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Middle School
For students currently in grades 7–8

France

From Coastal Villages to the City of Light

June 27 — July 17
$8,690 + airfare

France

From Coastal Villages to the City of Light

June 27 — July 17
$8,690 + airfare

Immerse yourself in French language and culture as you explore the cosmopolitan cities and off-the-beaten-track villages of France. During your travels, explore Mont Saint-Michel and the D-day beaches in Normandy, savor the high culture and hidden neighborhoods of Paris, swim and picnic beneath the Pont du Gard, try zip-lining or surfing, and spend five days becoming part of a French family.

• Discuss masterpieces of painting at the Louvre in French
• Enjoy a pain au chocolat as you relax at a sidewalk café
• Canoe with your host siblings to a Roman aqueduct
• Go ziplining or rock climbing with professional guides
“The two leaders on my trip were absolutely amazing. They were fun to be around, and taught lessons in creative ways.”
—Abigail M., Barrington Middle School, Barrington, RI

Itinerary

This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.

Departure — Travel Day

Meet your fellow middle school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in New York, and fly together to Paris, France. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.

Normandy — 5 days

Travel by train to the idyllic seaside town of Trouville-Sur-Mer, the oldest seaside resort in France, with extravagant Belle Époque architecture and a welcoming Normand culture. Stay in a seaside inn and explore the Atlantic shoreline by bike, chat with Norman fishermen in the historic fish market, and adapt to the rhythm of life in France. Visit the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey on its tidal island, and learn about World War II history at Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Language instruction begins on your first day, and continues throughout the program.

Paris — 4 days

Board a train to Paris and savor the pleasures of Parisian life, taking in the world-class glamor. Discover your favorite boulangerie, visit the world’s most renowned art collections, taste escargots at grand Art Deco brasseries once frequented by Picasso and Sartre, and cruise down the Seine River to see the city illuminated by night. Explore the neighborhoods of the Left Bank, Île de la Cité, and Montmartre, and visit our favorite local spots, as well as renowned sites such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Musée d’Orsay.

Homestay in the South of France — 5 days

Head south to Montpellier, an elegant and multicultural Mediterranean city, where local host families welcome you to their hillside village above the small city. Immerse yourself in everyday French family life and culture as you explore the region with your host brothers or sisters and on group excursions. Both leaders remain in the same town as the students during the homestay, and the whole group gets together for activities throughout the week.

Bordeaux & the Atlantic Coast — 4 days

Journey to the village of Arcachon, on the sun-drenched Atlantic coast near Bordeaux. Enjoy the beach, hike on the pristine sands of Europe’s tallest dune, and try surfing, ziplining, paddle boarding, or horseback riding.

Paris — 1 day

Travel by train back to Paris, where you’ll enjoy a final evening with your group before flying home the next morning.

Return — Travel Day

Fly with your group and a leader from Paris to New York, then continue to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.

Itinerary

This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.

Departure — Travel Day

Meet your fellow middle school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in New York, and fly together to Paris, France. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.

Normandy — 5 days

Travel by train to the idyllic seaside town of Trouville-Sur-Mer, the oldest seaside resort in France, with extravagant Belle Époque architecture and a welcoming Normand culture. Stay in a seaside inn and explore the Atlantic shoreline by bike, chat with Norman fishermen in the historic fish market, and adapt to the rhythm of life in France. Visit the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey on its tidal island, and learn about World War II history at Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Language instruction begins on your first day, and continues throughout the program.

Paris — 4 days

Board a train to Paris and savor the pleasures of Parisian life, taking in the world-class glamor. Discover your favorite boulangerie, visit the world’s most renowned art collections, taste escargots at grand Art Deco brasseries once frequented by Picasso and Sartre, and cruise down the Seine River to see the city illuminated by night. Explore the neighborhoods of the Left Bank, Île de la Cité, and Montmartre, and visit our favorite local spots, as well as renowned sites such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Musée d’Orsay.

Homestay in the South of France — 5 days

Head south to Montpellier, an elegant and multicultural Mediterranean city, where local host families welcome you to their hillside village above the small city. Immerse yourself in everyday French family life and culture as you explore the region with your host brothers or sisters and on group excursions. Both leaders remain in the same town as the students during the homestay, and the whole group gets together for activities throughout the week.

Bordeaux & the Atlantic Coast — 4 days

Journey to the village of Arcachon, on the sun-drenched Atlantic coast near Bordeaux. Enjoy the beach, hike on the pristine sands of Europe’s tallest dune, and try surfing, ziplining, paddle boarding, or horseback riding.

Paris — 1 day

Travel by train back to Paris, where you’ll enjoy a final evening with your group before flying home the next morning.

