Putney Catalog 2016

“While I enjoy directing public policy,
creating change in government is
cumbersome when compared to the
significant changes and impact that
we see so quickly in the lives and
perspectives of our students.”

– Governor Peter Shumlin

Welcome to Putney’s 65th season!

With alumni from all 50 states and more than 30 countries, Putney Student Travel
provides unique opportunities for small groups of students to share an exciting and
educational summer. Founded by our parents, George and Kitty Shumlin, Putney
remains focused on their goal to “be travelers, not tourists.”
Our travel programs are special. They emphasize doing — having fun, getting off the
beaten track, making friends, and being involved with people. Putney Student Travelers
join in the lives of the countries and communities they visit. Participating actively rather
than passively, giving something of yourself, helping to build group spirit — this is part
of the Putney way. The maturity, self confidence, global perspective, and sensitivity
towards others that participants develop are derived from close friendships, personal
discovery, and the tremendous satisfaction of conquering new challenges.
Our programs are flexible and unregimented. They include extended stays, and balance
city life with country living — biking, windsurfing, sailing, construction or work with
children, glacier hiking, skiing, with visits to museums, theatres, and concerts. Our
students live simply, staying at small inns and chalets, at student centers and universities,
in houses or village schools, where they have a chance to make friends with people from
other countries. They travel by train, bus and boat, by bicycle and on foot.
As we enter our 65th year, we want to thank our thousands of loyal alumni, alumni
families, and program leaders for their contributions to the development of our unique
educational programs and to the international reputation for quality and integrity that we
enjoy… And, of course, we extend a special thanks to our parents for choosing this fulfilling
path for our family so many years ago.
The descriptions in this catalog just begin to scratch the surface of these great experiences
and the many ways they have a positive impact on young people. Please visit our website
for complete descriptions and greater detail. We also urge you to call us to speak with one
of our directors about the programs that interest you and how Putney programs change lives!

Governor Peter Shumlin* & Jeffrey Shumlin, Directors
*Peter Shumlin has taken a leave of absence from Putney to serve as Vermont’s 81st Governor.

WHY PUTNEY?

THE PUTNEY DIFFERENCE

65 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Our track record gives parents confidence. For 65 summers we have delivered active,

educational, safe, meaningful, and fun programs. Putney students return home with
newfound confidence and an understanding of the complexities of today’s world.

OUTSTANDING LEADERS

Our leaders and instructors are inspired, mature, fun, energetic, creative, safety-

conscious, and knowledgeable college graduates. Going far beyond the roles of
typical camp counselors, our leaders are mentors, role models, friends, and teachers.

INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING

We believe in working directly with local people in each country we visit: talented

artisans, children and teachers, merchants, or the village governing body, as
well as local experts and non-profit organizations. In this way, our students make
connections with our extensive network of fascinating people around the globe.

PERSONAL ATTENTION

We are a small, family-run organization — our office is a converted cow barn on a dirt

road! We get to know our students and their families and maintain those relationships long
past summer’s end. We take pride in careful, thorough preparation, and attention to detail.

POSITIVE GROUP DYNAMICS

Our leaders facilitate a positive and cohesive group dynamic, which teaches students

to practice teamwork, take ownership of the experience, gain tangible leadership
skills, and form life-long friendships.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Our programs have a clear structure with high expectations for student behavior. Our
students agree to follow simple rules — no alcohol, smoking, or drugs, as well as a few
others — that ensure safety and help build mutual trust and respect within the group.

HANDS-ON LEARNING

There is nothing passive about a Putney program. We walk, bike, hike, swim,

kayak, surf, trek, and have fun exploring and learning about our surroundings.

A PHILOSOPHY OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP

We partner with small villages and communities around the world and are

committed to long-term collaborations with these communities. Our students
learn about local ecology and community, and contribute in meaningful ways.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

ATTEND A PRESENTATION

HOSTED BY PUTNEY ALUMNI FAMILIES

Meet a director. Ask questions. See photos. Hear stories from the field. Connect with Putney alumni.

Atlanta Cleveland Minneapolis
Bethesda Dallas Richmond
Boston Denver New York
Boulder Houston Philadelphia
Charleston Portland
Chapel Hill Kansas City San Francisco
Chicago Los Angeles Washington, D.C.

Miami

Learn how our 65-year history sets us apart.

VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM/RSVP OR CALL 802.387.5000 FOR DATES & TO RSVP

WHAT’S INSIDE

PUTNEY SUMMER 2016

PUTNEY CELEBRATES 65 YEARS 4 CULTURAL EXPLORATION 28
STUDENT STORIES 5
SWITZERLAND, ITALY, 30
MEET OUR LEADERS 6 FRANCE, & HOLLAND
PRE-COLLEGE STAFF 52
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 68 AUSTRALIA,
MEET THE PUTNEY DIRECTORS 69
DATES, DETAILS, & TUITIONS 70 NEW ZEALAND, & FIJI 30

HOW TO APPLY 72 NICARAGUA & COSTA RICA 32
OUR COLLABORATION WITH
SKIING IN PATAGONIA 32
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 73
ICELAND 35

THAILAND 36

DIVING IN BELIZE 36

WRITING IN IRELAND 39

WRITING IN PRAGUE 39

COMMUNITY SERVICE 8 WRITING IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH 40

FIJI 11 FARM TO TABLE ITALY 40
VIETNAM 11
DOMINICA 13 CUBA 42
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 13
COSTA RICA 15 MOROCCO 42
ECUADOR & THE GALÁPAGOS 15
PERU 16 MIDDLE SCHOOL 44
GHANA 16
TANZANIA 19 COSTA RICA 46
THE INDIAN HIMALAYA 19 48
INDIA 20 SPAIN 48
NEPAL 20
FRANCE & HOLLAND 50

54
56
LANGUAGE LEARNING 22 PRE-COLLEGE 58
60
SPAIN 24 AMHERST COLLEGE 62
LONDON 64
FRANCE 25 FLORENCE 66
PARIS
COSTA RICA 27 SHANGHAI
MADRID
BARCELONA

ECUADOR & THE GALÁPAGOS 27

LOOK FOR THE PUZZLE PIECE!

Many Putney programs are designed to fit together; link two of your favorite destinations to
create your own summer and deduct $1,000 from your tuition. See page 70 for details.

PUTNEY STUDENT TRAVEL

GOING BEYOND FOR 65 YEARS

Over the years, Putney students have traveled to hundreds of destinations,
immersed themselves in cultures and communities across the globe, and found
their lives changed by these experiences. The resulting memories, photographs,
and extraordinary pursuits are a testament to Putney’s 65 years of quality
programming.

1951: The first program departs by steamship for Switzerland, Italy, France, and
Holland, led by founders George and Kitty Shumlin under the name “The European
Travel Camp.” The ocean crossing takes ten days each way — three weeks of an
eight-week program.

1957: Putney becomes the first organization to take high school students to the
U.S.S.R. Students visit Moscow and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), and stay at a
youth camp on the Black Sea.

1968: Putney’s first program in Africa visits Tanzania and summits Mount Kilimanjaro.

1969: The European Travel Camp, with an ever-expanding catalog of destinations,
changes its name to Putney Student Travel.

1983: After 32 years, George and Kitty retire from Putney Student Travel, passing the
reins to their sons, Pete and Jeff.

1986: Chinese Revolutionary hero Bill Hinton introduces Putney to China. Students
participate in a bicycle trip through coal-mine country in Shanxi Province, visit the Xi’an
terra cotta warriors, and bunk with an agricultural commune in Shandong Province.

