The typical journée at Lac du Bois begins around 8:00 when villagers awaken (hopefully well-rested) and head to Paris for breakfast at 8:30. Service et Menage, for the assigned pavillon means arriving 15 minutes early to the salle à manger to set tables.

At Petit Déjuner villagers can choose between a variety of breakfast foods, from muesli to yogurt to French-style baked goods, made fresh each night by Lac du Bois's bakers. At this time, the day's theme is presented, announcements are made, and villagers have the opportunity to take on the challenge of "Super Français" after the prizes have been awarded to the previous day's successful campers.

During Nettoyage each villager does his or her part in cleaning the pavillon and/or the bathrooms. Beds are made, floors are swept and vacuumed, closets are put in order, garbages are emptied, all for a rating. At the end of the week, the cleanest cabin wins a special surprise!

Four-week villagers then go to Cours, where they are taught by one of Lac du Bois's credit teachers. For villagers staying two weeks, this is the time for Grand Odysée, then Odysée Linguistique. The groups are small, and each camper remains with the same counselor throughout the session, so learning becomes a personalized part of the daily Lac du Bois routine.

A quick snack of fruit in front of Paris, then it's off to Odysée Culturelle, which villagers choose at the beginning of the week. These activities can be anything from basket making in Beaux Arts to soccer on the Terrain de Foot.

During Déjuner, monos (and sometimes villagers!) incorporate the lunch menu into a humorous sketch dealing with the theme of the day. For each dish, a villager from every table must answer a question relevant to the theme. Need help? Check the Triangle de Sagesse!

Both villagers and staff are ready for a short sieste after Déjuner! Then, the following half hour, credit villagers attend Cours de Conversation in their class groups, and two-week campers have Francofolie with a different mono each day.

Odysée Thématique is a three-day long, themed activity in larger groups, and led by three or four counselors. Villagers participate in multiple Odysées Thématiques throughout the course of the two-week session. During this hour, credit villagers have more class time.

Endless possibilities await the villager at Temps Libre! If the weather is nice, visit Sévérine down at la plage and go for a swim in the lake. Head to Beaux Arts to express your creativity with Maddy. Take a few Francs out at the bank, and make a stop at Le Sucre Coeur for a sweet snack. (Toblerone and Milka are two Lac du Bois favorites!) You will always be able to find a few monos in each area, doing special activities, or just hanging out.

The trusty facteur begins his rounds prompty at 5:15. This is a highlight of the day for many villagers - send your campers a letter or a box of homemade cookies to let them know you're thinking about them!

Before dinner each evening, counselors perform the latest installment of Lac du Bois's very own "soap opera," Plaisirs d'Amour. With a new session comes a new storyline and a plethora of crazy new characters. We also sing for our supper here: from traditional French songs to Lac du Bois originals like, "Jean Claude," about everyone's favorite lake monster.

Another presentation du repas introduces the awaited dinner fare, and after the meal, when all the tables have been cleared, it's time for La Poste du Lac du Bois! A facteur celebre visits the salle à manger in a short sketch always featuring our famous blue camp mailbox. If you've written your friend a Courrier de Coeur, this is when it's delivered.

The day's theme is culminated in the Veillée. The evening program might require villagers to construct a Swiss parade float or write their own Lac du Bois song. Once a session, the Veillée is foregone for Soirée en Pavillon, which gives campers a chance to choose their own activity and connect as a cabin.

What better way to end the day than with a Feu de Camp? Held at the beach at the edge of the woods, Lac du Bois's campfires give one and all a chance to reflect and relax with friends. Each pavillon is sent to bed with the song Bon Soir les Loups, as another journée au Lac du Bois comes to a close...

Bonne Nuit!