Return — Travel Day

Fly with your group and a leader from Paris to New York, then continue to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.

Featured

Leaders

Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program. 

2023_mslfr_andrea-barrows
Andrea Barrows
View Bio
2023_mslfr_gabriel-gathercole
Gabriel Gathercole
View Bio
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Featured

Leaders

Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program. 

2023_mslfr_andrea-barrows
Andrea Barrows
View Bio
2023_mslfr_gabriel-gathercole
Gabriel Gathercole
View Bio
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About the Destination

France is a spectacularly diverse country, with landscapes that range from rugged Atlantic coasts to rolling hills, snowcapped Alpine peaks, and dazzling Mediterranean coves. French culture is equally varied, entrenched in local traditions, and has enchanted travelers for ages. We experience the full spectrum of contemporary life in France: the pulse of Paris’ most fashionable boulevards and the quiet majesty of pastoral castles, the rooted traditions of rural villages and the joy of Provençale markets, the vibrant palette of Mediterranean seascapes and the humbling austerity of the Alps.

Language

French is the official language of France, although there are over 40 regional dialects, including Norman, Provençal, Béarnais, Gascon, Limousin, Langue d’Oc, and Basque. Some regions we visit also have a local dialect.

Climate

Summers in France are generally warm and dry, and most of our days will range from 70–90°F. Occasional rains in Normandy can bring 50°F maritime breezes, and periodic mountain storms in the Alps can cool temperatures to 45°F.

Cuisine

France’s cuisine is lauded as the finest in the world. In 2010, UNESCO added French gastronomy to its list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. Each region of France has its own specialties—northern French cuisine is influenced by dairy farming and coastal Atlantic fishing, and southern French cuisine showcases Mediterranean and Italian influences.

About the Destination

France is a spectacularly diverse country, with landscapes that range from rugged Atlantic coasts to rolling hills, snowcapped Alpine peaks, and dazzling Mediterranean coves. French culture is equally varied, entrenched in local traditions, and has enchanted travelers for ages. We experience the full spectrum of contemporary life in France: the pulse of Paris’ most fashionable boulevards and the quiet majesty of pastoral castles, the rooted traditions of rural villages and the joy of Provençale markets, the vibrant palette of Mediterranean seascapes and the humbling austerity of the Alps.

Language

French is the official language of France, although there are over 40 regional dialects, including Norman, Provençal, Béarnais, Gascon, Limousin, Langue d’Oc, and Basque. Some regions we visit also have a local dialect.

Climate

Summers in France are generally warm and dry, and most of our days will range from 70–90°F. Occasional rains in Normandy can bring 50°F maritime breezes, and periodic mountain storms in the Alps can cool temperatures to 45°F.

Cuisine

France’s cuisine is lauded as the finest in the world. In 2010, UNESCO added French gastronomy to its list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. Each region of France has its own specialties—northern French cuisine is influenced by dairy farming and coastal Atlantic fishing, and southern French cuisine showcases Mediterranean and Italian influences.

What to Expect

Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:

Language Learning

The goals of this language immersion program are to improve your fluency in French by building vocabulary and confidence in speaking, and to explore France’s culture through outdoor activities and interactions with locals. Each day, leaders hold dynamic conversational language lessons designed to help students let go of their inhibitions and communicate more easily. Language lessons are fun, interactive, and incorporate hands-on elements such as scavenger hunts, games, and informal interviews.

Language Pledge

Students on this program must have completed at least one year of French. Each student signs a language pledge to speak only French during the program, not only with the many local people you meet, but also with your leaders and within your group. To learn more about our Language programs click here.

Independent Project

Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—set up an easel on Picasso’s favorite street in Paris and paint in his style, create a book of traditional recipes from your homestay family, or spend a day shadowing fishermen that bring their daily catch to the village market in Normandy.

Physical Activity

This is a physically active summer travel program. You can expect to hike, bike, surf, swim, and do a lot of walking during this program. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.

Accommodations

Accommodations in France are varied, ranging from old world-style hotels to family-run inns. Many of our residences are run by welcoming French families that Putney has known for years. During the homestay, students will be matched with a trusted local family. Accommodations are simple and comfortable. Rooms are a mix of doubles, triples, and quads. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.

Meals

We begin each day with a traditional French breakfast at our residence. For lunches and dinners, we complement meals at restaurants and bistros with delicious picnics and plenty of stops at cafés and boulangeries. The French savor their meals and take time to gather with family and friends at the table, eat slowly, and enjoy their company.

