, fruit, energy bars, soft drinks etc.
x Sleeping bags
x Towels
Has your gaze been drawn to the images of bare-skinned individuals featured on our site? Well, if it has, we have a page for you that's a complete nudity-free zone! Have a look :)
Environmental Footprint
The environmental footprint of this Crazy Valley Balance Camp is very small.
- We will not use any touristic cable cars or alike during our stay.
- Hiking trails are the only infrastructure that we use. There is very little touristic infrastructure on 'our' mountain
- In our accommodation we will only use renewable energy (with the exception of some candles)
- As we live in community, we are heating much smaller volumes of spaces then what we would need individually. We will cook centrally for the group, which is way more efficient than people cooking individually at home
- Our food is entirely plant based. Livestock farming, together with the industry that comes with it, is one of the biggest contributors to climate change and destruction of nature. By sticking to plant based nutrition, we do our taste buds and our health a favour – and we do Planet Earth as a whole a favour. Check this link for more info.
- Our activities are not 'gear-intensive' and we don't need to buy lots of materials etc.
How can I reduce my impact?
- The easiest way to reduce the environmental impact of your participation is by choosing your means of transport. Come by train, or join a ride share with fellow participants or through blablacar or online groups. Avoid flying. Avoid driving alone. The network of night trains in Europe is growing and growing, a great way to travel!
- Don't buy new gear for this Crazy Valley Balance Camp. Find second hand gear or ask around in your friends circle; maybe you can borrow. If you travel intercontinentally, reach out to me, I might be able to lend things to you so you don't need to travel with them.
- Don't buy fresh clothes for this Crazy Valley Balance Camp. Forget about fashion – no one will judge you for your looks. If there is a hole in your hiking pants, just patch it.
- Don't bring synthetic soaps, shampoo with nanoplastics, etc. A piece of vegan Savon de Marseille / Aleppo soap / hard soap will do perfectly for skin, hair and clothes.
A Past Experience
The Crazy Valley Balance Camp 2023 has already taken place. It was a wonderful journey!
We hope to see you at one of our future gatherings.
Please check our other upcoming events and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed.
