Waldis Exchange in Switzerland, 2023
From Friday, September 15th to Sunday, September 17th, the Waldis Exchange took place in Switzerland between the LCs Zurich, Freiburg, and Vienna. After the event was organized by LC Freiburg in Germany last year, LC Zurich took charge of the organizing committee this year. Upon arrival at the train station in Bern, the 24 participants were transported by buses to the Jaun Pass, located at an altitude of 1509 meters above sea level. This pass is situated in the Bern region, right on the language border between the German-speaking and French-speaking parts of Switzerland. Upon arrival there, we settled into our accommodation for the next two days. The Chilchmoos vacation home is somewhat secluded, nestled in the idyllic moorland of the Jaun Pass, surrounded by meadows with grazing cows and small wooded areas. We spent the afternoon playing volleyball, enjoying cake, and exchanging experiences with old and new IFSA friends. For dinner, we were treated to Äplermagronen, a typical dish of Swiss mountain regions made from potatoes, pasta, and cheese.
Image 1. Group photo (Picture by Julia Stahl).
On Saturday, we started the day early as we had a planned excursion on the agenda. This excursion was led by Noémi Gay and Samuel Schmutz, both former members of our student association and alumni of ETH Zurich. Samuel Schmutz explained the concept of protective forests, which have a long tradition in Swiss mountain regions and are by far the most important forest function in this area. Forests protect settlements and infrastructure from natural hazards such as avalanches or rockfalls. Noémi Gay explained forest pastures, a special combination of forestry and agriculture where cows graze in the forest. This unique form of forest use leads to a distinctive landscape with high biodiversity, which characterizes the area around the Jaun Pass. Afterwards, we hiked through a natural forest reserve, and the two excursion leaders explained the special ecological features of one of the Swiss mountain forests’ typical tree species, the Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra). Back at our vacation home, we spent the evening with dinner and card games, and some enjoyed visiting the small sauna in our neighbors’ garden.
Image 2. Samuel Schmutz talks about protection forests (Picture by Julia Stahl).
After the long and intense program on Saturday, we enjoyed some free time on Sunday. After a short discussion, we decided to visit the Marzili Baths in Bern. This large bathing facility is located in the middle of the city, right next to the Aare River, with a wonderful view of the Federal Palace, the seat of the Swiss government. We spent the afternoon swimming in the Aare, sunbathing, playing volleyball, and card games. Time passed too quickly, and it was already time to say goodbye. The Waldis Exchange 2023 was a successful and fulfilling weekend that will surely be remembered. We nurtured old friendships and forged new ones. This is why we are already looking forward to the next Waldis Exchange, which will be organized next year by BOKU in Vienna.
