Frequently Asked Questions About Our Student Travel Programs
Everything you need to know about Putney Student Travel programs, from our application process to program safety, supervision, and what students experience each day. For over 75 years, Putney has designed immersive summer programs for middle and high school students, combining travel, academics, and hands-on learning in small, supportive groups.
Admissions & Application
Putney uses a rolling admissions process. Students apply online, submit required materials (including a deposit to hold space), and receive a decision within a few days of completion. If your application is not accepted, your deposit will be fully refunded.
- Step 1: Start an Application.
- If you are new to Putney Student Travel, visit our Online Application.
- If you are a Putney alumni family, use your existing account information to Log In.
- For an existing account Log In information, you can reset your password here.
- Step 2: Hold Your Space.
- In order to hold your space for a program, you must complete the Online Application Form, submit an e-signed Agreement Form, and provide a $700 payment, consisting of a $200 non-refundable Application Fee and a $500 Tuition Deposit. The $500 Tuition Deposit is applied toward your tuition. After March 15, we must receive full payment within five days of your initial $700 payment to hold a space in the program.
- Step 3: Complete Your Application.
- Before we can make a final admissions decision, you must submit a short Applicant Statement and two Teacher Reference Forms. These documents are available as part of our Online Application.
Our Admissions Team will review your application within a few days of completion and notify you of the decision by email. If your application is not accepted, your $700 deposit will be fully refunded.
We recommend applying early so you can secure your first-choice program, as programs fill on a rolling basis and many reach capacity well before summer. Applications open in September for the following summer. Popular programs may fill by late winter. Please also note that the deadline for scholarship applications is February 15 of each year.
Putney students are curious, motivated, engaged, and excited to participate fully in a group experience.
Applications are carefully reviewed by our Admissions Team and students are selected on the basis of their maturity, enthusiasm, motivation, and willingness to live and participate constructively in a supportive community environment.
Putney Student Travel encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Putney staff and leaders work with our students and families to foster a safe and supportive experience for all students regardless of their race, national origin, religion, sex, gender, or sexual orientation.
Yes, but not in a purely academic sense. Based on our 75 years of experience, we know that great programs rely on great group dynamics. We have a selective admissions process, which means we review each applicant’s materials carefully, but most applicants are accepted. One of the reasons most applicants are accepted is that Putney students tend to be self-selecting in that only an adventurous, open-minded student considers such an experience. The goal of our admissions process is to be selective in building groups of students who will contribute positively to the program experience.
The mission of Putney Student Travel is to help young people broaden their perspectives and interact with the world beyond the familiar surroundings of home. We strive to create challenging and stimulating programs that transform the outlook of young people and positively influence their actions throughout their lives. We work to engage young people in exciting, hands-on, active learning that encourages them to be better citizens of the planet.
Our programs are designed to be rewarding but demanding. We encourage reviewing these criteria to ensure your student is prepared for the physical, social, and emotional rigor of a Putney experience. Please note that these criteria are baseline measures that do not necessarily address unique situations or considerations. If you have questions about any of the criteria or our ability to accommodate specific physical or mental needs, we would welcome the opportunity for a conversation.
- Participation Criteria
- Putney students are expected to maintain high standards of personal behavior. We impose few rules, all grounded in group safety and supporting an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, and consideration.
- On Putney programs, a secure, open, and tolerant group experience is central to ensuring a positive learning environment and a fun experience. We require that students take personal responsibility for their conduct, and that they adhere to certain minimum standards of behavior.
- Students must be willing to engage in respectful dialogue to resolve conflicts without immediate parental intervention.
- Students must be able to remain fully present and engaged during periods of limited or no access to personal electronics and the internet.
- We believe personal growth emerges from experience, reflection, and action. We encourage our students to step out of their comfort zones and bring their learning back to their own communities in the form of awareness and action.
- Expect to be an active contributor. We look for students who arrive ready to lead, eager to participate in all activities, and committed to supporting their peers with a positive, resilient attitude.
- Environmental and Cultural Responsibility Criteria
- We strive to encourage, promote and practice ethical and socially and environmentally sustainable travel with positive impacts on partner communities and the planet.
- Students are expected to actively participate in our sustainability initiatives, including waste reduction and water conservation efforts in resource-scarce environments.
- We expect students to uphold a culture of integrity and mutual respect. This means honoring our long-term global partnerships through authentic exchange and a commitment to making a positive social impact.
