For students currently in grades 9–12
Pre-College
Barcelona
Tokyo
Tuscany
You may also like
French
France
Mandarin
China
Spanish
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Spain
Climate & Conservation
Baja & the Gulf of California
Belize
Canadian Arctic
Chile
Iceland
Namibia
You may also like
Columbia Climate School Collaboration
Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit
Australia & Fiji
Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji
Croatia & Slovenia
Iceland
Italy & Greece
Japan
Kilimanjaro
Norway
Patagonia: Skiing
Switzerland, France, & Holland
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i
Morocco
Nepal
Peru
Puerto Rico
Tanzania
Thailand
Vietnam

2-weeks & under

Campus-Based

Climate & Sustainability

Eligible for rising 9th graders

Intensives & Workshops

New for 2025!

North America Based

Putney Classics

Science & Nature

Patagonia: Skiing
Switzerland, France, & Holland
Switzerland, Italy, France, & Holland
For students currently in grades 6–8
Eligible for 8th grade*
Columbia Climate School Collaboration
Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit
*These programs are typically for students in grades 9–12, however motivated rising 9th graders will be considered
Grades 7&8
France & Holland
Iceland
Ireland
Italy & Greece
Grades 7&8
France
Spain
Grades 6–8
Costa Rica
Grades 7&8
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i
Special programs & collaborations
Custom Programs

Looking to create a custom program or collaboration?

smithsonianstudenttravel-icon

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

columbia-climate-school-icon

Campus-based climate change program for grades 9–12

Over the years, Putney students have traveled to hundreds of destinations, immersed themselves in cultures and communities around the globe, and found their lives changed by these experiences. The resulting memories, photographs, and extraordinary pursuits are a testament to Putney’s seven decades of quality summer programs in the U.S. and abroad.

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1951

The first trip departs by steamship for Switzerland, Italy, France, and Holland, led by founders George and Kitty Shumlin. The ocean crossing takes ten days each way—three weeks of an eight-week program.

putneyarchives-1005-600x420-1
1957

During the Cold War, Putney becomes the first organization to take high school students to the U.S.S.R., exploring Moscow and Leningrad and living with Russian students on the Black Sea.

1968-tanzania-lions
1968

Putney’s first program in Africa explores Tanzania and summits Mt. Kilimanjaro.

1983-george-and-kitty-retire
1983

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

1986-china
1986

Chinese Revolutionary hero Bill Hinton opens doors for Putney in China. Students bicycle through coal-mine country in Shanxi Province and live with Chinese families in an agricultural commune still closed to westerners in Shandong Province.

1990-service-caribbean
1990

Putney inaugurates its first program dedicated entirely to community service, in Montserrat in the Caribbean following a hurricane. The next year, we expand to Costa Rica and today our Service groups work in numerous nations around the world.

amherst-college-sign
1992

Excel at Williams and Amherst College, among the first campus-based Putney Pre-College programs, provides a model for new learning opportunities.

putney-barn
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 office: The Barn. Putney also pioneers a program in Havana, Cuba.

yale-gates
2005

At Yale University, Putney introduces programs focused on global awareness, with students addressing issues of poverty, sustainability, development, health care, and much more.

2007-natgeo
2007

National Geographic and Putney partner to create National Geographic Student Expeditions—dedicated to creating summer travel opportunities for the next generation of explorers, writers, scientists, filmmakers, and photographers.

2017-nyt
2017

The New York Times and Putney partner to create New York Times Student Journeys.

2019-carbon-offset
2019

Putney invests in carbon offsets to cover carbon emissions on group flights and launches programs focused on careers to inspire future leaders.

students-sitting-circle-iceland
2020

Putney responds to the global health crisis by developing a Pre-College program in Vermont and launching Gap programs in carefully selected international locations.

harvard-youth-summit
2021

Putney introduces programs focused on climate change and public health in partnership with Harvard Chan C-CHANGE, and Putney students return safely to international summer programs.

students-smithsonian-student-travel
2022

The Smithsonian Institution and Putney collaborate to offer Smithsonian Student Travel, programs drawing on the Smithsonian’s vast reach and resources around the world.

becca-and-olivia-shumlin
2023

Putney Directors Pete and Jeff pass the reins, after 40 years, to Pete’s daughters, Olivia and Becca Shumlin.

Pre-College
Barcelona
Tokyo
Tuscany
Intensives
Oxford Academia
You may also like
Climate & Conservation
Baja & the Gulf of California
Belize
Canadian Arctic
Chile
Iceland
Namibia
Culture & Art
Science & Business
Exploration
Australia & Fiji
Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji
Croatia & Slovenia
Iceland
Italy & Greece
Japan
Kilimanjaro
Norway
Patagonia: Skiing
Switzerland, France, & Holland
Switzerland, Italy, France, & Holland
French
France
Mandarin
China
Spanish
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Spain
You may also like
Service
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i
Hawai'i
Morocco
Nepal
Peru
Puerto Rico
Tanzania
Thailand
Vietnam
Eligible for 8th grade*​
Columbia Climate School Collaboration
Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summit
*These programs are typically for students in grades 9–12, however motivated rising 9th graders will be considered
Grades 7&8​
Ireland
Iceland
France & Holland
Italy & Greece
Grades 7&8​
France
Spain
Grades 6–8
Costa Rica
Grades 7&8​
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Hawai'i

Why Choose Putney?

Putney has been the leader in student travel and educational summers for more than 70 years. As a family-run organization, our decades of experience, our dedication to quality programs, and the personal service you receive are unmatched.

We invite you to subscribe to hear about new programs and upcoming events, and start your path to the summer of a lifetime.