1990: Putney inaugurates its first program dedicated entirely to Community Service,
in Montserrat in the Caribbean. The following year, we expand to Costa Rica, and
today, our Community Service groups travel to numerous nations around the world.

1991: Excel at Williams College, the first campus-based Putney Pre-College program,
provides a model for new learning opportunities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

1999: The second floor of the converted cow barn where Putney’s office had been for
40 years is emptied of hay, renovated, and converted to the current Putney Student
Travel office: The Barn. Putney also pioneers a program in Havana, Cuba.

2005: Putney introduces programs focused on global awareness, allowing students
to address issues of poverty, sustainability, development, health care, and much more.

2007: Putney formally partners with the National Geographic Society to create
National Geographic Student Expeditions — an organization dedicated to creating
opportunities for the next generation of explorers, writers, scientists, filmmakers, and
photographers.

2016: Putney marks its 65th year and looks toward the future with new programs in
Morocco, Belize, Patagonia, Iceland, Nicaragua, the Indian Himalaya, and Nepal.

4 FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

Emily Stone, far left STUDENT STORIES

Jackson Unikel Emily Stone The Kinkaid School, Houston, TX

AIYANA KOCH-MARTINEZ Community Service Tanzania

Harper de Boer I gained a stronger sense of independence and a
huge sense of accomplishment from seeing our
building totally finished, and also from becoming

close friends with everyone on the trip.

I gained the ability to truly
live in the moment.

Jackson Unikel Latin School of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Pre-College London & Florence

My Pre-College experience was

a great balance between
structured activity, free time,

and facilitated exploration
of new environments.

Harper de Boer The Town School, New York, NY

Middle School Costa Rica

The program met all of my
expectations and I couldn’t be happier.

I had an amazing time,
made new friendships,
and helped a community.

VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM STUDENT STORIES 5

OUTSTANDING

LEADERS

Our leaders are selected from a highly competitive pool
of diverse and qualified candidates. They bring a depth
of experience in teaching, foreign language, international
living, and world travel. They come from the nation’s top
colleges and universities, and from prestigious positions
with organizations like the Peace Corps and Teach for
America. We only engage leaders who have graduated from
college, and in 2015 more than half of our leaders held or
were pursuing graduate degrees.

Our leaders distinguish themselves in fields ranging from
teaching to the arts, and athletics to journalism, law, medicine,
and international development. Despite the diversity of their
experiences, they share a commitment to safety, a passion
for exploration, and an enthusiasm for facilitating a positive
group dynamic, and for helping students make their own
unique discoveries. They are not only advisors, guides, and
mentors, but also excellent role models and good friends.

Melanie Manuel

Villanova University, B.S.; Universidad del Valle
de Guatemala, M.S. Melanie completed her master’s
in Bilingual Intercultural Education in Guatemala where
she taught traditional and cultural literacy in Spanish
and indigenous languages alongside Mayan educators.
Through a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching,
Melanie lived in Chile investigating street art and its potential
for teaching language and culture. Melanie teaches Spanish
at Philadelphia’s Science Leadership Academy as well as
graduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate
School of Education. Melanie has led five Putney programs.

66 MEET OUR LEADERS VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM

Sasha Milonova

Chapman University, B.A.; London School of Economics, M.A.
(candidate) At Chapman, Sasha founded the first California campus
chapter of Oxfam America and organized college students around
issues of agricultural and trade reform and effective foreign aid policy.
She conducted fieldwork in Southeast Asia as a filmmaker and business
consultant, and worked for PeaceJam Foundation, an educational
organization that connects youth to Nobel Peace Laureates. Sasha is
pursuing a graduate degree in Economic Development at the London
School of Economics and has led three Putney programs.

Jonathan Platt

University of Wisconsin–Madison, B.A.; Columbia University,
M.P.H.; Columbia University, Ph.D. (candidate) Jonathan lived for
two years in Malawi as a Peace Corps volunteer, where he observed the
complex social, environmental, and bio­medical factors that contribute
to individual and community health. There, he implemented a study to
understand the effects of traditional African medicine use among HIV­
positive patients. Jonathan has worked at the New York Department of
Health and the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and
is a Ph.D. candidate in Psychiatric Epidemiology at Columbia University.
He has led two Putney programs.

Nathan McNamara

Vassar College, B.A.; Johns Hopkins University, M.F.A. Nate
teaches Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry at Johns Hopkins
University, and is working on a novel about a boom town in northern
Pennsylvania. At Johns Hopkins, he was a finalist for the Johns Hopkins
award for Excellence in Teaching and the recipient of the 2014 Benjamin
Sankey Award for writing. Nate has published fiction and nonfiction
in The Hopkins Review, The Carolina Quarterly, The Rumpus, Electric
Literature, and The Millions, and has led three Putney programs.

Natalie Wagner

University of Oklahoma, B.A.; University of Pennsylvania, M.A.
Natalie earned her master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania
while teaching English, Social Studies, and Drama with Teach For
America. She now lives in Washington, D.C., where she teaches French
at Paul Public Charter School and runs The Institute for Student Health,
a non-profit organization she co-founded which is dedicated to teaching
cooking, gardening, and fitness skills to elementary school students.
Natalie has traveled extensively, is fluent in French and Spanish, and
has led three Putney programs.

VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM MEET OUR LEADERS 7

COMMUNITY

SERVICE

Change at the Local Level

Rise early and work in teams to improve schools, construct housing
for low-income families, or lead summer camps for children. Work
alongside local people to learn new skills, build friendships across
cultural and linguistic boundaries, and gain as much as you give.

Cultural Connections

Design your own independent project to engage in local life.
Organize a sports event, learn to play traditional instruments, or
work with farmers on agricultural initiatives. Explore the cultural
richness and scenic beauty of the regions in which you live. Dance
and drum at a chief’s birthday celebration in Ghana, ride horseback
across the Andean altiplano, visit a floating village in Vietnam’s Ha
Long Bay, or walk with Maasai warriors across ancestral lands.

Your Challenge

Prepare to work hard, collaborate with others, and live simply. Learn
how service work can be fun and educational, and that even one
person can make a difference. Receive a certificate from Putney in
recognition of the number of community service hours you complete.

8 FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

HE GAINED GLOBAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIOECONOMIC COMMUNITY SERVICE 99

a greater sense of purpose,AWARENESS, PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT,

AND AN ABILITY TO IMPACT OTHERS BY GIVING OF HIS TIME AND EFFORT.

— AMAFNODRA C&OJMONPALETHTEANINCFOOFRFMEYA, TEIXOCNELVSISIOIRT ,WMWN W.GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL US AT 802-387-5000

The group was cohesive in a way sheDANA WAS COMPLETELY ENAMORED WITH HER FELLOW PARTICIPANTS.
had never experienced before.

10 — ELIZABETH WARD, LARCHMONT, NY

Community Building, Remote Islands, & Tropical Tides FIJI

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 22 DAYS DATES: JUNE 30 – JULY 21 DEPARTURE: LOS ANGELES TUITION: $4,890 + AIRFARE

Work with villagers on a construction project at a community school.
Snorkel or SCUBA Fiji’s Great White Wall and Rainbow Reef.
Start an after-school sports club for children.
Take part in a traditional Kava ceremony with new village friends.