- Come ready to immerse, not just observe. You must be willing to try unfamiliar foods, adapt to local customs, and approach different points of view with curiosity and an open mind—even when you disagree.
- Travel requires a deep responsibility to others. We look for adventurous, thoughtful students who recognize our global interconnectedness and are ready to engage with the world with an open spirit.
- Physical and Mental Health and Safety Criteria
- Abide by Putney’s Summer Program Standards.
- Be able to carry your own bags and gear for up to a quarter mile.
- Be able to communicate physical, mental, and emotional health concerns to your program leaders.
- Be willing to participate in varied outdoor activities. Come to the program ready to be fully present and take part in whatever adventure may come your way. Your willingness to try new things can help you feel more comfortable in a new environment.
- Applicants should be in good physical and mental health.
- Putney Student Travel is not able to accept students who require therapeutic support or who have not applied to the program on their own volition.
If you have questions about a specific physical or mental health accommodation, please contact our Admissions team. We welcome a conversation to determine if a program is a safe and healthy fit for your student.
Your current grade refers to the grade you are in at the time of application, not the grade you will enter next year. For example, if you apply in March and your student is in eighth grade, you should apply for a middle school program for that summer.
Yes! Putney welcomes students from around the world. Each summer we have students join our programs from dozens of countries.
International students should apply based on your current grade when applying to the program, even if it does not align with the “level of school” (middle or high school). For example, if you are applying from France and are in “middle school,” but are in grade 9, apply as grade 9 even though that is considered “high school” in the US.
Putney accepts multiple forms of payment for tuition and deposits.
You may pay by credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover) through our secure online system, by personal check, or by wire transfer. Our admissions staff is also available to take credit card information over the phone at 802.387.5000. Personal checks must be in U.S. dollars and must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Checks should be made payable to Putney Student Travel with the student’s name written on the memo line. Please note that a 3.25% convenience fee is added to payments made by credit card, but is waived for the initial $700 payment. Please contact us for bank details if you prefer to pay by wire transfer.
If plans change and you withdraw an application for a summer program on or before March 15, your payment is refunded (less the $200 Application Fee). If you withdraw an application after March 15, all payments are forfeited. Withdrawals are effective on the date that Putney Student Travel receives written notification.
If an application is not accepted or if space is not available in the program you listed as your first choice, all payments, including the Application Fee, are refunded in full.
Yes, if your first-choice program is full, you have the option to join a waitlist. Students who wish to hold a space on a waitlist for a program must complete the Online Application Form, submit a signed Agreement Form, and provide a $700 payment, consisting of a $200 Application Fee and a $500 Tuition Deposit. The $700 payment is fully refunded if space does not become available or if the application is withdrawn prior to a space becoming available.
Students are responsible for following up with teachers to ensure that they have sent completed reference forms to Putney Student Travel. Students can check to see if we have received their teacher references by logging into their Putney application and online portal.
Selecting your program and submitting a deposit to hold space is the first step in your application, but your application is not complete until you have submitted all required materials.
Before March 15, Putney Student Travel will temporarily hold a space for a reasonable amount of time upon receipt of a completed Online Application Form, a signed Agreement Form, and the $700 payment. The application is considered incomplete and cannot be considered for admission until we have also received a completed Applicant Statement and two completed Teacher Reference Forms. If the application is not completed within a reasonable amount of time, we will consider it withdrawn and the applicant’s temporarily held space will be released.
After March 15, we must receive full payment within five days of your initial $700 payment to hold a space in the program or the application will be considered withdrawn and the $700 payment will be forfeited.
For students accepted before March 15, final payment of the full tuition, airfare (when offered/purchased through Putney), and any associated fees is due on March 15.
For students applying after March 15, full payment of the tuition, airfare (when offered/purchased through Putney), and any associated fees is due within 5 days of your application. Putney Student Travel reserves the right to revoke an applicant’s acceptance if timely payment is not received. No refunds are provided in this circumstance.
