Program Directed by
Julian Hartmann-Russell
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
France
From Coastal Villages to the City of Light
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.
- Highlights
• 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 hiking or canyoning with professional guides
• Enjoy a pain au chocolat as you relax at a sidewalk café
• Canoe with your host siblings to a Roman aqueduct
• Go hiking or canyoning 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 — 3 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 Montpellier — 5 days
Immerse yourself fully in French language and culture by spending five days living with a local family in Montpellier. Both leaders remain in the same town as students throughout the homestay, and the group gets together for excursions during the week.
Arcachon — 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 or paddle boarding.
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 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 — 3 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 Montpellier — 5 days
Immerse yourself fully in French language and culture by spending five days living with a local family in Montpellier. Both leaders remain in the same town as students throughout the homestay, and the group gets together for excursions during the week.
Arcachon — 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 or paddle boarding.
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 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.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
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.
Technology
To help students fully engage and immerse themselves in the Putney travel experience, we do not allow cell phones, tablets, or laptops on our Middle School programs. Students may have their cell phones during travel to and from the program. During in-country orientation, leaders facilitate a call home, then collect and securely store all phones until departure day. Throughout the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
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.
Technology
To help students fully engage and immerse themselves in the Putney travel experience, we do not allow cell phones, tablets, or laptops on our Middle School programs. Students may have their cell phones during travel to and from the program. During in-country orientation, leaders facilitate a call home, then collect and securely store all phones until departure day. Throughout the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
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
- Morning
8:00am
Have breakfast at your seaside hotel
9:00am
Engage in a language lesson focused on traditional cuisine
10:00am
Visit a fromagerie for a workshop with the local cheesemaker
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Shop at the Trouville market and make a picnic with a sampling of local delicacies
1:00pm
Enjoy your picnic and relax on the beach
3:00pm
Hop aboard a small ferry and head to the neighboring town of Deauville
- Evening
6:00pm
Try local seafood at a beachside restaurant in Deauville
8:00pm
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
- Morning
8:00am
Have breakfast at your seaside hotel
9:00am
Engage in a language lesson focused on traditional cuisine
10:00am
Visit a fromagerie for a workshop with the local cheesemaker
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Shop at the Trouville market and make a picnic with a sampling of local delicacies
1:00pm
Enjoy your picnic and relax on the beach
3:00pm
Hop aboard a small ferry and head to the neighboring town of Deauville
- Evening
6:00pm
Try local seafood at a beachside restaurant in Deauville
8:00pm
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
Program Directed by
Julian Hartmann-Russell
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
