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Putney History

How long has Putney been offering programs?

George and Kitty Shumlin, the parents of Putney’s present directors Peter and Jeff Shumlin, began offering programs for secondary school students 56 years ago – in the summer of 1952.  2008 will be Putney’s 57^th summer.  In the last few years, Putney has enrolled the first students whose grandparents attended a Putney program.     

Where is Putney located?

Putney is located in the same renovated barn on a dirt road in Putney, Vermont where Putney was founded 56 years ago.

Is there any connection with the Putney School?

Only that we are both located in Putney, Vermont!

Where can I get more information?

For more details about our directors and some entertaining pictures from the olden days, please click here.

What makes Putney different?

Here are some of the qualities that set Putney apart:

• A Half Century of Experience
  2008 will be our 57th summer. Putney's extraordinarily extensive track record in delivering successful, safe, and fun programs gives parents and participants confidence.
   

• Personal Attention
  Putney is a small, family-run organization. We enjoy getting to know participants and their families on an individual basis. If you have questions before or during a program, our directors are easy to reach and eager to help.
   

• Hands-on Activities
  There's nothing passive about a Putney program. Whether in a village in India or at Amherst College, participants are actively engaged. Putney groups work with and learn from local people. Participants have fun!
   

• Emphasis on Group Dynamics
  Every Putney program, whether it involves a small or a large group, has as a central focus the development of a positive and supportive group dynamic. Through their active engagement in the group, participants learn leadership skills, take ownership of
  their programs, and make life-long friends.
   

• Outstanding Leadership
  Putney leaders and instructors are fun, energetic, creative, safety-conscious, and knowledgeable. They love working with teenagers,and are attracted to the opportunity to go beyond the superficial level and to get to know each participant as a mentor and a friend. Many staff are introduced in our catalog and on our website - get
  to know them!
   

• An Atmosphere of Structure
  Putney participants spend most of their time in structured activities that they are directly involved in planning and implementing. This insures that the group explores the interests and talents of all participants, and works together to develop and share new
  experiences. Basic rules ensure safety, mutual trust, and respect within the group, and these rules are enforced.
   

• Innovative Programming
  Since its earliest days, Putney has offered an unusually diverse range of opportunities. These include destinations seldom visited, and interesting, uncommon activities in familiar locations. We take pride in our careful, thorough preparation and attention
  to detail.

Program Size

How big are Putney’s programs?

Many of Putney’s programs, including all Community Service, Global Awareness in Action, Language Learning, and Cultural Exploration, are small groups, limited to 16-18 students with 2 leaders – one male, one female. Excel programs are larger, ranging from 40 – 70 for international destinations and 100 - 150 for the Amherst College sessions.  Putney Foundations has 40 – 50 students in each unit.

Safety

You have some programs in some unusual places.  Are they safe?

Our primary concern is the safety of our students and leaders.  We do not offer programs in locations we consider to be unsafe.  We stay up-to-date on all formal travel warnings.  At least as importantly, in each of our destinations we have many local contacts whom we stay in touch with to be certain that we are aware of any safety issues that may arise.

What precautions does Putney take to insure that students are safe?

Putney’s programs are structured.  Students don’t go to another country and “hang out”.  The great majority of their time is spent in group activities involving program leaders who are experienced travelers, and who know the local area.  The leaders live with the students in the same accommodations.  A leader is present during all evening activities.  During brief periods of unstructured time during the day, students are encouraged to do some exploring on their own, but not by themselves.      

Health Care

What happens if a student gets sick?

Putney’s response to health issues depends on the nature of the problem.  Each of our leaders is certified in Basic First Aid.  They respond to minor complaints – a short-term cough, upset stomach, or blister.  If a problem develops that requires medical care, leaders contact Putney directly, and we contact parents.  The leaders take students to a local clinic or doctor whom we have identified, and referrals are made from that point as required in response to the severity of the problem.  For programs in Africa and Asia, students are covered by an emergency medical evacuation policy provided by International SOS (www.internationalsos.com).

Is special health insurance needed?

Students are required to have their own health insurance.  Most U.S. policies will cover treatment in other countries if documentation of expenditures is provided.  Our leaders collect this documentation, and we pass it along to parents. 

Communication

How can students and parents communicate during the summer?

While students on our Excel programs and our Europe-based Language Learning programs generally have easy access to phones and e-mail, many of our Community Service and Global Action programs are located in small, rural villages with few communications options.  Students on these programs have periodic access to phones and/or e-mail when they visit larger towns, generally on weekends.  Because of substantial time differences with the U.S. on many programs, e-mail is the best way to correspond.  Program leaders will show students who wish to make calls how to use stored-credit phone cards that students can purchase in-country.

What if there’s an emergency?

Putney maintains a 24/7 emergency phone line while programs are in progress.  After office hours, this line rings in the homes of our directors.  In the event of an emergency, parents and leaders can always reach us.  Our leaders have cell phones so that we can reach them if necessary.

