Switzerland, Italy, France & Holland

This is the original Putney Student Travel program, first led in 1951 by founders George and Kitty Shumlin. That first group took ten days to travel to Europe by steamship, sent telegrams home, and explored Europe for two months before returning home by boat.

Cities to Peaks in Western Europe

• Glacier trek and rock climb with professional guides • View iconic artwork in Paris, Florence, and Amsterdam • Dive into local life during a family homestay in Italy • Savor Swiss chocolate, French baguettes, and Italian pasta

Destination • Explore the majestic Swiss Alps, then travel to Italy to experience the Renaissance city of Florence and enjoy a homestay in the small, coastal town of Osimo. Take a multi-day trek in the Dolomites, wander the cobbled streets of Paris, and traverse the Netherlands by bicycle, ending in Amsterdam.

Themes • Get a taste of Europe’s incredible diversity—from the culture, history, and cuisine of Paris, Florence, and Amsterdam, to mountaintop adventures in the Swiss Alps and Italian Dolomites. Stay with a host family in a small coastal village in Italy and immerse yourself in the daily life of the local community.

Activities • Go canyoning in Switzerland, take a cooking class in Florence, and savor traditional pancakes in the Dutch countryside. Climb peaks in the Dolomites, explore the art and architecture of Paris, and cycle your way through the Netherlands. Visit Anne Frank’s house and cruise the canals of Amsterdam.

Detailed itineraries and more at goputney.com

June 28–July 31

Completing Grades: 9–12 • 34 days • $9,690 + airfare Group Flight: Departs from New York

language

Active Immersion in Language & Culture

Immerse yourself in a language abroad to accelerate the pace of learning. Challenge yourself outside of the classroom with active language lessons, cultural immersion, and real-world use of your Spanish, French, or Mandarin skills.

Improve your confidence speaking through daily interactions with native speakers. Cook alongside your host mom in an Ecuadorian village. Take a calligraphy lesson in Beijing. Spend a week with a homestay family in Alsace, France. Interview locals in Madrid’s Retiro Park.

For Spanish and French programs, 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.

I am so happy and proud of myself that I can now truly speak in French with confidence.

– Josh H., Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, MD

Also available for Middle School

See pages 62 & 63