FAQ about your course participation

It depends on the course what the participants have to bring. Please refer to the list in your course confirmation.

If you need detailed information before receiving the course confirmation, the course administration will be happy to help you (tel. +41 62 386 11 11 or e-mail contact(at)ifa-swiss.ch).

You can find all information about travelling here

Basically: The meeting point and time are noted on your course confirmation; the course commander will be waiting for you right there. If you can not find the agreed meeting point, go to the Info-Point in Balsthal next to the main entrance of building A. There you can contact the course administration via an external intercom during office hours (Monday to Friday from 7 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 5 pm); We are happy to help.

If you do not arrive on time before the course starts, we kindly ask you to report it immediately by phone. You can reach the course administration From Monday to Friday from 7 am tel. +41 62 386 11 11. The course commander will then be informed immediately by the course administration.

Participants stay either directly on campus or in a nearby hotel. You will be informed on the first day of the course where you have been accommodated.

Room on campus: Your room key will be handed over on the first day of the course from 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the check-in desk on the ground floor of Building A.

Room in a hotel: If you are staying in a hotel, you will receive your room key at the hotel reception in the evening.

Please consult your course notice to see whether arrival the evening before is generally possible. If so, follow the instructions to submit a request to us for arrival the evening before.

Important: As we have only limited accommodation capacity for participants arriving the evening before, you may not arrive early without our prior confirmation.

During the week before your course, you will receive an email confirming your arrival the evening before. It contains all the necessary information for your journey to the campus or hotel.

Campus: You can access your room from 6:00 p.m. Your room key will be deposited at the check-in desk on the ground floor of Building A (access to Building A outside opening hours is described in the confirmation email).

Hotel: If you are staying in a hotel, the hotel's check-in rules apply. Useful information can be found in the attachment to the confirmation email.

Important: If you arrive the evening before, you are responsible for your own meals. It is not possible to have an unplanned dinner on campus.

Check-out on the Balsthal campus is at the latest 7.30 am so that the rooms are available in time for the next guests. The room keys must be inserted into the key slot in the entrance area of Building A by no later than 7.45 am.

If you are staying at the hotel, the hotel's check-out times apply.

In Balsthal, free Wi-Fi is available in Buildings A and F. The access details are provided in the guest rooms. They are also displayed clearly in the stairwell of Building A and in the training rooms in Building F.

In Lungern, free Wi-Fi is available in the lounge area. The access details are displayed clearly.

Our lounge in Building A is a popular place to review the day and talk with other participants. The lounge opens after dinner (please check the notice) and remains open – depending on the number of guests – until no later than 10:30 p.m.

The recreation room in the basement of Building A offers billiards, table football and darts. A television and a sound system are also available. The recreation room is open around the clock.

Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is permitted only in places where ashtrays are provided (e.g. Piazza and Arena). Otherwise, smoking is strictly prohibited throughout the entire site and in all buildings.

In Balsthal as in Lungern, lockers are available in the changing rooms. Please include your valuables there.

On campus, meals are served in the Mensa (canteen) in Building A. Guests help themselves at the self-service counter for breakfast. Lunch and dinner are collected by guests from the free-flow serving area. A standard menu containing animal products is provided. Vegetarians, vegans and people with food intolerances should refer to the following FAQs.

Vegetarian/vegan meals are generally possible, but must be requested in advance and in good time. Please contact our course administration (e-mail contact(at)ifa-swiss.ch) no later than 10 days before the course starts if you would like vegetarian/vegan meals.

Important: If we are not informed in time, the standard menu containing animal products will be provided. Different requests made on the training day cannot be accommodated (last-minute menu changes are not possible).

Please contact the course administration (e-mail contact(at)ifa-swiss.ch) no later than 10 days before the course starts so that we can take your intolerances into account.

Important: If we are not informed in time, the standard menu containing animal products will be provided. Different requests made on the training day cannot be accommodated (last-minute menu changes are not possible).

On the Balsthal campus, you can store your luggage in the lounge in Building A. Ask your course commander or event organiser; they will be happy to help you.

In Lungern there is no storage option. Please leave your luggage in the vehicles or ask the hotel.

Please contact the course administration (e-mail contact(at)ifa-swiss.ch) and let us know what and when you have forgotten or lost something. We are happy to check and check the lost items, which are collected centrally.