Leading the hike with a smile. Photo: Lorenzo Commergnat MICHEL GERBER, HEAD OF THE YOUTH SERVICE After travelling together from Zurich to St Stephan, participants set up camp at their base, familiarising themselves with the most important rules and engaging in activities to get to know each other better. A varied mix of sport, games, workshops and excursions awaited them in the ensuing days. This included a workshop on Swiss culture as well as sports tournaments, team challenges, a cooking competition and numerous creative evenings, e.g. film evening, karaoke, casino night, and a disco. The participants also ventured further afield. They visited the Cailler chocolate factory and the Gruyère region, went on an excursion to Thun and Interlaken, and enjoyed various outdoor activities like hiking, map and compass training, and orienteering. A key part of the two camps, which were run by the Youth Service of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, was about sharing experiences and strengthening team spirit. By taking part in Two adventure- packed weeks together Both two-week summer camps in St Stephan in the Bernese Alps provided unforgettable moments, enriching encounters, and a wealth of adventure, giving teenagers from the “Fifth Switzerland” the chance to deepen their connection to Switzerland. Organisation of the Swiss Abroad Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Berne, Switzerland Phone. +41 31 356 61 25 youth@swisscommunity.org www.swisscommunity.org Federal votes The proposals submitted to the people are set by the Federal Council at least four months prior to the voting date. The Federal Council decided at its session on 24 June 2026 to submit the following proposals to the people on 29 November 2026: ■ Federal Decree of 19 June 2026 on Additional OASI Funding through an Increase in VAT (BBl 2026 1757) ■ Federal Popular Initiative “For restrictions on fireworks” (BBI 2026 1760) ■ Federal Popular Initiative “Yes to fair federal taxes for married couples – to finally end discrimination against marriage!” (BBI 2026 1758) ■ Amendment of 19 December 2025 to the Federal Act on War Materiel (WMA) (BBl 2026 22) All information on proposals submitted to the people (voting pamphlets, committees, recommendations by the parliament, Federal Council etc.) can be found at www.admin.ch/ abstimmungen or in the Federal Chancellery VoteInfo app. Popular initiatives The following federal popular initiatives had been launched at the time of going to press (deadline for signatures in brackets): ■ Federal Popular Initiative “For Switzerland’s digital security” (BBI 2026 1424) (2 December 2027) ■ Federal Popular Initiative “For a transparent state to strengthen trust in the authorities (Trust Initiative” (BBI 2026 1600) (16 December 2027) ■ Federal Popular Initiative “For a fair and sustainable public transport policy (Free public transport initiative)” (BBI 2026 1678) (23 December 2027) The list of pending popular initiatives is available in French, German and Italian at https://www.bk.admin.ch/ > Politische Rechte > Volksinitiativen > Hängige Volksinitiativen SwissCommunity group activities, meeting people of different nationalities, and overcoming challenges together, participants learned how to take responsibility and work together and made new friends. Besides the various activities, participants also acquainted themselves with day-to-day camp life. Daily routines like doing chores, keeping the camp tidy and having regular briefings promoted self-reliance and contributed to a happy environment. Blending adventure, sport, creativity and community, the 2026 St Stephan summer camps were rich experiences offering many new discoveries and lasting memories. 32 Swiss Review / October 2026 / No. 4
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