For students currently in grades 9–12
Baja & the Gulf of California
Belize
Canadian Arctic
Chile
Iceland
Namibia
You may also like
Columbia Climate School Collaboration
Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit
Australia & Fiji
Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji
Croatia & Slovenia
Iceland
Italy & Greece
Japan
Kilimanjaro
Norway
Patagonia: Skiing
Switzerland, France, & Holland
Switzerland, Italy, France, & Holland
France
China
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Spain
Valencia & the Pyrenees
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i
Morocco
Nepal
Peru
Tanzania
Thailand
Vietnam
Barcelona
Tokyo
Tuscany
You may also like
For students currently in grades 6–8
France & Holland
Iceland
Ireland
Italy & Greece
France
Spain
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i
Columbia Climate School Collaboration
Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit
*These programs are typically for students in grades 9–12, however motivated rising 9th graders will be considered
Special programs & collaborations
Custom Programs

Looking to create a custom program or collaboration?

Travel programs with the Smithsonian Institution for grades 8–12

Challenge yourself academically at the world's most prestigious universities

Non-profit organization offering student travel scholarships

High school youth summit focused on public health, climate change, and equity

columbia-climate-school-icon

Campus-based climate change program for grades 9–12

Life at the Barn

At Putney, we’re not your typical student travel organization. Our headquarters are located in a beautifully renovated cow barn in rural southern Vermont, where we curate our exceptional summer programs spanning the globe. What else makes “Barn Life” special? We’ve compiled some fascinating facts for you to see where the “Putney Magic” begins!

Break Time Activities at the Barn:

  • • Take a jump in the pond out back
  • • Go for a cross country ski or snowshoe in the winter
  • • Walk to down the dirt road beneath towering maple trees, or stroll through the woods to an old 18th century cemetery
  • • Enjoy lunch down on the dock or at the picnic table

  • • After a pond jump or a lunchtime jog, rinse off in the outdoor shower
  • • On a particularly snowy day, we’ll transform the lunch room into our “ski lodge,” complete with fire crackling on the TV and warm cozy drinks, and then head out to cross country ski and play in the snow!

Office Atmosphere:

  • • Friendly and casual: You can often find Mackenzie working in her office’s hammock, Ed will tell you fun facts about Japan, Andrew will make you espresso, and Hannah will fully stock/bombard your office with plants!

  • • There’s a built-in ladder leading to nowhere in Patrick’s office, a remnant of the Barn’s past barn life
  • • Phoebe is our official office dog, checking in on people throughout the day

  • • Once a month, Putney buys lunch to celebrate that month’s birthdays
  • • Down on Kevin’s door frame, you can find pencil markings of everyone’s height
  • • New employees receive a small board covered in Post-it notes with activities to help get to know new colleagues
  • • The Admissions team has a “No judgment candy corner,” and they also take care of us with warm blankets a nice selection of tea

  • • We have a stockpile of maple syrup in the basement (made just down the road!) that program directors take as gifts for our local contacts when they visit them around the world
  • • Our wardrobes really shine during “Spirit Week,” which includes Pajama Day, Wear-That-Thing Day, and Dress-Like-A-Colleague Day.

Meetings:

  • • In lieu of an “office meeting,” it’s not uncommon for colleagues to take a “walking meeting” together down the dirt road to discuss or plan upcoming projects and tasks
  • • Once a week we have our “All Barn” meeting for teams to share updates and everyone to share ideas
  • • Well, maybe this isn’t a meeting exactly, but every few weeks a different Barn member hosts a game night at their house for some out-of-Barn fun!

Clearly, our team is a harmonious blend of creativity and camaraderie, working passionately to craft programs just for you, while having a great time! Click here to find the perfect program for you in 2024!

Recent Posts

Our Friends in Havana (and Beyond)
Two of Putney’s program directors—Juliana and Gregorio, who developed our program in Cuba— recently returned...
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Vietnam Alum Annabel on Community, Hope, and Ongoing Philanthropy
Annabel (second from right) with friends in Vietnam Annabel is an alum of our Service Vietnam program...
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A Conversation with Nepal Alum, Dylan Rodgers
Dylan Rodgers is an alumni student who participated in our Service Nepal program in 2018. Dylan is currently...
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Places to Go in 2024
The New York Times recently published their 52 Places to Go in 2024 article. Many of these destinations...
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College Essays

View alumni college essays about their transformative summers with Putney.

Stay up to date on the latest happenings!

Baja & the Gulf of California
Belize
Canadian Arctic
Chile
Iceland
Namibia
Australia & Fiji
Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji
Croatia & Slovenia
Iceland
Italy & Greece
Japan
Kilimanjaro
Norway
Patagonia: Skiing
Switzerland, France, & Holland
Switzerland, Italy, France, & Holland
France
China
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Spain
Valencia & the Pyrenees
You may also like
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i
Morocco
Nepal
Peru
Tanzania
Thailand
Vietnam
Barcelona
Tokyo
Tuscany
You may also like
Ireland
Iceland
France & Holland
Italy & Greece
France
Spain
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i
Eligible for 8th grade*​
Columbia Climate School Collaboration
Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit
*These programs are typically for students in grades 9–12, however motivated rising 9th graders will be considered

Start Your Journey

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