Written by Melanie Gath
Two days at 2,000 meters above sea level. Mountains all around us. A few scattered trees above the tree line and cows grazing nearby. Every now and then, marmots make themselves heard. With a little patience and a true explorer's spirit, you can even spot them darting across the meadows.
Right on the shores of the beautiful small Alp Nagens reservoir, the canvas tents of TCS Camping "Laax Pop-Up Glamping" welcome us. On August 28th, 17 families arrived at basecamp to spend the night and enjoy a very special weekend with us: the namuk Discovery Days. On the second day, another 20 families joined with day passes to explore and enjoy nature with us in a truly unique way. An experience none of us will forget anytime soon—maybe never.
How long can I jump through the rain without getting wet?
Spoiler alert: When I asked some of the kids which moment from the weekend they’d want to hold onto forever, their answer was: "The wild thunderstorm at night in the tent." But more on that later.
Yes, the weather on the first day could have been a bit better. Short rain showers kept coming through. Luckily, besides the glamping tents, we had set up extra shelters where everyone could stay dry if they wanted to. But some used the rainy moments for a little experiment of their own, trying to find the answer to: How long can I jump through the rain without getting wet? A few families dropped by our little test center to borrow rain gear. The rain certainly didn't make the weekend any less adventurous.
The planned night hike had to be adjusted on short notice, and the stargazing session was moved indoors. Using a projector and rocks collected during the day, we showed the kids how constellations are formed and had fun dreaming up stories together. The kids shared which horoscopes and constellations they already knew. You could really feel Tamara’s passion from the Walden Outdoor team.
Foot balm, pennant art, and marmot whistles
On both days, kids—with or without their parents—could join various hands-on workshops. For instance, Gabrielle from kindwaldundwiese showed the kids how to carve their own marmot whistle out of wood. With Irene from Walden Outdoor, kids (and adults!) learned how to polish stones. Unique amulet necklaces were made from lead melted over an open fire. They crafted little booklets, built wind chimes from natural materials, made colorful pennant garlands, and Raja from Walden Outdoor showed our young adventurers how to mix their own foot ointment.
On the second day, two extra-special activities were added. Marc, Gisela, and Armin from Kletterfamilia prepared four different climbing routes on a stunning high plateau near Segneshütte, about a 45-minute hike from basecamp. Meanwhile, Philippe, founder and CEO of Walden Outdoor, took his groups on a wild nature obstacle course.
Owls everywhere you look
I was lucky enough to be there on the second day and captured so many beautiful moments. Arriving at basecamp, one thought instantly crossed my mind: What a wonderfully peaceful place. And that was despite children's voices echoing all around, giggles coming from every corner, and the team still setting things up. Those sounds simply belonged there.
There were little "owls" hopping around everywhere. To be precise, kids wearing namuk gear—but it felt as if the little owl logos had come to life. You could tell right away that new friendships had already been forged the day before. Little groups gathered everywhere, scrambling over rocks, sitting on the giant swing with a view over Graubünden, or running through this little namuk village with loud laughter.
Right in the middle of it all, you’d spot that one blue sweater again and again—the team crewneck, the hallmark of everyone working that weekend. The namuk team, the Walden Outdoor crew, and Kletterfamilia were all easy to spot in them. The place was buzzing with life.
As mentioned earlier, a pretty heavy thunderstorm rolled in during the night. It came unexpectedly, and nobody thought it would be quite that strong. "The tents were really shaking," someone told me. Even if a few admitted to feeling a bit uneasy, for many it turned out to be an unforgettable highlight. Some kids slept right through it. Others excitedly talked about how the lightning just wouldn't stop. Because of the storm, the workshop tents needed a quick reset in the morning. A few things had to dry out first, but most importantly: everyone was safe, and nothing was broken.
A paradise for anyone who loves being active and creative outdoors
Standing in the middle of the tent camp felt like being in another world—a world you’d love to experience more often. Owls hanging everywhere, colorful pennants fluttering in the wind, cozy corners for playing, wrestling, eating, or—as we saw later—taking a quick nap. It was a true paradise for anyone who loves being active and creative outdoors.
At 10:30 AM, Franz (Founder & Co-CEO) and Lena (Head of Marketing) welcomed our guests. Handing out small namuk phone pouches, Franz warmly invited all parents to tuck their phones away for a while and just soak in the atmosphere, nature, and workshops with full presence. I took the opportunity myself: Thank you, Franz, for this wonderful idea—it worked so well for me.
At 11:00 AM, the workshops started. Before joining the group heading to the climbing wall, I paused to listen in on Gabrielle’s workshop. The kids gathered around a blanket on the ground. Then came that sound so familiar to outdoor lovers—the sound of blowing through a blade of grass. Only here, she was holding a wooden whistle. That was the goal: everyone could take home their very own handmade marmot whistle. Sitting on rocks, cushions, or blankets, the kids whittled away at their wooden sticks. A sight that made my heart full.
"Out of the way, coming through!"
On the way to the climbing wall, the kids hiked up the trail full of energy—some so fast they almost disappeared out of sight. "Out of the way, coming through!" I heard again and again from behind. At trail forks, they waited impatiently: "Which way do we go?" Along the path, a marmot whistled, and someone even spotted a ptarmigan.
Once at the climbing spot, it felt as though the rocks had a magnetic pull on the kids. There was no holding them back. They immediately started scrambling and climbing. True to the motto: Why sit on a meadow when you can climb a rock? After a quick briefing, getting fitted with harnesses, and grabbing a sandwich for energy, they hopped right into their gear and started climbing—safely belayed by Marc, Gisela, and Armin from Kletterfamilia, and Reni from the namuk team. For hours, they went up the rock wall again and again, tireless.
I returned to basecamp around noon, just in time for lunch. Big and small adventurers were sitting on the ground, finding cozy spots to eat their packed lunches. Nobody missed having chairs—nature offered plenty of room.
Treasures everywhere
As soon as the afternoon workshops kicked off, the kids gathered around tables, blankets, and boxes, fully focused once again. The sound of sanding stones mixed with the whistling of the marmot calls. They drilled holes into wood, gathered crafting materials from nature, and melted lead over a flame to pour it into molds. Anything that could be worn on a necklace or clipped to a backpack was proudly displayed right away.
Even toward the end of the day, a few untiring little explorers were still running around, playing, and crafting. But here and there, you’d also spot a sleeping child resting in the arms of an equally sleepy parent. Nobody thought twice about it. This place had simply turned into a temporary home—a home for so many families and namuk friends.
Before leaving, I took a moment to stand in the middle of it all and just observe. Here and there, kids sat together admiring their handmade treasures. On the bus ride back down, families were already looking through photos of all the moments, discoveries, and adventures they had just shared. Necklaces were tied a little tighter so they wouldn't get lost. Collected sticks and stones were carefully packed away. You could feel and hear how much everyone wanted to take a piece of these days—these namuk Discovery Days—home with them. Thank you to everyone who joined us. These are memories that will stay with us forever.