Trip protection for U.S. residents is available for a cost and is recommended. Each year, a small number of students must withdraw from their program, and families who purchase trip protection are thankful to receive a tuition refund when their cancellation was due to a covered reason. A Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) & Interrupt For Any Reason (IFAR) option is also available to most U.S. residents. The optional Cancel For Any Reason benefit is not available to residents of New York State. However, a Cancel For Any Reason Waiver is available and can be purchased together or separately from the rest of the plan. Please note that residents of Montana, New York, and Washington state are not eligible for IFAR coverage. We have worked with Travel Insured International to design a travel protection plan specifically for Putney Student Travel families. The plan is available to U.S. residents only. Plan benefits and maximum benefit amounts vary by state. You will be able to purchase the plan when you pay your invoice in your digital locker. The plan and important disclaimers are available at: https://www.travelinsured.com/travmark/putney/ or you may call 844-440-8113 and reference Account ID: 53937.
COVID-19 is treated the same as any other illness under the Travel Protection Plan.
If you purchase a different trip protection plan, please take a moment to review your plan to ensure the covered amount and travel dates include any additional travel arrangements or supplemental costs that you may have added since your acceptance. If changes to your plan are required, we recommend you reach out to your provider immediately, as time-sensitive purchase requirements may apply.
Note: It is each family’s responsibility to know what documentation and medical review are necessary for a claim to be honored. If you think you might need to make a claim, you should call the insurance company to ascertain what might be required.
Trip Cancellation Insurance for Travelers Who Live Outside the U.S. If you live outside the United States or in a U.S. territory, we can recommend a policy offered through United Healthcare Global (click here for more details), or you can research trip cancellation coverage independently. We urge you to do so before paying your invoice, as many companies have restrictive timing considerations for purchase as it relates to payment. Note: It is each family’s responsibility to know what documentation and medical review are necessary for a claim to be honored. If you think you might need to make a claim, you should call the insurance company to ascertain what might be required.
Program Tuition & Cost
Tuition for Putney’s small-group travel programs covers all day-to-day expenses and core components of the program experience. This includes three meals each day, lodging, excursions, any theater and concert tickets, entry fees, bike and boat rentals, local guides, ski passes and equipment rental, tips, and all ground transportation during the program, including trains, buses and taxis.
Tuition does not include the $200 Application Fee, international or internal airfare, baggage fees, visa and entry/exit fees, laundry, health care, gifts, snacks, or other personal expenses.
Tuition for Putney’s domestic collaboration programs—the Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit and the Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains—includes all accommodations and three meals each day. Tuition for these domestic collaboration programs does not include the $200 Application Fee, transportation to and from the program destination, classroom supplies, art materials, some optional activities, laundry, communication home, health care, gifts, other personal expenses, or the optional supplemental activities and trips.
Application Fee • $200
Travel Coordination Fee • A minimum fee of $150 is assessed when students require special travel arrangements. Please see details below.
Arrival to or Departure from the U.S. Gateway Airport: If your arrival to or departure from the U.S. Gateway Airport falls outside of the designated window(s) we have indicated on the Travel Information document for your program AND you miss the group flight and/or your connection because of this, you will be charged a minimum of $150 to cover the cost of our staffing and logistical support.
Arrival to or Departure from the Program Destination: If your arrival to or departure from the program destination falls outside of the designated window(s) requiring special coordination from our staff, you will be charged a minimum of $150.
Unaccompanied Minor Fee • $150 fee each way if your child flies as an Unaccompanied Minor to/from the U.S. Gateway Airport or program destination requiring a Putney representative as an escort. Many major airlines have policies that require students under a certain age who are flying independently to register as an “Unaccompanied Minor.” Please note that registering with the airline as an “Unaccompanied Minor” often incurs a fee in addition to your ticket cost, and requires the student to be escorted at all times (between security, departure/arrival gates, and connecting flights) when they are not with their leader(s) and group. To avoid these fees and complications, it is recommended that you travel with your child to and from the group meeting point at the Gateway Airport. Please give us a call if you would like to further discuss options.
Travel Logistics
Once a student has been accepted on a Putney program we will provide detailed information about program-specific travel day logistics.
For programs outside the contiguous United States, most students use Putney’s group flight, departing from a U.S. Gateway Airport to the program destination. The group flight cost is not included in the program tuition and will appear as a separate line item on your invoice. Students are responsible for all travel costs and arrangements to and from the U.S. Gateway Airport.
For U.S.-based Putney programs, students are responsible for making arrangements to arrive at the program destination at the designated time.
Putney Student Travel organizes and reserves blocks of seats for students on a round-trip group flight from a U.S. Gateway Airport to your program destination. One or more of your leaders will be at the airport with all student e-ticket confirmations and will welcome and fly with the group on the round-trip itinerary. Families are responsible for travel costs and arrangements to and from the U.S. Gateway Airport.