Fijians are among the most friendly and hospitable people in the world. They
maintain strong ties to their heritage through the preservation of their traditional
arts, ceremonies, and unique ways of life. Become a part of your host community
by helping with a variety of construction, cultural, and education projects at the
local school. Choose an independent project and pursue an aspect of Fijian
culture of particular interest to you. During afternoons and excursions, explore
nearby islands, experience Fiji’s fantastic marine life on snorkel or SCUBA
outings, and relax with new friends. Head inland to hike the interior mountains,
swim in remote waterfalls, and enjoy white-sand beaches. Visit us online for
a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

Turquoise Waters, Phở, & Constructing Homes VIETNAM

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 29 DAYS DATES: JUNE 30 – JULY 28 DEPARTURE: LOS ANGELES TUITION: $5,990 + AIRFARE

Lend a hand building houses for Vietnamese families.
Learn basic Vietnamese during language exchanges with teenagers.
Swim and relax during afternoons at beautiful nearby beaches.
Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter and spectacular Ha Long Bay.

Begin in Ho Chi Minh City with an orientation to Vietnamese history, culture,
and language. Next, travel to your host village, located on the central coast, to
work with friendly local people and build simple houses for families in need.
Engage with teens from the youth union on the project site and during language
exchanges. Learn to harvest rice as you work alongside skilled farmers. In the
afternoons, take time to swim in the ocean or play a pick-up game of beach
soccer with Vietnamese friends. On weekends, travel to gorgeous Hoi An and
Hanoi, where you can visit a tailor for a handmade shirt, take a cooking class,
or sample delicious phở. End the program aboard a boat in beautiful Ha Long
Bay, to swim and kayak while surrounded by spectacular limestone cliffs. Visit
us online for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 COMMUNITY SERVICE 11

My leaders were both
such inspiring people.

I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM BOTH OF THEM.
— SOFIA SIEGEL, THE EMERY/WEINER SCHOOL, BELLAIRE, TX

12

Caribbean Culture, Local Development, & Black-Sand Beaches DOMINICA

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 15 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: $3,490 + AIRFARE

Organize an arts-based enrichment program for grade-school children.
Work with local friends on a construction project to benefit the town.
Snorkel above coral reefs and relax on Dominica’s black-sand beaches.
Dance to the rhythms of Calypso and Zouk music at a beach café.

An English-speaking island in the Caribbean, Dominica offers lush tropical
rainforests, mountains, and rivers that provide a breathtaking backdrop for
service projects selected by the town’s council. Help improve the primary
school, facilitate reading and arts-based enrichment programs for children,
and contribute to agricultural and conservation projects, including local trail
restoration and organic farming. In the afternoon and on weekends, swim
and snorkel in crystal-clear water, trek into the mountains past waterfalls to
the world’s second largest boiling lake, and visit markets in the Victorian city
of Portsmouth. Visit us online for a program description, itinerary,
photos, and more!

Bachata, Community Projects, & Tropical Adventures DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

COMPLETING GRADES: 8 & 9 DURATION: 15 DAYS DATES: JULY 3 – JULY 17 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $3,790 + AIRFARE

Work with Dominican friends on service projects for their community.
Practice Spanish as you help a local woman cook mangú and empanadas.
Play an afternoon game of beísbol with teenagers from the host village.
Camp under the stars on a pristine, undeveloped white-sand beach.

A Spanish-speaking country on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, the
Dominican Republic is best known for its friendly people, unspoiled beaches,
and colonial history. Spend the first two days getting oriented to Dominican
culture in the capital city of Santo Domingo. Then, travel west to a small village
to live and work alongside local people. Participate in a variety of development
projects including painting, light construction work, and teaching English.
During weekends, swim beside white-pebble beaches skirted by colorful coral
reefs, and zipline through the forest canopy. Spend the final days exploring the
lush and rugged Cordillera Central Mountains. Hike to waterfalls, and enjoy
a day of whitewater rafting. Visit us online for a program description,
itinerary, photos, and more!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 COMMUNITY SERVICE 13

LOGAN HAD ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF HER LIFE. WHEN
SHE RETURNED HOME, SHE WAS GUSHING WITH

vibrance, vitality, & life.

— ROBIN & PHIL SANDERSON, MILL VALLEY, CA

14

Mountain Villages, Cloud Forests, & Hidden Beaches COSTA RICA

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 15, 24, OR 31 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: SEE P. 70

Lay bricks for a community center or plant a garden with friends.
Practice Spanish as you help local women prepare a comida.
Play an afternoon game of fútbol with children from the village.
Trek through the cloud forest in search of monkeys and sloths.

Despite its reputation as Central America’s most stable democracy and as an
international model for eco-tourism, Costa Rica still suffers from widespread
poverty, particularly in its more remote regions. Experience life in a rural village
surrounded by lush mountains and work side-by-side with Tico friends. Lay
foundations and walls for a community center, help construct a health clinic,
teach English lessons, or plant trees with a reforestation project. On weekends,
take overnight trips to explore the natural wonders of Costa Rica. Hike volcanoes,
relax in hot springs, learn to surf or snorkel, and take a professionally guided
and exhilarating river rafting excursion. Visit us online for a program
description, itinerary, photos, and more!

Highlands, Quechua Culture, & Island Biodiversity ECUADOR & THE GALÁPAGOS

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 31 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: $6,690 + AIRFARE

Join workers in a community-wide minga to refurbish a town building.
Celebrate the Inti-Raymi festival with Quechua dress, dance, and song.
Climb to the glacier on Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes.
Snorkel with sea lions in the clear water of a sheltered Galápagos bay.

Travel to Ecuador’s stunning Andean highlands to live and work with an
indigenous village on important community projects. Work hand in hand with
local families to construct the walls of a childcare center or classroom, harvest
crops of beans and corn, or lead a summer camp for children. Take an overnight
excursion to snow-capped Cotopaxi to hike to the mountain’s refugio and ride by
horseback high on the Andean páramo. For the last week, travel by charter boat
with naturalist guides to explore three of the Galápagos Islands. Snorkel off
Kicker Rock, swim with manta rays and sea turtles, observe Galápagos penguins
in their natural habitat, and hike across lava flows on the rim of a dormant
volcano. Visit us online for a program description, itinerary, photos,
and more!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 COMMUNITY SERVICE 15

PERU Andean Peaks, Inca Ruins, & the Sacred Valley

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 17 OR 24 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: SEE P. 70

Help village workers make improvements to their community.
Practice Spanish or Quechua as you play fútbol with Peruvian friends.
Hike ancient Inca trails through the mountains to Andean villages.
Ascend to the mysterious mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu.

Peru is known for its welcoming people, rich history, and awe-inspiring ancient
ruins. Our host village is nestled in the Andes in the Sacred Valley of the Inca.
Work in small groups alongside local friends and skilled craftsmen on a variety
of projects, such as building local housing, painting murals, or teaching English.
On the weekends, explore the many wonders of the Sacred Valley, including a
weaving collective in Chinchero and the archeological sites and ruins of Moray,
Pisac, and Ollantaytambo. Spend a weekend in the imperial city of Cusco and
explore its many Inca and colonial wonders. The program culminates with
an unforgettable journey by train to Machu Picchu. Visit us online for a
program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

GHANA Coastal Life, Building Projects, & West African Drumming

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 29 DAYS DATES: JULY 1 – JULY 29 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $5,890 + AIRFARE

Work with Ghanaian friends on a building project at the local school.
Sing the Ghanaian national anthem at a village soccer match.
Celebrate at festivals with chiefs resplendent in their brilliant clothing.
Learn traditional dancing and drumming from a master teacher.

Begin in Accra with an orientation to Ghana’s diverse cultures. Next, travel to a
coastal village to work on building projects at a local high school, teach English
in the primary school, join in planting and harvesting with local farmers, and
learn about the fishing trade. In the afternoon, play pick-up soccer or beach
volleyball, participate in a language exchange with local teenagers, and learn
West African drumming and dance. On weekends, travel to national parks to
catch a glimpse of a baboon, visit historical slave forts to learn about Ghana’s
colonial history, and to the beach for surfing lessons with local guides. Learn
how to weave Ghana’s famous kente cloth and hike through tropical forests to the
highest waterfall in West Africa. Visit us online for a program description,
itinerary, photos, and more!

