Written by Council Historian, Rosemarie Courtney
In 1929, Helen Storrow, chair of the World Committee, initiated to the committee the idea of a World Center in Switzerland. Helen agreed to look for the site and fund the building of a chalet plus other expenses for three years. The World Center was to provide a place for international friendship, offering year-round high-altitude outdoor adventures and leadership training for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides worldwide.
Helen hired Swiss scout Ida Von Herrenschwand to help find the site. His first recommendation was Kanderstag but Helen did not like the site because it did not have any hills where games, songs and other outdoor activities could be held. Helen settled on the site in Adelboden.
Our Chalet was dedicated on July 31, 1932, by Helen Storrow and Olave Baden-Powell. At the ceremony the Chalet song was introduced “High Up High on A Mountain we founded Our Chalet.”
Helen loved the place so much that she had a “baby” chalet built where she spent months at a time.
Over the years another chalet was built for staff members, and in 1999, another one for visitors, shop and office.
There are programs for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides year-round. They reserve one week each year for an all-adult event in the fall. In 2018, a group of historians from our council went to the event. There we met Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from Canada and England.
Some of us hiked in the Alps every day while others went touring. After breakfast and packing our lunch on the first day we gathered around the flagpole for the raising for the flag and posting a small flag in a log representing every country at Our Chalet. Also, on the first day each was given their Our Chalet pin.
The first day everyone went to Engstigen Falls and took the gondola up to Engstigenalp.
Other places the entire group went were Bunderfalls and Magic Tree, Aare Gorge & Reichenbach Falls (where Sherlock Holmes fights to death with Professor Moriarty) and the village of Adelboden & Museum and Woodcarver who makes pins in the WAGGGS symbol and neckerchief slides.
The hikers went to Kletterturm Silleren, and Tschenten on two separate days. While hiking they saw people flying large model airplanes, parasailers and snow.
The tourists went on a boat ride from Spiez to Turn where they saw Mt Nielsen and Ballenburg.
Dinners were served family style. One plate at each table had a sticker on the bottom side and they were the table’s “hopper” getting the dishes of food from the kitchen. If your birthday occurs while you are there the volunteer staff (voiles) sing Happy Birthday to you in their native tongue.
Each evening had a theme including Swiss Night, Campfire and songs, Cheese & Wine, WAGGGS night and chocolate fondue.
Everyone who attends an event at Our Chalet can take part in the Our Chalet Challenge. The challenge consists of six components: Physical Challenge, WAGGGS Knowledge, Our Chalet History, Swiss Culture, Personal Challenge and Service.
A tradition is to have a group picture taken on the steps.
