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Travel programs with the Smithsonian Institution for grades 8–12

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

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Campus-based climate change program for grades 9–12

France

From Alpine Peaks to the Riviera

June 27 — July 27
July 3 — August 2
$10,890 + airfare

France

From Alpine Peaks to the Riviera

June 27 — July 27
July 3 — August 2
$10,890 + airfare

Immerse yourself in French language and culture as you explore villages and cities in six regions of France. During your travels, bike to village markets and interview local fishermen, make truffles with an artisan chocolatier, savor the culture and cuisine of Paris, surf in the Mediterranean, hike to glaciers in the Alps, and spend a week living with a French host family.

• Visit Cézanne’s studio and discuss modernism in French
• Surf the Atlantic, swim in the Mediterranean, and hike in the Alps
• Ride a téléphérique high above Alpine peaks and glaciers
• Interview a farming family about their Breton heritage
“I am so happy and proud of myself that I can now truly speak in French with confidence.”
—Josh H., Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, MD

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 high 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.

Brittany — 5 days

After landing in Paris, board a train to spend five days in a traditional Breton fishing village on the remote coast of Brittany. Stay in a small family-run inn on an educational farm, and explore the area by bike. Warm up your speaking skills by working alongside local shop owners, market vendors, and artisans.

Paris — 4 days

Return to Paris by train and spend four days savoring the pleasures of Parisian life and 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 at 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 — 8 days

Immerse yourself fully in French language and culture by spending a week living with a local family. Both leaders remain in the same town as students throughout the homestay, and the group gets together for excursions during the week.

Provence — 3 days

Head south to Aix-en-Provence to explore this university town and take day trips throughout the region. See where van Gogh painted, visit Cézanne’s studio, and swim beneath the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct.

The Riviera — 4 days

Continue south to the Mediterranean coast and relax on the sunny beaches of the Riviera in the town of Saint-Raphaël. Spend your days on the glittering sea learning to sail, surf, and tube in the warm waters. Sample seafood and peruse the waterfront night markets.

The French Alps — 4 days

Journey to Chamonix, a mountain town renowned for its boundless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Hike through wildflower fields with panoramic views of snowcapped peaks, try canyoning through glacial streams with professional guides, or raft in the valley with the spectacular backdrop of the Alps.

Paris — 1 day

Return to Paris by train, and enjoy a final celebratory dinner with your group.

Return — Travel Day

Fly with your group and a leader from Paris to New York, then continue on 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 high 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.

Brittany — 5 days

After landing in Paris, board a train to spend five days in a traditional Breton fishing village on the remote coast of Brittany. Stay in a small family-run inn on an educational farm, and explore the area by bike. Warm up your speaking skills by working alongside local shop owners, market vendors, and artisans.

Paris — 4 days

Return to Paris by train and spend four days savoring the pleasures of Parisian life and 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 at 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 — 8 days

Immerse yourself fully in French language and culture by spending a week living with a local family. Both leaders remain in the same town as students throughout the homestay, and the group gets together for excursions during the week.

Provence — 3 days

Head south to Aix-en-Provence to explore this university town and take day trips throughout the region. See where van Gogh painted, visit Cézanne’s studio, and swim beneath the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct.

The Riviera — 4 days

Continue south to the Mediterranean coast and relax on the sunny beaches of the Riviera in the town of Saint-Raphaël. Spend your days on the glittering sea learning to sail, surf, and tube in the warm waters. Sample seafood and peruse the waterfront night markets.

The French Alps — 4 days

Journey to Chamonix, a mountain town renowned for its boundless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Hike through wildflower fields with panoramic views of snowcapped peaks, try canyoning through glacial streams with professional guides, or raft in the valley with the spectacular backdrop of the Alps.

Paris — 1 day

Return to Paris by train, and enjoy a final celebratory dinner with your group.

Return — Travel Day

Fly with your group and a leader from Paris to New York, then continue on 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. 