16 COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

HE IS A DIFFERENT PERSON IN THE BEST OF ALL WAYS. 17

He has been forever shaped by
what he experienced.

— PERRY & ALY BEAUMONT, RIDGEFIELD, CT

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

She gained confidence
AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF ANOTHER
CULTURE AND WAY OF LIVING.
— MADELEINE & BORJE EKHOLM, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

18

Classroom Construction, Swahili, & Safari TANZANIA

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 23 OR 33 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: SEE P. 70

Help build a village classroom that will accommodate 50 students.
Lend a hand to the staff at a local orphanage.
Explore the 10-mile wide Ngorongoro Crater big-game park.
Stay on safari in a Maasai village and spot lions, zebras, and elephants.

Tanzania’s welcoming people, cultural vitality, and natural beauty make it a
favorite destination for travelers. A well-established democracy and a widely
respected public education system are keys to Tanzania’s reputation as a stable,
safe country. In our 22nd summer in Tanzania, we are based in small agricultural
villages outside the town of Arusha. Immerse yourself in village life by helping
complete community-initiated projects such as building a classroom, housing
for teachers, or teaching English to local children. Foster new friendships with
members of our host community by learning the basics of the Swahili language.
End the program with a multi-day safari led by close friends of Putney who
introduce us to Tanzania’s fascinating wildlife and tribal culture. Visit us
online for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

Prayer Flags, English Education, & Alpine Passes THE INDIAN HIMALAYA

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 22 DAYS DATES: JULY 4 – JULY 25 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $5,590 + AIRFARE

Tutor local high school students in English.
Work on small-scale improvement projects at a mountain school.
Explore the cultural richness of Tibetan Buddhism.
Trek high into the Himalaya, visiting monasteries and tiny villages.

Begin in Leh, an ancient trading town at the foot of the Himalaya in India’s
northern Ladakh region. From our home base at an innovative, fully solar-
powered school, help prepare students for college entrance exams through English
conversation classes. Join in daily life cooking meals, tending gardens, maintaining
the solar array, and making repairs to school buildings. Set off on a three-day trek,
and stay in family-run guesthouses as you walk through landscapes echoing with
the sounds of chanting monks and adorned with colorful prayer flags. Explore
monasteries perched on hilltops and learn about local efforts to conserve exotic
species like the snow leopard. End with a short stay in Delhi, a night in a historic
Rajasthani palace, and a visit to the iconic Taj Mahal. Visit us online for a
program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 COMMUNITY SERVICE 19

INDIA Spices, Village Schools, & the Rajasthani Desert

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 30 DAYS DATES: JUNE 28 – JULY 27 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $6,090 + AIRFARE

Volunteer at a rural village school in Rajasthan.
Meet with an organization working with residents of Delhi’s slums.
Ride camels through the sand hills of Jaisalmer’s Western Desert.
Sample curries, naan, tandoori, and other specialties of Indian cuisine.

India, with its rich, densely-layered traditional cultures and spectacular
geographic diversity, is a fascinating destination. With the world’s second
largest population, basic services are hard to come by for many. Travel to rural
Rajasthan, our home base in India’s arid and beautiful northwest. Help build
a needed village facility, such as a community center or classroom, and teach
English and enrichment classes to local children. Stay in an 18th century haveli, a
traditional private residence, and pursue individual village internships with local
artisans or learn traditional music and dance. On weekends, explore the palaces
and temples of the nearby city of Udaipur, the lunar landscapes of the desert
near Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur’s lavish palaces and Moghul forts. Visit us online
for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

NEPAL Village Immersion, Monasteries, & the Himalayan Foothills

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 22 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $5,690 + AIRFARE

Teach English to village children and help build a schoolhouse.
Hike through misty hills to sacred shrines at the base of the Himalaya.
Have tea with a Buddhist monk and reflect on your village experience.
Follow the calls of monkeys to the temple of Swayambhunath.

In the foothills of the mighty Himalaya, immerse yourself in the life of a remote
village overlooking the lush Kathmandu Valley, and collaborate with locals on
infrastructure and education projects. Teach English to village children and help the
community rebuild after the recent earthquakes. Cook Nepalese meals with local
families, play soccer with new friends, and trek through verdant hills to discover
hidden temples and sacred sites. Return to Kathmandu, a cultural menagerie of
colorful bazaars and ornate medieval architecture, and reflect on the complexities
of development as you walk alongside pilgrims from around the world to Asia’s
most magnificent Hindu and Buddhist sites. Visit us online for a program
description, itinerary, photos, and more!

20 COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

The leaders were 21
outstanding

in every regard;

EVERYTHING WAS PLANNED AND WELL EXECUTED.
— MATT & KAREN WINSLOW, DUBLIN, IRELAND

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

LANGUAGE

LEARNING

Full Immersion

Have fun while speaking French or Spanish in real-life encounters.
Immerse yourself in the local culture and progress toward fluency.
Tap into Putney’s broad network of friends and contacts — from
farmers to bakers, journalists to hoteliers — to improve your
language skills in practical and dynamic ways. Develop confidence
in your target language as you speak with local friends and engage
in active and systematic language exercises.

Authentic Interaction

Active participation in real-world situations helps you unlock your
potential while having fun speaking in the target language. In
France, Costa Rica, or Ecuador, spend one week living with a host
family. Pair up for daystays with local young people in Spain. In
Costa Rica or Ecuador, hone your language skills while completing
meaningful service projects in rural communities.

Your Challenge

Sign a pledge to speak in the target language throughout your
experience. This commitment, combined with an adventurous
spirit, is the principal tool for making progress in a foreign language.

Two years of Spanish or French language study is required for 10th
–12th graders, and one year for 8th & 9th graders.

22 FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

MY COMPREHENSION SKILLS HAVE IMPROVED VASTLY AND

speaking in Spanish
is more natural.

— TAYLOR BADT, LOYOLA COLLEGE PREP, SHREVEPORT, LA

LANGUAGE LEARNING 23

From Madrid to the Mediterranean TUITION: $6,990 + AIRFARE

SPAIN COMPLETING GRADES 8 & 9

COMPLETING GRADES: 8 & 9 DURATION: 21 DAYS DATES: JULY 3 – JULY 23 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK

Practice vocabulary during a language lesson in a Madrid market.

Hike in fields of summer snow to a summit in the Picos de Europa.

Savor traditional Spanish food — tortilla española or churros con chocolate.

Catch a wave during a surf lesson off one of Spain’s famous beaches.

Begin this language immersion program on Spain’s northern coast with an
introduction to Spanish culture. Daily activites provide the focus for fun language
exercises. Try surfing with a local guide and enjoy a picnic on the beach.
Travel to the beautiful Picos de Europa mountains to hike and ride horseback.
Scavenger hunts encourage you to use your Spanish. In Madrid, explore lively
streets, world-famous museums, and take day trips to Segovia or Toledo. Spend
a week in a daystay with a local teenager in a small city. Practice your Spanish
during a traditional meal with your Spanish family, and form lasting friendships.
Travel to a beach town on the Mediterranean coast to snorkel, swim, surf, and
reflect on the strides you have made as a Spanish speaker. Visit us online for
a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

SPAIN From Mountain Passes to the Costa del Sol
COMPLETING GRADES 10 – 12

COMPLETING GRADES: 10 – 12 DURATION: 33 DAYS DATES: JUNE 26 – JULY 28 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $8,790 + AIRFARE

Hike to the top of the highest mountain on the Iberian Peninsula.
Use your Spanish to interview the chef at a tapas restaurant in Granada.
Spend a week paired with a local teenager to join in Spanish daily life.
Learn to dance flamenco with an authentic gitano instructor.