For select destinations, families may be directed to purchase their own seat directly from the airline on a designated itinerary. This is called an “escorted flight,” and one or more Putney staff members will escort the students who book that itinerary.
All students are encouraged to fly on the round-trip group flight and most do, although if it makes sense for your family, alternate travel plans may be possible. Before making any alternate travel plans, please contact our office. Families who opt out of the group flight will be charged a fee of $150. If your arrival or departure falls outside of the designated window, you will be charged an additional Travel Coordination Fee of a minimum of $150.
Students need a valid passport for international travel. Many international destinations require that your passport expiration date be at least six months after your scheduled return home. If your passport has less than six months of validity, please research the passport requirements for the countries you will be traveling to here. In addition, you may need a visa depending on your nationality and the country or countries you are visiting. For countries requiring a visa from U.S. travelers, we will provide you with information necessary to help you apply for and obtain a visa upon acceptance of your application. Non-U.S. citizens must check local visa requirements, including requirements for countries passed through in transit. For U.S.-based programs, we recommend bringing a school I.D., driver’s license, or other form of identification.
Not necessarily. Each year, most students fly alone from their hometown airport to the U.S. Gateway Airport where they meet their group and leader(s). If you plan to fly independently, please note that many major airlines have policies that require students under a certain age who are traveling alone to register as an “Unaccompanied Minor.” This age requirement varies by airline, so it is important to research each airline’s policies carefully before purchasing a ticket. If necessary, Putney can provide staff and logistical support for “Unaccompanied Minors” who are traveling to and from the U.S. Gateway Airport, for an additional $150 fee each way; this fee is separate from and in addition to the airline-imposed Unaccompanied Minor fees. Please call us with questions and/or to coordinate meet-up details.
Health & Safety
Student health and safety is Putney’s top priority, supported by 75 years of institutional experience, experienced leaders, established protocols, and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Vermont while students are in the field.
Since 1951, we have delivered active, educational, safe, meaningful, and fun programs. We maintain close relationships with the communities we visit and have strong networks of in-country contacts. Our leaders are well-traveled and trained in first aid and CPR. They are able to teach students how to be safe and responsible travelers. In the event of serious illness or injury, International SOS, a leading provider of international medical emergency services, is available to provide consultation and emergency medical evacuation services for destinations outside of the United States.
For more information, visit our “Safety & Risk Management” page.
COVID-19 vaccination is not required, though we highly recommend that students stay up to date with all recommended vaccines, including COVID-19 and influenza, in accordance with the CDC recommendations.
Please note: If there are other specific in-country health requirements for certain programs, students will be notified of those requirements in pre-trip documents.
We recommend that you consult the CDC’s Travelers’ Health resources online and your healthcare provider to make the right decision for your family. Once a student has been accepted on a Putney program, we will provide information on general wellness for travelers, destination-specific CDC recommendations, and a list of cities and regions visited on your program.
The best way to stay healthy during your program is to start your trip well-rested and to pay attention to your eating, sleep, and hygiene habits while traveling. Our leaders provide guidelines on hygiene and how to stay healthy during the program.
Adjusting to the differences in food, climate, etc. can take a little time. It is important to be open and tell your leaders about any physical discomfort you may be experiencing. For any situation that we feel requires professional medical attention, leaders take students to a nearby clinic or hospital. Health decisions are made as a team based on input from the student, parents, leaders, and our home office in Vermont. In the event of serious illness or injury, International SOS, a leading provider of international medical emergency services, is available to provide consultation and emergency medical evacuation services for destinations outside of the United States. All students are required to carry their own medical insurance.
We are able to accommodate many medical and dietary needs. Please contact our office to discuss your specific situation before applying.
We expect our students to maintain high standards of personal behavior. We impose very few rules other than those designed to ensure that students can live in a safe, friendly, and constructive environment. Instead, we support an open atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, and consideration. Since students are encouraged, within the context of our programs, to take leadership roles and to make some of their own discoveries, students whose parents require them to be under constant surveillance or who are likely to act irresponsibly, use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, or behave in a disruptive manner, should not apply. Any student whose attitude or behavior is in violation of our rules or is otherwise prejudicial to the maintenance of standards or to the successful operation of our program will be dismissed from the program at our sole discretion and travel home at their parents’ expense.
