All-inclusive, the Léo spirit
Full board, entertainment and kids’ clubs included
All-inclusive, the Léo spirit
Full board, entertainment and kids’ clubs included
Does organising a discovery class in the Vercors seem complicated? Le Chalet des Coulmes, nestled in the heart of the Vercors Regional Nature Park, offers the perfect setting for school trips combining educational activities and immersion in the great outdoors.
Does organising a discovery class in the Vercors seem complicated? Le Chalet des Coulmes, nestled in the heart of the Vercors Regional Nature Park, offers the perfect setting for school trips combining educational activities and immersion in the great outdoors. See for yourself: this holiday centre is set in an unspoilt environment where every day becomes an educational adventure for the children. Between hikes and workshops on local ecosystems, learning here feels like one big outdoor game.
Le Chalet des Coulmes is tucked away in an unspoilt corner of the Vercors Regional Nature Park. Surrounded by the Coulmes forest, the centre enjoys a striking panorama, from the slopes of the Bec de l’Orient to the ridges of the Grand Veymont. Located in Rencurel in Isère, halfway between Valence and Grenoble, it is an ideal place to host nature classes in a setting that offers a real change of scene.
Choosing Le Chalet des Coulmes means giving pupils a real breath of mountain air. The rich local ecology feeds directly into educational projects: wildlife watching, studying forest tree species or an introduction to cross-country skiing when snow covers the landscape. With its 3,000 km of waymarked trails, the Vercors becomes a life-size field of exploration, where every hike turns into a genuine lesson on mountain ecosystems. A stimulating setting for schools wishing to combine learning and fresh air.
With its 75 beds, Le Chalet des Coulmes is perfectly suited to the needs of school groups. The communal areas encourage interaction, while the spacious rooms ensure a restful night after a day of skiing or visits. Teachers particularly appreciate the rooms set aside for educational workshops.
Safety is no empty word here: Youth and Sports (Jeunesse et Sports) accreditations and the UCPA label guarantee professional supervision. The instructors, trained in the specific demands of the mountains, adapt activities to the level of each group. This constant care allows schools to combine sporting discovery and peace of mind, even in the depths of winter.
Le Chalet des Coulmes is a gateway to the treasures of the Vercors. Less than an hour away, the Choranche caves amaze pupils, while the Resistance Museum immerses young people in local history. In season, the ski areas of Villard-de-Lans provide ideal terrain for supervised first turns on the snow. So many discoveries that turn every stay into a memorable adventure, summer and winter alike.
At Le Chalet des Coulmes, school groups discover sports suited to the seasons, ideal for immersing themselves in the mountains of Isère. Supervised by professionals, these activities combine safety and discovery of the Vercors. Here is what awaits the pupils:
| Activity | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Main activities | Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoe hiking | Hiking, mountain biking, climbing |
| Other activities | Dog sledding, winter bivouac | Canyoning, caving, paragliding, horse riding, cani-hiking |
| Where they take place | Ski resorts (Villard-de-Lans, Corrençon-en-Vercors), snow-covered plateaux | Waymarked trails (3,000 km), climbing sites, canyons |
| Type of stay | Snow classes, multi-sport courses | Nature discovery classes, multi-activity weeks |
| Additional options | Exploring winter heritage | Visits to natural and historic sites |
Our advice: this table shows how Le Chalet des Coulmes adapts to the seasons. In winter, skiing takes centre stage, while in summer the mountains are explored on hikes or on horseback. A hands-on way to understand the local geological history.
Schools find here an ideal place to study Isère. Pupils analyse the local wildlife through practical workshops. Who can spot animal tracks in the snow or identify tree species?
It is worth noting that every outing is adapted to the pupils’ school level. The youngest focus on recognising trees, while sixth-formers study the resilience of Alpine ecosystems. An approach that turns every discovery class into a living laboratory, in the heart of the unspoilt landscapes of the Vercors.
Le Chalet des Coulmes designs stays suited to primary schools, lower secondary schools and sixth-form colleges. We work closely with teachers to build tailor-made educational programmes, perfectly aligned with the objectives of each class.