Begin this language immersion program on Spain’s northern coast with an
introduction to Spanish culture. Daily language exercises build your ability to
communicate in Spanish. Take a surf lesson and play soccer on the beach. Travel to
the snow-capped Picos de Europa mountains to hike on spectacular trails. Explore
the lively streets of Madrid, world famous museums, and nearby Segovia or
Toledo. Spend a daystay week with a local teenager. Practice your Spanish during
a meal with your host family and form lasting friendships. Travel to Granada to
learn about Spain’s evocative Moorish influence. Visit La Alhambra, Granada’s
ancient Arab fortress. Hike to Spain’s highest peak from a beautiful village in the
Alpujarras. End in a whitewashed village on the Costa del Sol. Visit us online
for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

24 LANGUAGE LEARNING FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

COMPLETING GRADES: 8 & 9 DURATION: 21 DAYS From Coastal Villages to the City of Light

FRANCECOMPLETING GRADES 8 & 9

DATES: JULY 1 – JULY 21 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $7,090 + AIRFARE

Discuss masterpieces of painting at the Louvre — in French!

Enjoy a pain au chocolat as you relax at a Parisian sidewalk café.

Spend an afternoon canoeing with your host siblings and their friends.

Try canyoning or rock climbing with the help of professional guides.

Begin this language immersion program in an idyllic seaside town in Normandy.
Visit Mont St. Michel and the historic D-Day beaches, and immerse yourself in
French culture. Explore the magnificent sites of Paris, the City of Light. Next,
travel to Montpellier for a short homestay with carefully selected families and
get a taste of everyday French life. Finish on the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux,
enjoying the beach, hiking, and learning to surf. Throughout the program,
leaders give daily lessons so you can interact with locals and live like a French
native. Each day includes short, fun exercises like scavenger hunts and interview
projects to build your speaking skills and confidence. By the end of the trip,
you will be chatting — even dreaming — en français! Visit us online for a
program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

COMPLETING GRADES: 10 – 12 DURATION: 33 DAYS FRANCEFrom Alpine Peaks to the Riviera
COMPLETING GRADES 10 – 12
DATES: JULY 2 – AUGUST 3 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $9,190 + AIRFARE

Learn to make artisanal truffles with a French chocolatier.

Visit Matisse’s studio to discuss Modernism in French.

Surf the Atlantic Coast, sail the Mediterranean, and hike the Alps.

Interview a farming family about their Breton heritage.

Begin this language immersion program in a fishing village on the coast of
Brittany. Adjust to traditional French life and practice your language skills as you
work with townspeople in local businesses. Travel to Paris to savor its monuments,
museums, markets, and cafés. Board a train for Alsace and immerse yourself in
French culture during a week with a host family. Head to the Mediterranean
town of Aix-en-Provence and on to St. Raphael on the Riviera. Finish your
journey high in the Alps in a chalet at the base of Mont Blanc. Throughout
your travels, leaders give you the vocabulary you need to explore entirely in
French. Short, fun, daily activities build your speaking skills and confidence. By
the end of the trip, you will be living like a native français! Visit us online for
a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 LANGUAGE LEA5R2NING 25

I loved the homestay experience.

I REALLY CONNECTED WITH MY HOMESTAY FAMILY AND I AM
SO GRATEFUL FOR HOW KIND THEY WERE TO ME.

— ANGELINE FRY, INGRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL, SEATTLE, WA

26

From Misty Mountains to Tropical Beaches COSTA RICA

COMPLETING GRADES: 10 – 12 DURATION: 31 DAYS DATES: JUNE 25 – JULY 25 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: $5,990 + AIRFARE

Chat with local friends as you lay bricks or harvest coffee beans.
Learn to make Costa Rican dishes such as gallo pinto and tamales.
Practice your Spanish as you live with a Tico famiily for a week.
Surf and snorkel on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast.

Join us on a language immersion program that draws you out of the classroom
and into the life of a rural mountain village. Use your Spanish with local
people as you work together to complete community projects such as building
a classroom at the primary school or running a day camp for children. Then,
join a Costa Rican family for a one-week homestay of full immersion into the
Tico way of life and Spanish language. At the end of your journey, travel to a
sustainable eco-lodge and a renowned national park along the southern Pacific
coast. Throughout the program, take part in dynamic language lessons, research
projects, and games to complement real-life learning. Visit us online for a
program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

From Andean Villages to Legendary Islands ECUADOR & THE GALÁPAGOS

COMPLETING GRADES: 10 – 12 DURATION: 31 DAYS DATES: JUNE 30 – JULY 30 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: $6,690 + AIRFARE

Put your Spanish to the test on the project worksite.
Develop eco-tourism initiatives alongside a local organization.
Learn to make corn tortillas from scratch with your homestay familia.
Snorkel and explore at Kicker Rock in the Galápagos.

Join this language immersion program to learn Spanish in the pueblos and homes of
welcoming Ecuadorians. Spend three weeks in a small Andean village, participate
in active language lessons, and work alongside Ecuadorian peers on village
projects. Live with an Ecuadorian family in the village for one week to deepen
your connections as you share meals, family outings, and stories, and become
fully immersed in Ecuadorian culture and Spanish language. Say goodbye to your
village and set off for Cotopaxi volcano for two days of hiking and horseback
riding. During your last week, explore the enchanted Galápagos Islands by boat,
bike, and surfboard. Throughout the program, take part in dynamic language
lessons, research projects, and games to complement real-life learning. Visit us
online for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 LANGUAGE LEA7R2NING 27

CULTURAL

EXPLORATION

Active Adventure

Discover an insider’s view of some of the world’s most fascinating
places and cultures through exciting, active, and challenging
experiences. Get SCUBA certified on Belize’s barrier reef, trek
through lava fields in Iceland’s Westfjords, navigate a boat through
Australia’s Whitsunday Islands, hike across a glacier in the Swiss
Alps, camp under the stars in Morocco, or strap on a pair of back-
country skis in snowy Patagonia. Make lasting memories, try new
things, and have fun.

Authentic Immersion

Get off the beaten track and see the world as a traveler — not as a
tourist. Live with a homestay family for a week on a New Zealand
sheep farm, chat with monks in a golden temple in Thailand, or learn
to cook a traditional Tuscan meal using ingredients you harvested
the same day. Balance city experiences with small-town and rural
living, and become a part of daily life in your chosen destination.

Creative Focus

Delve deeper into place and culture through student-initiated
independent projects. Use the streets of Dublin, Prague, Havana, or
New Orleans as inspiration for a short story or poem; apprentice with
a master gelato-maker in Italy; interview Moroccan metal artisans;
or document your visit to a santería temple in Cuba. Build on your
talents, learn new skills and perspectives, engage with local people,
and come home with a better understanding of our diverse planet.

28 FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

inspiring, fun, curious,SHE LOVED BEING WITH A GROUP OF CULTURAL EXPLORATION 29
smart, and motivated people.

— KERRY & ANDY G., VERMONT

SWITZERLAND, ITALY, FRANCE, & HOLLAND CitiestoPeaksinWesternEurope

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 34 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $9,590 + AIRFARE

Zipline, glacier walk, and rock climb with professional guides.
Contemplate famous works of art in Paris, Florence, and Amsterdam.
Delve into local life and culture during a family homestay in Italy.
Sample Swiss chocolate, French baguettes, and fresh Italian pasta.