What to Expect

Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:

Language Learning

The goals of this language immersion program are to improve your fluency in French by building vocabulary and confidence in speaking, and to explore France’s culture through outdoor activities and interactions with locals. Each day, leaders hold dynamic conversational language lessons designed to help students let go of their inhibitions and communicate more easily. Language lessons are fun, interactive, and incorporate hands-on elements such as scavenger hunts, games, and informal interviews.

Language Pledge

Students on this program must have completed at least one year of French. Each student signs a language pledge to speak only French during the program, not only with the many local people you meet, but also with your leaders and within your group. To learn more about our Language programs click here.

Independent Project

Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of local culture of particular interest to you—set up an easel on Picasso’s favorite street in Paris and paint in his style, create a book of traditional recipes from your homestay family, or spend a day shadowing fishermen that bring their daily catch to the village market in Normandy.

Physical Activity

This is a physically active summer travel program. You can expect to hike, bike, surf, swim, and do a lot of walking during this program. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.

Accommodations

Accommodations in France are varied, ranging from old world-style hotels to family-run inns. Many of our residences are run by welcoming French families that Putney has known for years. During the homestay, students will be matched with a trusted local family. Accommodations are simple and comfortable. Rooms are a mix of doubles, triples, and quads. Leaders reside together with the students throughout the program.

Meals

We begin each day with a traditional French breakfast at our residence. For lunches and dinners, we complement meals at restaurants and bistros with delicious picnics and plenty of stops at cafés and boulangeries. The French savor their meals and take time to gather with family and friends at the table, eat slowly, and enjoy their company.

A Day in the Life: Trouville-sur-Mer​

Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in Trouville-sur-Mer, in Normandy
8:00am
Have breakfast at your seaside hotel
9:00am
Engage in a language lesson focused on traditional farm life
10:00am
Visit a dairy farm for a workshop with the local cheesemaker
12:00pm
Shop at the Trouville market and make a picnic with a sampling of local cheeses
1:00pm
Picnic and relax on the beach
3:00pm
Hop aboard a small ferry and head to the neighboring town of Deauville
4:00pm
Learn about racing and polo traditions, and take a horseback ride along the coast
7:00pm
Try local seafood at a beachside restaurant in Deauville
9:00pm
Ferry back to Trouville and gather on the beach under the stars for Group Meeting

A Day in the Life:
Trouville-sur-Mer​

Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in Trouville-sur-Mer, in Normandy
8:00am
Have breakfast at your seaside hotel
9:00am
Engage in a language lesson focused on traditional farm life
10:00am
Visit a dairy farm for a workshop with the local cheesemaker
12:00pm
Shop at the Trouville market and make a picnic with a sampling of local cheeses
1:00pm
Picnic and relax on the beach
3:00pm
Hop aboard a small ferry and head to the neighboring town of Deauville
4:00pm
Learn about racing and polo traditions, and take a horseback ride along the coast
7:00pm
Try local seafood at a beachside restaurant in Deauville
9:00pm
Ferry back to Trouville and gather on the beach under the stars for Group Meeting
“Being able to order snacks and food by myself was a big accomplishment, and I gained a lot of cultural knowledge and new friends.”
—Jordan H., The Nightingale-Bamford School, New York, NY
katie-bourque

This Program is Directed by

Katie Bourque

If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!

katie-bourque

This Program is Directed by

Katie Bourque

If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!

Enroll in two programs & save $1,000!

$800 tuition discount + no application fee

France
From Coastal Villages to the City of Light

2024 Dates
June 27 — July 17

Duration
21 days

Tuition
$8,690 + airfare

Eligibility
Currently* in grades 7–8
*Your grade as of the day you apply

Typical Group
14–16 students, 2 leaders

Group Flight
Departs from New York


 

Additional Info

Questions? Visit our FAQ or call us at (802) 387-5000

 

2024 Dates
June 27 — July 17

Duration
21 days

Tuition
$8,690 + airfare


 

Eligibility
Currently* in grades 7–8
*Your grade as of the day you apply

Typical Group
14–16 students, 2 leaders

Group Flight
Departs from New York

 

Questions? Visit our FAQ or call us at (802) 387-5000

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Request More Info

Alaska
Baja & the Gulf of California
Barcelona
Belize
Chile & Peru
Germany & Sweden
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Montana
Peru
Switzerland
Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji
Croatia & Slovenia
Cuba
Faroe Islands & Iceland
Italy & Greece
Japan
Kilimanjaro
Panama & Colombia
Patagonia: Skiing
Spain, France, & Portugal
Switzerland, Italy, France, & Holland
Spain
France
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Tuscany
Barcelona
Tokyo
Argentina
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Fiji
Hawai'i
Morocco
Nepal
Peru
Puerto Rico
Tanzania
Thailand
Vietnam
Iceland
France & Holland
Italy & Greece
Spain
France
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i

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