Our Chalet Host course gives you the best possible realistic experience of being a chalet host. You will practice all aspects of cooking, learn how to run an efficient chalet kitchen and gain your Level Two Food Hygiene Certificate. We also provide you with the essential hosting skills to run a chalet so your guests and employer are impressed. We also pride ourselves on our wealth of experience, being chalet hosts ourselves, so know exactly what it takes to run a chalet and make the most of a winter season.

Furthermore, being based in Cornwall, and only 10 mins from the popular beach of Polzeath, you will be able to enjoy your free time participating in activities such as surfing or walking on the coast path.

Our Off to Uni (Life Skills) Course provides you with a range of essential skills which will help if you are heading off to University or looking to live independently. Our comprehensive syllabus not only gives you hands-on cooking experience, but also teaches you practical living skills and the fundamental interpersonal skills to communicate and with others with confidence. Our course venue is a real selling point enabling you to make the most of everything Cornwall has to offer (surfing and cream teas…yes please!!)

The course fee, includes:

• Transfer to and from Bodmin Parkway train station or Newquay airport

• 5 nights' accommodation, including a set of bathroom towels and linen

• Tuition throughout the week

• Course manual and cookbook

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate

• Our online “Getting A Job” course

• Our online “Level 2 Food Hygiene Course”

• All of your food (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and a 3/4 course evening meal)

If you choose to participate in any other activities during the week then you will be required to pay for transport to, and participation in, any of these excursions (although you might be able to arrange a group activity and split any costs!). 

The course fee, includes:

• Transfer to and from Bodmin Parkway train station or Newquay airport

• 5 nights' accommodation, including a set of bathroom towels and linen

• Tuition throughout the week

• Course cookbook

• All of your food (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and a 3/4 course evening meal)

• Free-time each day for you to make the most of being in Cornwall

• Our Fresh Tracks Off to Uni (Life Skills) certificate.

If you choose to participate in any other activities during the week then you will be required to pay for transport to, and participation in, any of these excursions (although you might be able to arrange a group activity and split any costs!). 

You can book online, via our Course Dates pages on the website. Availability of the courses is shown so, once you select the date you want to come and join us, simply click on that date and follow the instructions to confirm your place. Booking online will require the full balance for payment.

Alternatively you can reserve a place with a non-refundable deposit of £300. To do this please give us a call or drop us an email. We will then be able to confirm availability and send you a booking form to complete. The outstanding balance payment will be requested 8 weeks prior to the start date of your course.

A positive attitude, a willingness to work hard and a good sense of humor is almost all you will need to see you though, as well as:

• A comfy pair of closed-toe shoes

• Comfortable clothes to wear during the day

• A laptop or tablet if you wish to apply for jobs and work on your CV (Chalet Host Course)

Depending on how you spend your free time, we would also recommend:

• Warm clothes and a waterproof

• Swimwear, a beach towel, sun cream and a wetsuit (you can hire a wetsuit if you don’t have one)

• A good pair of walking shoes

• Sportswear and equipment in case you want to use the gym, tennis courts or go for a surf (or you can hire equipment)

There are shops nearby in case you need to pick up any essentials.

We offer the opportunity for you to book a private room at an additional cost. All our rooms have shared bathrooms, the number of which varies depending on the property you are assigned to. If you do not book the private room then you may be expected to share. Couples will have there own room at no additional cost, with a double bed where possible.

Yes, we cater for all dietary requirements at Fresh Tracks. This means that if you're a vegetarian or vegan, we have no trouble catering for you (it's actually great practice), although you will be required to handle and serve meat dishes throughout the week.

If you are a Coeliac, or have any any other food intolerance’s or allergies, please let us know and we will accommodate you. If you have a severe allergy please call us to discuss, but there is no reason why we can’t cater for you.

It is a pretty busy week and there is a lot to learn but we like to think you deserve a bit of time out to make the most of being in Cornwall! We will aim for you to have a couple of hours every afternoon free to either relax and unwind or to go out and enjoy the surroundings (most students head down to the beach).

In addition there are no theory lessons scheduled for Wednesday afternoons so you may chose to take the opportunity to venture further afield, perhaps popping into the popular town of Padstow, or booking on a local activity such as surfing lessons or coasteering.  As our courses are tailored to the needs of the group, if individuals or the whole group would like further tuition on a particular subject then this can be arranged during this free period.

You can fly to Newquay airport or catch a train to Bodmin Parkway. From here we can come and pick you up, or we can help you arrange a taxi or car hire for you.

You will need to confirm your arrival time as soon as possible, but please be aware that you may be required to wait at the airport or train station if you are being collected by us. Once you have booked we will confirm pick up times so that you can make travel arrangements.

There is parking available at the venue and therefore you are welcome to drive. Please drop us an email or give us a call for directions.  Arrival and departure times for self-drivers can be more flexible, but rooms will not be available before 5pm on your start date (Sunday) and you will need to vacate your room by 2pm on your departure date (Friday).

No, we have a mix of students with all sorts of experience. So, even if you are a total novice and need to lean the very basics, or have some prior knowledge and experience in cooking and want to improve your skills and get rid of any bad habits, then we would love for you to join us.

We usually take a maximum of 8 students per week, which is enough for everyone to get to know each other well over the week, but for us to also tailor the course to meet your individual needs. We do have some weeks were we will have 12 students.

Yes. If you and your friend want to attend the course together we will pair you up on the cooking rota so you can work together. You can also chose the option to share a room if you wish. However if you are completing the course as you Gold DofE residential, you cannot attend with a friend as the requirements mean you cannot know any of the other participants before you arrive.

Yes you will be absolutely fine. We understand that it can be a big step to travel down to Cornwall and come on a course where you don’t know anyone, but as soon as you arrive we will make you feel welcomed and relaxed and because everyone is in the same situation you will find you make friends immediately.

Yes. We are proud to be an Approved Activity Partner with the DofE, which means on completion of the course we can fill out the assessors form for you, all we need is your candidate ID number. Please note that in order to fulfil the requirements for the Gold DofE residential award, the majority of the other participants must be unknown to you.

Anyone is welcome to book on a course as we have no age restrictions. However the majority of students are aged between 17 - 25 years old, because they are looking to do a course post A-levels or post University.

With regards to the Chalet Host Course, we do have people who are slightly more mature and looking for a career change and want to understand what the seasonal lifestyle is like and whether it is for them.