From the Swiss Alps and Italian Dolomites, to the cities of Florence and Paris,
to Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside, Europe boasts endless opportunities
for adventure. Begin in the Swiss village of Leysin, and go glacier walking or
canyoning in alpine streams. Take in Renaissance cathedrals and art in Florence,
and experience Italian village life during a homestay with a local family. Hike and
rock climb in the Dolomites, and sleep in a rifugio high above the tree line. Travel
to Paris to experience museums, markets, theatres, and cafés; then peddle bike
paths in Holland, past windmills and farms. Explore villages along the way and
swim in the North Sea. End in Amsterdam and visit Anne Frank’s house, discover
paintings by van Gogh, and explore the city’s busy canals and streets. Visit us
online for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, & FIJI Adventure in the South Pacific

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 32 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: LOS ANGELES TUITION: $9,790 + AIRFARE

Ski the majestic slopes of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
Sail as part of the crew on a boat through the Whitsunday Islands.
Listen to Aboriginal Dreamtime stories under the stars in the Outback.
Participate in a Kava ceremony in a remote Fijian village.

Begin your adventure in the Land Down Under in cosmopolitan Sydney: catch a
wave at a local surfing beach, cheer on the hometown rugby team, or visit the iconic
Sydney Opera House. Next, make your way across the Australian Outback with
aboriginal guides before boarding a sailing yacht and exploring the Whitsunday
Islands and Great Barrier Reef. Fly to the South Island of New Zealand to stay
in a Maori village, and then spend one week with a Kiwi host family. Ski or
snowboard in powder snow, and take in panoramic views of the Tasman Sea. End
your adventure at a rustic eco-lodge on the island paradise of Fiji where you can
snorkel, SCUBA, kayak, play rugby, and relax before the journey home. Visit us
online for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

30 CULTURAL EXPLORATION FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

I felt like I could doAFTER HIKING IN THE DOLOMITES 31
anything I set my mind to.

— HILLARY WINOKER, HORACE GRFOEERLEMYOHRIEGHINSFCOHVOIOSLI,TCGHOAPPUPATQNUEAY.,CNOYM OR CALL 802.387.5000

NICARAGUA & COSTA RICA An Adventure a Day in Central America

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 14 DAYS DATES: JUNE 25 - JULY 8 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: $4,590 + AIRFARE

Kayak through the breathtaking Isletas in Lake Nicaragua.
Summit Maderas Volcano on the island of Ometepe.
Zip-line above the rainforest canopy and relax in natural hot springs.
Surf and snorkel in Costa Rica’s crystal-clear waves.

Nicaragua and Costa Rica are both well-known for their warm, welcoming people,
incredible wildlife, and diverse landscapes — from volcanoes to misty cloud
forests, lush tropical jungles to crystal-clear water. Discover these two neighboring
ecological hotspots through a series of outdoor adventures. Start your journey
in Central America’s best kept secret: Nicaragua. Sandboard down the slopes of
Cerro Negro, explore the bustling markets in Granada, hike Maderas volcano to get a
bird’s-eye view of Ometepe island, and kayak through the Isletas of Lake Nicaragua.
Next, continue south to Costa Rica — an international pioneer in sustainability and
conservation. Zip-line above the rainforest canopy at Arenal volcano, hike to hidden
waterfalls, and surf your way along the Pacific coastline. Visit us online for a
program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

SKIING IN PATAGONIA Expedition at the End of the Earth

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 12 DAYS DATES: JULY 25 – AUGUST 5 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: $5,690 + AIRFARE

Ski and hike the pristine slopes and backcountry of Cerro Castor.
Photograph stunning blue ice crevasses.
Set out for adventure on a dogsled ride outside Ushuaia.
Roast your dinner over an open flame in a traditional Argentine asado.

Cool off your summer with a winter adventure to Patagonia. Drink gourds of
steeped mate and practice Spanish with new friends in Buenos Aires. Explore the
markets and tango rhythms in one of Latin America’s great cultural capitals.
Head south to the snowy peaks, azure glaciers, and open steppe of Patagonia.
Trek across one of the world’s last advancing glaciers, the Perito Moreno. Then
hit the slopes and drop into the winter terrain of the southernmost ski area in the
world, Cerro Castor. Explore the backcountry on snowshoes or skis, and glide
through silent, frozen forests of gnarled lenga trees. Relive the day’s memories
with the warm company of new friends and hearty Patagonian cuisine in rustic,
seaside Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Visit us online for a
program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

32 CULTURAL EXPLORATION FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000
32

most interesting, caring,MATTHEW REPORTS THAT HIS LEADERS WERE TWO OF THE COOLEST,
brilliant people.

— STACI & LONG QUAN, COLUMBIA, SC

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 33

I would do it again if I could.

— AUBREY RAWLES, FLINTRIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, PASADENA, CA

34

Legends & Landscapes at the Edge of the Arctic Circle ICELAND

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 15 DAYS DATES: JULY 2 – JULY 16 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $5,990 + AIRFARE

Kayak pristine fjords as you scout for whales, seals, and seabirds.
Traverse the glacier that inspired Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Relax in natural hot springs after riding Icelandic horses.
Learn about Icelandic elf folklore and meet a local huldufólk expert.

Traverse rugged lava fields and receding glaciers, and photograph cliffs of nesting
puffins and pink-sand beaches as you explore the Westfjords region of this
dynamic and storied island. Delve into Iceland’s rich folklore tradition — from the
Viking Sagas to the elf communities believed to dot the landscape — and explore
the role these stories play in the lives of modern Icelanders. Visit a rural sheep
farm and learn to craft traditional Icelandic sweaters, or kayak the crystalline
fjords of Isafjordur as you scout for breaching whales and curious seals. Hike to
the summit of the Glymur waterfall, one of the tallest cascades in the country,
and stroll among the wildflowers and village ruins of the Hornstrandir Nature
Reserve, considered one of the last true wilderness areas of Europe. Visit us
online for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

MEET A LEADER BRENNA CASEY CULTURAL EXPLORATION 35

Boston College, B.A.; University of Notre Dame, M.F.A.; Duke
University, Ph.D. (candidate).
Brenna teaches writing and literature at Duke University. She finished
her M.F.A. with a collection of essays based on her travels throughout
Latin America. She has received awards for her work in nonfiction
writing as well as for her teaching ability. Her work has been published
in both newspapers and magazines. Brenna has led and taught on Putney
programs for eight summers.

No year of high school or semester of college can rival a Putney
experience. The connection students have with their leaders and their
peers, the inspiration you observe in the world around you, the material
you can cover in the space of a few days or a few weeks cannot be
replicated in any other learning environment.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

THAILAND Elephants, Temples, & Ruins in Southeast Asia

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 19 DAYS DATES: JUNE 29– JULY 17 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $5,390 + AIRFARE

Visit an elephant conservation center and trek through tropical jungles.
Learn about Buddhism while exploring ornate temples.
Wander through a maze of colorful stalls at a Chiang Mai night market.
Unwind on one of Thailand’s renowned white-sand beaches.

From its aromatic cuisine and stunning landscapes to its rich cultural and religious
traditions, Thailand has held a mythical fascination for travelers for centuries.
Begin in the exciting northern city of Chiang Mai. Meditate with monks, learn to
make traditional dishes like pad thai or tom yum koong, and zipline through the lush
rainforest canopy. Discover the ancient capital of Sukhothai by bike and marvel at
the 800-year-old ruins. Attend a local high school for a day and connect with Thai
students through English workshops and games. Relax on pristine white-sand
beaches before traveling to Bangkok for the final days of the program. Explore
the grounds of the Grand Palace, peruse an amulet market, or climb to the top of
the city’s tallest temple for a breathtaking view. Visit us online for a program
description, itinerary, photos, and more!