The Vercors massif lends itself to countless explorations: the history of the local Resistance, the study of mountain ecosystems and skiing, depending on the season. School groups enjoy an exceptional learning environment here – whether for workshops in the snow, historical visits or sporting challenges adapted to each level. In winter, the mountains turn into a vast educational laboratory where even a first skiing lesson becomes teaching material!
Our activity team, made up of qualified instructors, provides personalised support for every age group. From nursery school to sixth form, every class benefits from tailor-made support.
Safety remains our absolute priority: we strictly comply with supervisor-to-pupil ratios. To find out how we adapt our programmes to the educational projects of schools, contact us.
Le Chalet des Coulmes welcomes school groups with comfortable rooms and friendly shared spaces, perfect for discovery classes in the mountains.
Here, the food is an integral part of the educational project. Meals prepared with local Vercors produce let pupils taste local specialities while learning about the importance of short supply chains. An approach that ties in particularly well with school curricula on sustainable food.
The chalet has equipped classrooms and materials suited to all school levels. Paradoxically, it is above all the outdoor environment that serves as a life-size classroom. Located in the Vercors park, the estate offers an exceptional field of study for observing the flora and fauna or even studying the history of the local Resistance.
Local foresters have also designed educational trails with accompanying booklets. Pupils learn about forest management at first hand, while enjoying the snowy landscapes in winter. An active way of approaching sustainable development, which ideally complements the indoor workshops during school trips.
Please note that the centre also offers themed visits focusing on mountain heritage, allowing teachers to build cross-curricular projects combining history, geography and science.
Le Chalet des Coulmes has rigorous emergency protocols and health measures in place, ensuring the safety and well-being of pupils during school trips. An efficient communication system keeps the school, the centre and families in constant contact.
It is worth noting that our team works hand in hand with local partners and mountain professionals. This collaboration makes it possible to adapt mountain activities to the level of each group. On educational outings – snowshoeing or skiing – two supervisors always accompany secondary school groups.
For example, mountain hikes always include an analysis of the weather conditions and a fallback route. As for the outdoor workshops, they are designed to combine historical discoveries in the Vercors with complete safety.
Finally, every class project includes first-aid training specific to Alpine environments. Everything you need to enjoy the snowy landscapes with complete confidence.
To make the most of the workshops and visits at Le Chalet des Coulmes, it is best to choose the right time of year. It all depends on what the group wants.
To book group accommodation, allow several months in advance – especially in winter, when the snow attracts secondary schools. The weeks around the school holidays go quickly! A word of advice: contact us as soon as your project takes shape. That leaves time to organise transport, activity supervision and ski lift bookings if needed.
No need to panic about the paperwork! For a discovery class in Isère, the main things to think about are parental consent forms and insurance certificates. Schools (primary or secondary) generally provide the templates.
Please note that every pupil must have their identity card for the journey. As for supervision, plan for one adult per group of children. Good to know: our team can help you complete the administrative paperwork specific to stays in mountain areas.
Did you know that many municipalities in Isère subsidise school trips? For your educational project combining local history and discovery of the mountains, several schemes exist.
The secret? Build your application firmly around the school curriculum. For example, a stay on the theme of the Resistance in the Vercors can draw on history and geography lessons. Always specify how the field workshops (studying flora, reading the landscape…) complement classroom learning. Some département councils even offer specific support for lower secondary schools in priority education areas (REP).
Although this is not explicitly confirmed, Le Chalet des Coulmes, as a holiday centre welcoming school groups, is likely to cater for certain specific needs. Its Youth and Sports (Jeunesse et Sports) accreditation suggests an environment suited to young people.
For precise information on accommodation capacity and specific arrangements for children with special needs (disability, food allergies, etc.), we recommend that you contact Le Chalet des Coulmes directly.
Yes, Le Chalet des Coulmes is committed to sustainable development. It is actively engaged in environmental education and works towards the sustainable management of the chalet’s surroundings, while raising visitors’ awareness of respect for water resources.
In addition, the chalet favours home-style cooking prepared with local Vercors produce, sourced from organic farming, thereby supporting short supply chains and sustainable food.
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