Program Directed by
Julian Hartmann-Russell
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Leadership
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
Campus-based climate change program for grades 9–12
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.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Return to Paris by train, and enjoy a final celebratory dinner with your group.
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.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Return to Paris by train, and enjoy a final celebratory dinner with your group.
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.
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
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.
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.
Summers in France are generally warm and dry, and most of our days will range from 70–90°F. Occasional rains in Normandy can bring 50°F maritime breezes, and periodic mountain storms in the Alps can cool temperatures to 45°F.
France’s 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.
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.
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.
Summers in France are generally warm and dry, and most of our days will range from 70–90°F. Occasional rains in Normandy can bring 50°F maritime breezes, and periodic mountain storms in the Alps can cool temperatures to 45°F.
France’s 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.
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Providing immersive summer travel programs for middle & high school students since 1951.