DIVING IN BELIZE SCUBA Certification on the Barrier Reef

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 12 DAYS DATES: JUNE 24 – JULY 5 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: $4,790 + AIRFARE

Earn a Basic Open Water or Advanced PADI SCUBA certification.
Dive the world’s second largest barrier reef in the world.
Climb ancient Mayan temples hidden in the thick jungle.
High five a jaguar at the world-famous Belize Zoo.

Belize is home to the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, the best
preserved rainforest in Central America, and countless Mayan ruins. Earn your
PADI Basic Open Water SCUBA certification, or pursue an Advanced Open
Water certification at one of Belize’s top dive centers. Plunge into the warm
waters of the Caribbean and come face to face with graceful turtles, friendly
rays, darting fish, and elusive manatees. Use your new certification on dives
in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and on the rest of the barrier reef. End the
program in a jungle lodge in the Belizean rainforest and discover hidden Maya
temples, taste traditional local cuisine, spot howler monkeys, and encounter
endangered animals at the Belize Zoo. Visit us online for a program
description, itinerary, photos, and more!

36 CULTURAL EXPLORATION FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

a traveler and not a tourist.SHE LOVED THE GROUP AND THE TEAM BUILDING. SHE FELT LIKE 37

— JULIE & DAVID ESKENAZI, INDIANAPOLIS, IN

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

I feel more confident as a writer

AND AM DEFINITELY GOING TO SEIZE MORE OPPORTUNITIES AT SCHOOL
BECAUSE OF MY NEWFOUND CONFIDENCE.

— ELIZABETH HERMAN , THE LOOMIS CHAFFEE SCHOOL, TEANECK, NJ

38

Literary Legacy on the Emerald Isle WRITING IN IRELAND

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 13 DAYS DATES: JULY 6 – JULY 18 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $4,390 + AIRFARE

Write your way around Dublin, a UNESCO City of Literature.
Explore medieval monasteries and fishing villages on the Irish Sea.
Travel to a remote island for a three-day writers’ retreat.
Collaborate with your peers to produce a public reading.

Explore the Emerald Isle and expand your writing abilities under the guidance
of acclaimed writers. Together with a select group of passionate, like-minded
peers, write in cafés, ruined monasteries, grand estates, city parks, and windswept
hilltop castles. Engage with Ireland’s rich storytelling tradition at evocative
readings and plays, authentic village taverns, and concerts of traditional Irish
music replete with fiddles and spoons. Travel to an idyllic island off the western
coast for a writers’ retreat, and explore its winding paths on foot or bicycle,
traversing sheep pastures to write and revise atop high, craggy cliffs overlooking
the Irish Sea. The program concludes with a public reading of your work on
the final night in Dublin. Visit us online for a program description,
itinerary, photos, and more!

Prose to Verse in the City of 1000 Spires WRITING IN PRAGUE

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 13 DAYS DATES: JULY 17 – JULY 29 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $4,390 + AIRFARE

Explore the neighborhoods of Prague, the City of a Thousand Spires.
 Write in cafés, galleries, and parks overlooking the Charles Bridge.
See the lush forests of southern Bohemia during a writing retreat.
 Stage a reading of your work on the final night in Prague.

From Kafka to Kundera, Rilke to Hůlová, Prague has harbored and inspired writers
for centuries. Together with your peers and accomplished writing instructors,
explore this storied city and the bounds of your own skill in poetry, fiction,
nonfiction, playwriting, and more. Visit medieval castles, hilltop monasteries,
avant-garde art galleries, and city parks, and use these evocative sites as inspiration
for your writing. In the evenings, attend concerts, theatre, and outdoor festivals, or
go for a sunset paddle on the Vltava River. Travel to the beautiful Šumava Forest
for a three-day writers’ retreat before returning to Prague for a public reading of
your work on the final night of the program. Visit us online for a program
description, itinerary, photos, and more!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 CULTURAL EXPLORATION 39

WRITING IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH SNteowrieOs r&leaVnoiscteos tfhroemMississippi Delta

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 13 DAYS DATES: JUNE 26 – JULY 8 TUITION: $4,290 + AIRFARE

 Get to know the lively character of New Orleans’ many neighborhoods.
 Explore small towns and cypress swamps in the Mississippi Delta.
 T ravel to a historic farmstead for a three-day writers’ retreat.
 Stage a public reading of your work on the final night of the program.

Discover the history, beauty, and literary legacy of the The South alongside
fellow young writers and acclaimed instructors. Write in cafés, folk art galleries,
and antebellum ruins as you explore New Orleans and the surrounding area.
Kayak Bayou St. John, interview jazz musicians, relax in the shade of a magnolia,
and let these experiences fuel your writing. Sample famous barbecue and visit
sobering Civil Rights landmarks in Memphis, then road-trip to the small towns,
catfish farms, and live blues sessions of the Delta. Polish your writing during a
retreat at a restored Mississippi farmstead, then return to New Orleans for a
public reading of your work on the program’s final night. Visit us online for
a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

FARM TO TABLE ITALY Field to Fork in Tuscany & Umbria

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 20 DAYS DATES: JULY 10 – JULY 29 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $7,490 + AIRFARE

 Discover the principles and practices of sustainable food production.
 Learn farmers’ secrets to producing artisanal cheese and olive oil.
 Fire up an outdoor brick oven for a night of pizza-making.
 Create a multi-course feast for your new Italian amici.

Sow, harvest, cook, and savor as you explore Italy’s vital food culture with
your peers and culinarily trained leaders. Begin at Pulicaro, a 19th century
farmhouse surrounded by acres of gardens, orchards, and olive groves. Practice
sustainability through hands-on experience with garden and animal care. Visit
specialty farms, swim in nearby lakes, and practice Italian phrases with our
hosts. Travel to Castello di Spannocchia for a behind-the-scenes look at efforts to
preserve an ancient line of Tuscan pigs. In pursuit of new ingredients and skills,
peruse a farmers’ market in Siena, forage for fresh herbs, hand-stretch pasta,
or enjoy a busy trattoria in Florence. Return to Pulicaro to prepare a gourmet
meal to share with families of participants and your new Italian friends. Visit
us online for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

40 CULTURAL EXPLORATION FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

THE TRIP WILDLY EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS…

she came home brimming
with confidence.

— CYNTHIA SCHIMELPFENIG, EAST PROVIDENCE, RI

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000 41

CUBA Arts, Language, & Photography on an Island in Transition

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 14 DAYS DATES: SEE P. 70 DEPARTURE: MIAMI TUITION: $5,990 + AIRFARE

 Get to know Cuban students, artists, and entrepreneurs.
 Choose a workshop and research it with a Cuban amigo as your guide.
 Learn to salsa dance or take a master class with a Cuban drummer.
 S wim in the blue waters of a cenote, a limestone cavern fed by fresh water.

Begin in Havana — capital of the only remaining Communist state in the
Western Hemisphere and home to friendly people, evocative architecture,
pristine Caribbean waters, and a world-famous music scene. Explore vibrant
neighborhoods, visit artists’ studios, listen to street music, and interview
fishermen on the Malecón. Travel to the colonial city of Cienfuegos, snorkel
over coral in the azure Caribbean, and stay in private homes in historic Trinidad
to learn about Cuba’s rich history and the Afro-Cuban religious tradition
of santería. Visit coffee farms and hike to a hidden waterfall for a refreshing
afternoon swim. Return to Havana to enjoy two final days with your Cuban
amigos and present your final projects. This will be Putney’s sixth summer in
Cuba. Visit us online for a program description, itinerary, photos,
and more!