Our Students
Once a student has been accepted on a Putney program we will provide detailed information about program-specific travel day logistics.
Putney students come from all over the United States and from many international countries as well. Our students are enthusiastic, engaged, and excited to learn new skills and make new friends. The dynamics of our programs and unique shared experiences help build close, lasting friendships and a strong community spirit within each group.
Absolutely! Please contact us anytime and we would be happy to put you in touch with a Putney student who traveled on a particular program or is from your hometown. You can also read some of their testimonials here.
Our Leaders
Putney program leaders are dedicated international educators, professionals, and mentors who come from diverse and accomplished backgrounds. The maturity, quality, and experience of our leaders truly set Putney programs apart.
- Putney leaders have extensive experience traveling and working with young people.
- Every year, 65–70% of our leaders are returning veteran leaders.
- New leaders are selected from a broad pool of qualified candidates, interviewed and vetted over a 7-month period.
- Putney leaders attend an intensive, in-person training on safety and group leadership.
- Putney leaders are often graduates of the nation’s top colleges and universities and many hold graduate degrees as well (52% in 2025).
- The average age of Putney Student Travel leaders is 32.
- All Putney leaders hold basic First Aid and CPR certifications, and many have WFR certifications.
In addition to their professional experience and travel expertise, Putney leaders are role models who teach students how to be safe and responsible travelers and inspire them to explore their interests and make their own discoveries. To learn more about our leaders click here.
Communication & Technology
All of Putney’s high school travel programs are tech-free for the first half of the program.
All of Putney’s middle school programs are completely tech-free for the duration of the program.
Putney’s campus-based programs and collaborations with Harvard and the Columbia Climate School allow technology and cell phone use.
For our philosophy and approach to technology, and a more complete description of our policy, please refer to “Our Approach to Technology.”
Yes, you may bring a cell phone on Putney programs; however, all students are asked to follow the technology policy for their program.
On Middle School programs: After students connect with their families to confirm their safe arrival in-country, leaders will collect phones for the duration of the program, returning them at designated “check-in” periods, approximately once a week, and on the day of return.
On High School programs: The group will engage in a “tech fast” during the first half of small-group programs (or seven days for programs shorter than two weeks). Students contact their families after arrival at the program destination, before leaders collect all student phones. Students will have their phones returned for designated “check-in” periods, approximately once a week, and at the end of the tech-free period. During these check-in periods, leaders return student phones for a set amount of time and encourage them to call home. On the final day of the tech fast, phones are returned, and the group meets to determine their own guidelines for how to use phones during the remainder of the program.
On Campus-Based Programs (Harvard, Columbia, Oxford Academia, and the Career MIT program): There is no tech-free period during these programs. Students have access to their phones throughout for academic purposes. Appropriate phone usage guidelines are determined by students and staff.
To learn more about Putney’s approach to technology, please see Our Technology Policy.
During the tech-free period, students will not have access to their phones and will not be able to use them as a camera. Please review our Guide to Small Electronics for recommendations of cameras.
Other technology, such as laptops, smartwatches, tablets, and similar devices can also prevent students from engaging fully in the tech-free aspect of their program. We expect all students to honor and abide by the philosophy of the tech fast and refrain from using other devices to replace their smartphone during this period.
From our Guide to Small Electronics: Unless explicitly required by your program’s packing list, we ask that students refrain from bringing other internet-capable devices. This includes tablets, smartwatches, laptops, and other full-featured online devices. These types of devices are cumbersome, prone to loss or breakage during travel, and provide needless distraction and temptation for students during the tech-free period of the program.
For programs and seminars that have required or recommended devices as a part of the curriculum, accepted students will receive detailed instruction and recommendations in their Digital Locker and on their Packing List.
Our leaders and students keep a program blog where they post updates and photos of the group’s travels once or twice each week. We encourage you and your family to bookmark the blog and check back every few days for new posts. You can read some stellar past postings here.
For all essential health and safety communications during the summer, leaders will be in touch with Putney headquarters staff who will then be in direct communication with parents at home. Our home office in Vermont can be reached 24 hours a day during the summer months and our leaders travel with local cell phones. For absolutely essential communication, families can call our emergency line and we will coordinate with leaders in the field.
