One of the things I enjoy most about living in the Saanenland is discovering initiatives that make life here a little richer without asking for anything in return. Boomerang Club's free events for young children are exactly that.

I recently stopped by their Magic Trail event, where children aged three to seven disappeared into the forest armed with curiosity rather than smartphones. They followed clues beneath the trees, searched for hidden surprises, gathered around a colourful Wishing Tree and, judging by the excited chatter afterwards, had completely forgotten about screens for a couple of hours.

Watching them brought back memories of my own childhood. We disappeared into the woods for entire afternoons, built imaginary worlds, climbed trees, swam in lakes and only came home when someone called us for dinner. Nobody organised our adventures, yet somehow they always seemed magical. There is something reassuring about seeing today's children discovering that same sense of freedom and imagination. Perhaps that is why I find Boomerang's events so refreshing. They create simple experiences where children can explore, play and meet new friends, while parents and grandparents have the chance to enjoy the afternoon alongside them. In an international destination like Gstaad, where many families spend only a few weeks each year, that sense of shared experience feels especially valuable. The Magic Trail was made possible with the support of several local businesses, whose contributions helped add a few extra surprises for the children along the way.

The next free Boomerang event takes place on Saturday, 15 August, when young adventurers are invited to join a Superhero Treasure Hunt. If you have children or grandchildren visiting this summer, it is well worth keeping an eye on the Boomerang Club website. Sometimes the best holiday memories are also the simplest.

JEANETTE WICHMANN