La Chapelle d'Abondance, France

A Bahá'í Spring Camp was held from 27 April to 3 May 2014 for about 50 people in a large chalet in the Alpine ski resort of La Chapelle d'Abondance in the French Alps. The theme of the camp was "The role and challenges for women in society", with lectures and discussions, artistic activities on the theme, and opportunities to hike in the surrounding mountains and enjoy the spring.


group photo
Group photo at the Spring Camp

audience . audience . audience
The room was full for the main sessions

devotions . music, Lelia . Guita Baghdadi-Hoogenstraaten
Different families took turns preparing devotions, often with music; Camp organizer Guita Baghdadi-Hoogenstraaten told the story of Tahirih

Della Marcus of Romania told the story of Martha Root and Queen Marie of Romania; Monique Anbergen gave a detailed account of Lua Getsinger, spiritual mother of the Bahá'í community in the west; I described the life and service of Agnes Alexander, and vignettes of women active in ecology; Bachar Younes told about the wives of the Manifestations of God.
Della Marcus . Monique Anbergen . Arthur Dahl . Bachar Younes
Della Marcus; Monique Anbergen; Arthur Dahl; Bachar Younes

Françoise LeGoff round table . panel . audience
On the last day, Françoise Le Goff led a round-table discussion to synthesize the theme for the week

Music workshop led by Fleur Missaghian
music group . music group rehearsal . music group rehearsal

music workshop . music workshop . music workshop

music workshop

Theatre workshop led by Adéle Girot-Daquin
Adèle Girot-Daquin, théatre . theatre workshop . theatre workshop

theatre workshop

Artistic workshop on techniques of illumination led by Simone Sempéré
Simone Sempéré, atelier artistique . artistic workshop group . artistic workshop group
Simone Sempéré; the workshop participants
artistic workshop . artistic workshop . artistic workshop
Simone demonstrated various techniques, and supplied many models

artistic workshop Arthur . artistic workshop Arthur . artistic workshop Arthur
It was not easy to decide what to do and what techniques to use

artistic workshop . artistic workshop . artistic workshop
Illuminations from the artistic workshop
artistic workshop . artistic workshop AD . artistic workshop AD
More illuminations, mine are in the centre, illuminating Agnes Alexander's signature, and the two bookmarks on the right

The pre-youth prepared a musical play on Martha Root
pre-youth play on Martha Root . pre-youth play on Martha Root . pre-youth play on Martha Root

pre-youth play on Martha Root . pre-youth play on Martha Root . pre-youth play on Martha Root

pre-youth play on Martha Root . pre-youth play on Martha Root . pre-youth play on Martha Root

pre-youth play on Martha Root . pre-youth play on Martha Root .


group


Gloria Mongelaz and Fafa Falahi . mealtime, Arthur Dahl . mealtime, Willo Hogenstraaten,
There was time for relaxation, renewing old friendships and making new ones

, Fleur Missaghian . Jean-Marc Mongellaz, kitchen crew The food service team


There were four hikes when the weather permitted, starting with one along the river behind the chalet.
The second day many of us hiked up the side of the valley behind Chatel, above and behind a waterfall.
group on first hike . first hike group . first hike
The group of hikers; the trail up was quite steep

first hike . first hike . first hike

Simon Van Pamel . pre-youth . first hike
Simon VanPamel of Belgium; the pre-youth on the trail

first hike . first hike . first hike
Crossing a stream; snow-covered mountains in the distance

first hike . first hike . first hike, chamois
The sharp-eyed youth spotted some chamois looking for new grass

waterfall . mountains . rushing stream . chamois
We hiked up the side of the valley above a waterfall; a chamois (photo by Della Marcus)

waterfall
The waterfall from down in the valley

A third hike took us up the valley behind the Lac des Plagnes, above Abondance. We could not go all the way because of the snow.
group on second hike . second hike . Arthur Dahl and Simone Sempéré
The group of hikers; Alex Cabon and our guide Jean-Marc Mongellaz; me and Simone Sempéré

Lac des Plagnes . Lac des Plagnes . Lac des Plagnes
Lac des Plagnes

mountains above Lac des Plagnes . meadow . remains of an avalanche
The high valley; valley meadow; remains of an avalanche

crocus blooming . flowers along stream . flowers
wildflowers, including spring crocus

crocus . flowers  . flowerLac des Plagnes 

stream . stream . Lac des Plagnes
stream running down the valley; the lake


The last hike started at the Pas de Morgins and went down to Morgins, Switzerland, and back again.
 third hike to Morgin . third hike to Morgin
Getting ready at Pas de Morgins

border with France . border with Switzerland . flowers
Pas de Morgins, border between France and Switzerland; wildflowers on the path

Pas de Morgins . third hike to Morgin - lake . third hike to Morgin
little lake at Pas de Morgins, heading down towards Morgins

 Arthur at church in Morgin . third hike in Morgin . third hike in Morgin
In Morgins with church and bells, and commemorative plaques

Morgins . Arthur Dahl and Alex Cabon (Photo by Alex Cabon)
Morgins; me with Alex Cabon in Morgins

group
Spring camp group behind the Chalet Olinga


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Last updated 19 May 2014

Photographs copyright © Arthur Lyon Dahl 2013