Program Experience
Putney offers a number of different trip types for high school and middle school students:
- Career programs: Hands-on experiences with experts that inspire and inform future pathways
- Service programs: Meaningful cross-cultural connections through community-based projects
- Exploration programs: Immersion and adventure in the landscapes and cultures of a place
- Language programs: Spanish, French, and Mandarin language immersion abroad
In addition to our Putney educational travel programs, we also collaborate with renowned universities and institutions around the world to offer academic programs for students interested in photography, science, history, conservation, climate, business, the arts, and more:
- Oxford Academia offers rigorous summer programs for motivated high school and middle school students, designed in collaboration with Professor James Basker. On these two- and four-week sessions at the University of Oxford, American University of Paris, Yale, Temple University Japan (Tokyo), the University of Siena (Italy), and Esade Business School (Barcelona), students pursue dynamic subjects taught by leading academics, Rhodes, Marshall, and Gates Scholars, and experts, while gaining a taste of university life in preparation for their future pursuits.
- Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit is a high school summit exploring climate change, medicine, and public health
- Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains is a two-week campus-based program for grades 8–12 that engages students directly with Columbia University experts on climate solutions
Each day blends structured activities with opportunities for exploration and reflection.
- Morning: classes, workshops, fieldwork, service work, or language immersion
- Afternoon: excursions, projects, or activities
- Evening: group discussions, cultural activities, or downtime
If you’re curious about the daily experience on a specific program, each program page on our site has a detailed “Day in the Life” section. We also encourage you to call to learn more—you can speak directly with the Program Director at our headquarters in Vermont.
Putney programs are for high school and middle school students who are curious, motivated, and eager to step outside their comfort zones with the company of peers and the guidance of experienced trip leaders. Far beyond traditional summer camp or teen tours, Putney programs are designed to engage students deeply and meaningfully with the world around them, helping them to find inspiration and grow confidence and independence.
Putney’s educational travel programs are intentionally small to foster strong group dynamics, typically 10–20 students per program. Combined with a low student-to-leader ratio, our group sizes help create a close-knit, collaborative environment. Our small group sizes also enable the groups to head further from the beaten path and take part in opportunities that may not be available for large teen tour groups.
Every year, the vast majority of our students travel without knowing anyone else on their program. We emphasize community and positive group dynamics on all our trips, and have consistently found over our 75 years that students tend to get more from their experience when traveling solo.
We also understand that some students prefer to travel with someone they know, whether it be a school friend, camp friend, sibling, or cousin. Together, our admissions team and program directors actively manage the composition of each small group, including the number of friends in each, which sets the groundwork for a successful and inclusive group experience.
Rooming assignments shift frequently during our small-group travel programs. Program leaders manage arrangements at each location based on group composition, student dynamics, and varying room and bed configurations. While you may be paired with a friend at some point, you should not expect to room together for the entire trip.
Physical activity varies by program and program type, but most require a reasonable level of fitness and willingness to participate actively. Each program page on our site details the physical activity level of that particular program.
Several of our Exploration programs are highly active and adventurous (skiing in Patagonia or summiting Kilimanjaro, for example). Our Service programs involve physical labor in our host communities. Many programs include hiking or outdoor activities like kayaking or cycling. Others are more academically or culturally focused
Putney Student Travel programs are intentionally designed and built on 75 years of experience. Every element reflects our decades of thinking carefully about what creates meaningful experiences for middle and high school students. Educational travel is the only thing we do and have ever done, and that singular focus shows in the details of the itinerary, group composition, daily structure, and leadership.
Putney programs prioritize genuine cultural interaction over tourist itineraries, getting students off the beaten track and into meaningful exchange with local communities, teachers, farmers, artists, and activists. That access is made possible by a global network of in-country partners built over seven decades, relationships that newer or larger student travel organizations simply haven’t had the time to develop. We also curate group composition thoughtfully, because who you travel with shapes the experience as much as where you go.
Program leadership quality is central to the Putney difference. Our trip leaders and program instructors are college graduates and seasoned young professionals, many with backgrounds in the Peace Corps, Fulbright, or Teach for America. They bring both topical expertise and the maturity to mentor students, set clear expectations, and serve as role models. Under their leadership, students are supported as they venture outside their comfort zones.
Our programs are intentionally structured to foster connection: to people, places, communities, and ideas. Whether a student’s most formative moment comes from a local encounter, a peer relationship, or a new area of study, Putney programs are built to make that moment possible, and to make it last.
Students who participate in Putney’s Service programs earn certificates for the service hours they complete with their group.