MOROCCO Medinas, Markets, and Desert Cultures in the Maghreb

COMPLETING GRADES: 9 – 12 DURATION: 15 DAYS DATES: JULY 17 – JULY 31 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $5,390 + AIRFARE

 M eet the snake charmers of Djemaa-El-Fnaa Square.
 R ide camels along the Moroccan coastline.
Learn to prepare regional specialties like tagine and sweet mint tea.
Explore the vibrant city of Essaouira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From exploring bustling markets in legendary cities to sleeping under the stars
near the sea, immerse yourself in local life and experience the mystique of
Morocco. Begin in Casablanca to visit Hassan II Mosque and delve into Muslim
culture and Morocco’s rich religious history. Travel down the coast to the walled
port city of Essaouira and receive an introduction to the indigenous Berber
culture and Gnawa music scene. Travel back in time as you walk Marrakech’s
vibrant alleyways filled with colorful carpets, ceramics, spices, and textiles. Visit
the night market of Djemaa-El-Fnaa, Marrakech’s central square, also known as
the “greatest spectacle on earth.” End in Fez to learn traditional henna methods
and meet the master artisans of this car-free medieval medina. Visit us online
for a program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

42 CULTURAL EXPLORATION FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

EME FELT LIKE SHE EXPERIENCED 43

the Cuba that tourists do not see.

— AMY & ADAM BASS, BEVERLY HILLS, CA

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

MIDDLE

SCHOOL

Hands-on Learning

Designed for adventurous, energetic, and engaged middle
schoolers looking for an alternative to a traditional camp
setting, Middle School programs combine essential elements
from Putney’s range of programs, such as Community Service,
Cultural Exploration, and Language Learning. With this middle
school program as a foundation, students often move on to
other Putney experiences in future years.

Adventure & Immersion

Practice your Spanish with locals in a beachside village in
Costa Rica. Marvel at La Alhambra in Spain’s southern city of
Granada, learn to dance flamenco in a traditional cueva, or surf
on the Costa del Sol. Go beyond the typical tourist itinerary
and immerse yourself in the French Alps or the museums of
Amsterdam.

Outstanding Staff

Our experienced leaders foster a supportive group dynamic
and create plentiful opportunities for exploration and discovery.
A low student-to-leader ratio ensures that students receive
personal attention in a program that is structured, safe, and
fun. Through outdoor adventures, cultural immersion, and
team-building exercises, Middle School students develop into
seasoned Putney travelers.

44 FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING A SAFE, EXCITING, AND

wonderful introduction
to ‘independent’ travel.

— JENNIFER & KENNETH HALE, THE WOODLANDS, TX

MIDDLE SCHOOL 45

COSTA RICA Service, Culture, & Adventure

COMPLETING GRADES: 6 – 8 DURATION: 22 DAYS DATES: JUNE 26 – JULY 17 DEPARTURE: MIAMI OR NEW YORK TUITION: $5,890 + AIRFARE

I mprove your Spanish while working with a Costa Rican cook.
Surf and snorkel in crystal-clear tropical waters.
Complete meaningful community service projects in our host village.
E xplore Arenal Volcano and relax in natural hot springs.

Known for friendly people, expansive beaches, and lush jungles, Costa Rica offers
a unique opportunity to delve into Tico culture through interaction with locals,
landscape, and wildlife. Begin at a beachside villa to get to know your group.
Volunteer at a monkey research center, swim under a beautiful waterfall, and
learn about marine ecology while snorkeling. Stay for two nights in a mountain
eco-lodge and kayak or ride on horseback around Lake Arenal. Spend a week in
a rural village and collaborate with locals on projects like building a classroom,
teaching English, or working with local farmers. Whether or not you study Spanish
in school, this program provides opportunities to improve language skills through
fun, dynamic, informal lessons and by engaging with locals. Visit us online for a
program description, itinerary, photos, and more!

46 MIDDLE SCHOOL MEET A LEADER ANSLEY RUBINSTEIN

Harvard University, B.A., Near Eastern Languages and
Civilizations, Arabic Literature
Ansley spent three consecutive summers traveling to Australia, Greece,
Austria, and Germany to write for the internationally published travel
guide Let’s Go. Her studies of urban issues have also taken her to India,
South Africa, and Argentina. An actress and dancer, Ansley taught
dance classes at an orphanage in Peru and performed at the Edinburgh
Fringe Festival in Scotland. Ansley speaks Arabic and Spanish and has
led three Putney programs.

My own first significant experience abroad was in high school, and
over the past summers with Putney, I have loved being a part of
this life-changing experience for my students. I love helping each
individual find his or her own path and not be afraid to learn through
what inspires them.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000

AVA HAD AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

she came home more excitedSHE WENT IN WITH AN OPEN MIND AND
than we’ve ever seen her.

— LILA & PETER STEINLE, LARKSPUR, CA

47

SPAIN Discovering Andalucía

COMPLETING GRADES: 7 & 8 DURATION: 17 DAYS DATES: JUNE 29 – JULY 15 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $5,990 + AIRFARE

Learn to dance flamenco in a traditional Spanish cueva.
Take a surf lesson on the white-sand beaches of the Costa del Sol.
E xplore La Alhambra, Granada’s ancient Arab fortress.
Venture into the Sierra Nevada mountains for hiking and canyoning.

Embark on a journey through Andalucia focusing on outdoor adventure and
Spanish culture. Spend a week living in the heart of Granada and explore this
enchanting city. Practice your Spanish, get an insider’s tour of La Alhambra, and
take a flamenco class with professional dancers. Spend two nights in a mountain
village and hike the tallest peak on the Iberian Peninsula. Travel to the Sierra
de Grazalema National Park for three nights in a white-washed village and
ride horseback with breathtaking peaks as your backdrop. End with three days
in Cádiz on the Costa del Sol. Whether or not you study Spanish in school, this
program provides opportunities to improve language skills through fun, dynamic,
informal lessons and by engaging with locals. Visit us online for a program
description, itinerary, photos, and more!

FRANCE & HOLLAND A Taste of Europe

COMPLETING GRADES: 7 & 8 DURATION: 18 DAYS DATES: JULY 2 – JULY 19 DEPARTURE: NEW YORK TUITION: $6,290 + AIRFARE

Ride a téléphérique high above Alpine glaciers.
Listen to jazz on the Île Saint-Louis in the heart of Paris.
Sample local cheeses as you bike through Holland’s countryside.
Discover van Gogh’s favorite haunts in Amsterdam.

On this adventurous journey across France and Holland, travel from the sky-
scraping Alps to dazzling Paris, bike past windmills and through villages in the
Dutch countryside, and explore Amsterdam’s neighborhoods by canal boat and
on foot. Begin at the base of Mont Blanc, as you hike through stunning French
Alpine ranges and stay in a mountain chalet. Continue to Paris to savor high
culture, explore the boulevards, the Latin Quarter, and the pleasures of daily
life in Europe’s most cosmopolitan city. Ride along Holland’s rural bike paths
to discover villages, long unspoiled beaches, and cheese markets. Then relax
in Amsterdam, explore its canals and streets, visit Anne Frank’s house, and
see paintings of van Gogh. Visit us online for a program description,
itinerary, photos, and more!

48 MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR MORE INFO VISIT GOPUTNEY.COM OR CALL 802.387.5000