CropLFRA Peter Boardman_1
Peter Boardman
View Bio
CropLFRA Jacqueline Andre
Jacqueline Andre
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. 

CropLFRA Peter Boardman_1
Peter Boardman
View Bio
CropLFRA Jacqueline Andre
Jacqueline Andre
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 coastal Brittany can bring 50°F maritime breezes, and periodic mountain storms in the Alps can cool temperatures to 45°F.

Cuisine

French 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 coastal Brittany can bring 50°F maritime breezes, and periodic mountain storms in the Alps can cool temperatures to 45°F.

Cuisine

French 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 abroad 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

Two years of language study are required for this program. 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 at Cézanne’s favorite lookout and paint a landscape in his style, create a recipe book with traditional recipes from your homestay family, or interview mountaineers preparing to climb Mont Blanc.

Physical Activity

This is a physically active summer program. You can expect to participate in hiking, biking, surfing, canyoning, and 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 mountain chalets, many of which are run by welcoming families 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. Students have access to common and outside space at our accommodations for community meetings, working on projects, and socializing. 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.

Altitude

This program visits a high-altitude destination. On hikes in Chamonix, we climb up above 9,000 feet/2,743 meters.

What to Expect

Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:

Language Learning

The goals of this language immersion program abroad 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

Two years of language study are required for this program. 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 at Cézanne’s favorite lookout and paint a landscape in his style, create a recipe book with traditional recipes from your homestay family, or interview mountaineers preparing to climb Mont Blanc.

Physical Activity

This is a physically active summer program. You can expect to participate in hiking, biking, surfing, canyoning, and 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 mountain chalets, many of which are run by welcoming families 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. Students have access to common and outside space at our accommodations for community meetings, working on projects, and socializing. 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.

Altitude

This program visits a high-altitude destination. On hikes in Chamonix, we climb up above 9,000 feet/2,743 meters.

A Day in the Life: Saint-Raphaël

Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in Saint-Raphaël on the French Mediterranean Riviera.
8:00am
Breakfast on the terrace of our waterfront hotel, steps from the Mediterranean
9:00am
Language lesson focused on modern art
10:00am
Take an excursion to the tiny medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence
12:00pm
Shop for local specialties and picnic on the medieval fortress walls
1:00pm
Relax, enjoy some downtime, and join a game of boules in the village square
3:00pm
Head to the nearby Fondation Maeght, a tucked-away wonderland of modern art
6:00pm
Cool off in the Mediterranean waves, and sample fresh seafood at a beachside restaurant
7:00pm
Take an evening walk along the beach and shop at the nightly market
9:00pm
Get some gelato and watch fire jugglers dance on the beach, or dance to live music
10:00pm
Meet as a group to discuss the day and upcoming schedule

A Day in the Life:
Saint-Raphaël

Due to the traveling nature of this summer program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in Saint-Raphaël on the French Mediterranean Riviera.
8:00am
Breakfast on the terrace of our waterfront hotel, steps from the Mediterranean
9:00am
Language lesson focused on modern art
10:00am
Take an excursion to the tiny medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence
12:00pm
Shop for local specialties and picnic on the medieval fortress walls
1:00pm
Relax, enjoy some downtime, and join a game of boules in the village square
3:00pm
Head to the nearby Fondation Maeght, a tucked-away wonderland of modern art
6:00pm
Cool off in the Mediterranean waves, and sample fresh seafood at a beachside restaurant
7:00pm
Take an evening walk along the beach and shop at the nightly market
9:00pm
Get some gelato and watch fire jugglers dance on the beach, or dance to live music
10:00pm
Meet as a group to discuss the day and upcoming schedule
“I really enjoyed living with a French family and getting to experience their daily life.”
—Zara J., Pembroke Hill School, Westwood Hills, KS
julian-hartmann-russell

Program Directed by

Julian Hartmann-Russell

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

julian-hartmann-russell

Program Directed by

Julian Hartmann-Russell

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