Students who participate in one of Putney’s academic programs earn a Certificate of Completion:
- Students who complete the Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains program earn a certificate from the Columbia Climate School
- Students who complete the Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit earn a certificate from Harvard Chan C-CHANGE
- Students who complete a program with Oxford Academia earn a certificate from Oxford Academia
About Putney
Putney offers a number of different trip types for high school and middle school students:
- Career programs: Hands-on experiences with experts that inspire and inform future pathways
- Service programs: Meaningful cross-cultural connections through community-based projects
- Exploration programs: Immersion and adventure in the landscapes and cultures of a place
- Language programs: Spanish, French, and Mandarin language immersion abroad
In addition to our Putney educational travel programs, we also collaborate with renowned universities and institutions around the world to offer academic programs for students interested in photography, science, history, conservation, climate, business, the arts, and more:
- Oxford Academia offers rigorous summer programs for motivated high school and middle school students, designed in collaboration with Professor James Basker. On these two- and four-week sessions at the University of Oxford, American University of Paris, Yale, Temple University Japan (Tokyo), the University of Siena (Italy), and Esade Business School (Barcelona), students pursue dynamic subjects taught by leading academics, Rhodes, Marshall, and Gates Scholars, and experts, while gaining a taste of university life in preparation for their future pursuits.
- Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit is a high school summit exploring climate change, medicine, and public health
- Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains is a two-week campus-based program for grades 8–12 that engages students directly with Columbia University experts on climate solutions
Putney Student Travel is a small, family-owned educational travel organization, and that distinction matters.
- Putney’s size allows us to know our families personally and attend to individual needs in ways that larger organizations simply cannot.
- Putney Student Travel is mission-driven and has been family-owned since our founding in 1951, now in our third-generation and female-led, a distinction that matters as more and more educational summer programs are operated by private equity and venture capital firms.
- Founded in 1951, Putney is one of the longest-running and most reputable student travel organizations in the world.
- Over more than 75 years in the field, Putney has built a network of relationships and contacts around the world that opens doors unavailable to newer or bigger operators, letting us get off the beaten track and create the conditions for genuine, meaningful experiences.
- Putney programs are intentionally structured around connection—to people, places, communities, and ideas—and the relationships students forge tend to last long after the final day.
- Putney Student Travel’s program leaders set us apart. They are college graduates and seasoned young professionals, many with backgrounds in the Peace Corps, graduate study, or teaching; they are qualified mentors who can connect authentically with students while also setting clear expectations and serving as role models.
- Senior Putney directors remain accessible throughout every program, personally managing any challenges that may arise in the field.
- Putney’s academic and campus-based programs are offered in partnership with esteemed institutions like Harvard and the Columbia University Climate School.
Putney Student Travel is not a nonprofit, but we are independent, family-owned, and mission-driven. In an era where educational summer programs are increasingly owned by private equity and venture capital firms, this distinction matters. We are proud to be in our third-generation of family leadership, now as a female-led organization.
No, Putney Student Travel is not associated with The Putney School, though we are both based in beautiful Putney, Vermont.
Diversity & Accessibility
Travel opens minds, changes lives, and has a positive impact on travelers, their communities, and places abroad. Putney is committed to including more students of diverse gender, racial, socioeconomic, religious, cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.
For the first many decades offering programs, Putney was largely a word of mouth organization, well known up and down both the east and west coasts where most of our students hailed from. In our seventh decade, we have been reaching out to educators and communities across the United States, internationally, and in both rural and urban areas as part of our effort to diversify our student body. We believe that representation from different geographic, experiential, and cultural perspectives is important to creating a strong group experience.
We would welcome a conversation with anyone who would like to discuss this further. Please feel free to give us a call.
Putney programs operate across a vast spectrum of physical and cultural landscapes, transportation conditions, and accommodation conditions. While there may be limitations in a given destination, we would be happy to explore accommodations we can provide in some instances. We invite all prospective applicants to consult us about their preferred first and second choice programs, and will communicate with families to determine if a program is a good fit for a student experiencing any of the above. We also are able to provide suggestions for alternate Putney programs that might be a good fit.
Custom School Groups
Yes, please visit our “Custom Programs” page for more information about how we work with schools and educators to design programs that meet your educational goals.
Scholarships
Yes, summer program scholarships are available through the nonprofit Putney Open Door Fund. The deadline for scholarship applications is February 15 of each year. Please visit our Scholarships page for more information.