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Campus-based climate change program for grades 9–12

Community Service

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The Journey Begins in El Silencio: Notes from Costa Rica
Middle School Service Costa Rica Students have arrived at the community and begun the service portion of their program. They have embraced their projects...
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2026 SPER - Franco (22)
Dancing in the Andes: Notes from Peru
Service Peru students Lensa and Reina share highlights from a memorable few days in Peru, including working on service projects and participating in a...
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Making A SPLASH: Notes from Costa Rica
Students on our Service Costa Rica program share highlights from a day of teamwork, adventure, and time together on the river. Hi, it’s Hudson and...
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Summer in Saigon: Notes from Vietnam
Service Vietnam leaders reflect on the group’s first days in Ho Chi Minh City, where students settled into the country, explored its history and...
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Students service project moving rocks in Hawai'i
75 Years of Putney Stories: Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund
Connecting to place through service and community As Putney Student Travel celebrates 75 years, we’re also recognizing the partnerships that make even...
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Safari car of students passes an elephant in Tanzania
75 Years of Putney Stories: Dorobo Tours & Safaris
Sharing culture, conservation, and connection in Tanzania As Putney Student Travel celebrates 75 years, we’re also recognizing the partnerships that bring...
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Alum Byers L. with her group in Morocco
75 Years of Putney Stories: Byars L.
Trying something new, again and again As Putney Student Travel celebrates 75 years, we’re sharing stories from alumni whose summers helped define who they...
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Lyn Aborn in the 90s
75 Years of Putney Stories: Lyn A. & Sabrina M.
Shared experiences, a generation apart As Putney Student Travel celebrates 75 years, many stories span generations. Lyn Aborn and her daughter, Sabrina,...
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On the Ground in Thailand: The Partnerships Behind Our Programs
Reflections from the field: program directors Juliana and Gregorio on the partnerships behind our Thailand programs. No matter how many programming trips...
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75 Years of Putney Stories: Olivia D.
  Discovering the world, one Putney program at a time. As we celebrate 75 years, we’re spotlighting the voices of students whose summers with Putney...
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Smiling student goes nose to nose with a white Llama
Llamas & Learning: Notes from Peru
Explore the sights and (sometimes) shrewd antics of llamas in Ollantaytambo (and beyond) through the eyes of students on our Service Peru program. Saturday: Hi...
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Student smiles widely at small children seated in circle for a lesson
Karuna Academy & A Master Chef: Notes from Nepal
See how service makes an impact and creates new connections for three Putney students on our Service Nepal program. Hello everyone, Elaijah, Nick, and...
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Three students lie on pillows in an outdoor pavilion, lush green mountains can be seen in the distance
The History of Turuco: Notes from Ecuador
Read Putney student Eva’s research into the rich history of Turuco, Ecuador for her independent project on our Middle School Service Ecuador & the...
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Students in colorful wind gear hike up rocky slope of Cotopaxi
Conquering Cotopaxi: Notes from Ecuador
Celebrate the challenging yet captivating nature of Cotopaxi alongside students on our Language Ecuador and the Galápagos program.  From students Lincoln...
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Local instructor lets student crank metal machine to process sugarcane
Working Hard? Or Hardly Working: Notes from Costa Rica
Follow along with students as they describe a day delving into work and play on our Service Costa Rica program.  Hi, it’s Declan and Melanie writing the...
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Students pose for a group photo in front of an exploding volcano
Putney Meets Pele: Notes from Hawai'i
Experience an explosive, one-of-a-kind experience through the eyes of Middle School Service Hawai’i student Ezra! Today, we woke up to our leaders yelling...
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Student on elevation swing at the top on a mountain in Quito.
Quito, Here We Go: Notes from Ecuador
Read about the sights, sounds, and scrumptious bites students discovered during a day out in Quito, Ecuador on our Middle School Service Ecuador &...
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putney students with the recipient of the new home
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 (2022). Since her program, she and her family have...
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Students sits with young kids in circle on the floor getting them to raise their arms, an adult takes a photo on her camera
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 stationed in Nepal as a Fulbright scholar...
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Robbie's College Essay: Pachamama & Papas
Robbie is an alum of our Service Peru program and wrote about the experience for his college essay, focusing on five specific words and how they elucidate...
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market stall in morocco with colorful spices and goods
Morocco: Reflections from Leaders
It’s hard to choose our favorite things after spending a month in Morocco with our group last summer. It was such a unique experience, full of once-in-a-lifetime...
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Chloe's College Essay: Diving In Head First
Chloe traveled with Putney on our Service Ecuador & the Galápagos program last summer, and wrote her college essay about the experience. This fall...
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Alex's College Essay: Looking Beyond
Alex is an alum of our high school Service program in Tanzania. He wrote about his experience—about finding connection across language barriers through...
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Alexa's College Essay: Vulnerability & Connection
 Alexa is an alum of our high school Service program in Nepal. She wrote about her Nepal experience in both her personal statement and supplement for Wellesley...
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Lexie's College Essay: Social Without the Media
Lexie is an alum of our high school Service program in Peru. For her college essay she reflected on her experience and how it reset her perspective and...
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Enroll in two programs & save $1,000!

$800 tuition discount + no application fee

Australia & Fiji
Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji
Croatia & Slovenia
Iceland
Italy & Greece
Japan
Kilimanjaro
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
Jamaica
Morocco
Nepal
Peru
Tanzania
Thailand
Vietnam
Japan
Alaska
Iceland
France & Holland
Greece & Italy
France
Spain
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i
Eligible for 8th grade*​
Columbia Climate School Collaboration
Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit
Oxford Academia
*These programs are typically for students in grades 9–12, however motivated rising 9th graders will be considered
The Journey Begins in El Silencio: Notes from Costa Rica

Middle School Service Costa Rica Students have arrived at the community and begun the service portion of their program. They have embraced their projects with enthusiasm while experiencing the warmth, traditions, and daily life of the local community.

The hills of El Silencio have welcomed us with open arms, and our students have hit the ground running as they immerse themselves in the rhythm of this community. Upon arrival, the group was greeted with a warm bienvenida, immediately feeling the deep hospitality that defines this town. The next morning, the students gathered to learn about the six impactful service projects they will be dedicating their time and energy to over the coming days: remodeling and fixing the school bathroom, extending the pathway at the local church, repairing the main stairs that lead up to the soccer field, painting the soccer field poles and spectator stands, and fixing and painting the playground equipment for the local students.

With a strong sense of purpose, the group quickly divided into teams and rolled up their sleeves. On the first day of service, the main focus went into launching the renovations on the school bathroom and tackling the structural repairs on the soccer field stairs. The momentum carried right into the next day, as students continued their progress on the bathroom, began prepping and painting the soccer poles, and broke ground on the church pathway extension.

Beyond the hard work, the cultural exchange has already been incredibly rewarding. Between work sessions, the students have been fueling up on delicious, authentic meals prepared lovingly by the local cocineras. They have also found plenty of time to connect with the community, whether cooling down with homemade ice cream from local neighbors or joining the town’s students for soccer matches. We even ended our third night in El Silencio with a special movie night, where we watched The Lion King and invited the local community to watch it alongside us.

Looking ahead, we are all anticipating our traditional despedida celebration on Friday, July 17. Until then, more hard work, deep connections, and unforgettable adventures await us here in the mountains. We will continue to share their stories right here!

Pura vida,
Team Service Costa Rica

To learn more about our Middle School Service Costa Rica Program, click here! 

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