Can students bring cell phones on programs?
Cell phones are prohibited on all Putney programs except for Excel programs.  Creating a tight-knit community within each group of students and leaders is a central goal of every program.  Cell phones, by encouraging students to focus outside the group and by intruding on group activities, seriously interfere with efforts to develop a sense of community in our small group programs.  Students may bring a cell phone to help with travel to and from their U.S. departure city but only for that purpose.  Cell phones will be collected from students when they join the group at the departure city airport and will be returned when they reach that airport at the end of the program.  They will not be available to students during the program.

How can parents stay up-to-date on a particular program’s activities?

During the summer, Putney maintains a separate on-line blog for each unit of each program.  Parents are provided with directions on how to access the blog for their child’s program.  Leaders update the blogs periodically, generally about weekly, though the itineraries of some programs may result in less frequent updates.  Checking the blog is a good way to get a sense of program activities.

Rules

What expectations does Putney have for students? 

We expect Putney participants to maintain high standards of personal behavior. Since they are encouraged, within the structure of the programs, to take leadership roles and to make some of their own discoveries, students whose parents require them to be under  constant surveillance or who are likely to act irresponsibly, use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, or behave in a disruptive or disrespectful manner, should not apply.  Students who violate our few rules are subject to dismissal. 

Are rules enforced?

We expect students to take the rules seriously, and we enforce them.  Unfortunately, a few students are dismissed each summer.

Tuition

Are international flights included in the program tuition?

The cost of flights from a particular departure city in the U.S. (New York, Miami, Los Angeles, or Houston depending on the program) to the destination country is included in the cost of all of our programs except the Excel programs and Community Service Alaska (which begins and ends in Juneau).  The tuition for Global Action programs also includes the cost of international flights, though these programs begin and end at Yale University.  Students are responsible for flights to and from the U.S. departure city.  Students attending international Excel programs can choose to participate in an escorted group flight available through Putney at an additional cost.           

Are there additional fees or expenses?

Tuition fees for Community Service, Global Awareness in Action, Language Learning, Cultural Exploration, and Putney Foundations programs are inclusive of transportation from the particular U.S. departure city and return, accommodations, food, and all activities. There are no hidden fees.  Students are responsible for personal expenses including telephone/e-mail, laundry, souvenirs and similar items.  Tuition for Excel programs is also inclusive, except that the programs in Oxford/Tuscany, Madrid/Barcelona, and Paris/Provence include two meals per day.  For details on what Excel tuitions cover please go to http://www.goputney.com/About/Dates/dates_Frame.htm

Travel to/from programs

Where do Putney programs begin and end?

Putney programs begin and end at the airport of a particular U.S. departure city (New York, Miami. Los Angeles, or Houston depending on the program) expect for the Alaska Community Service program that begins and ends in Juneau, the Global Awareness in Action programs that all begin and end at Yale University, and the Excel Amherst College programs that begin and end at that campus.

How do students connect with their group?

We provide students and parents with detailed information about where to meet up with their group at the departure city airport.  In our small group programs (Community Service, Global Awareness in Action, Language Learning, and Cultural Exploration) one or both leaders accompany students on the flight in both directions.  For international Excel programs and Putney Foundations, adult escorts from Putney accompany the flights in both directions.

If there are problems with connecting flights, what happens?

We set a meeting time at the departure city airport that allows for plenty of extra time prior to the flight’s actual departure.  In addition to one or both of the program leaders, Putney has a representative at the departure airport to assist with logistics.  In the event of delays on connecting flights, parents/students can contact Putney on our 24/7 emergency line.

Friends

Do students usually come with a friend?

On our small group programs (Community Service, Global Awareness in Action, Language Learning, and Cultural Exploration) our view is that the dynamic of the group is best when few, if any, of the students come with a friend.  In this context, we generally limit the number of acquaintances on these programs to two pairs, and do not allow any groups of three or more.  This insures that the great majority of students on these programs are coming on their own.  We do not have this limitation on our larger group programs (Excel, Putney Foundations) because of the differences in the group dynamics of a larger group.  However, students typically don’t come to these programs in large blocks from particular schools or communities.

What if a student is concerned about coming without a friend?

Creating a positive, supportive, interactive, fun group dynamic is one of the most important goals of every Putney program.  From the first meeting through the entire program, leaders and program directors organize activities that foster a sense of community, and intervene if special attention is needed.

Financial Aid

Is scholarship assistance available?

The Putney Open Door Fund has limited funds available to help prospective applicants who cannot afford Putney’s programs.  Awards are limited to families whose annual income is under $40,000/year and who have few assets.  For more details on the Putney Open Door Fund, please see http://www.goputney.com/About/Open%20Door/OpenDoor_Frame.htm

Additional Information

Where is there more information about Putney’s programs?

• For most programs we have a description that includes more detail than is included in our catalog or on our web site.  If you would like to receive one or more of these by e-mail, please call Putney at 802-387-5000. 
   

• During January and February each year, representatives from Putney travel around the country making presentations at the homes of alumni families.  For a complete list of these presentations, please see our web site or call Putney at 802-387-5000. 
   

• Captioned slide shows for each program are available on-line.  Please call us for directions on accessing these.
   

• If you would like to speak to parents or students from alumni families who have participated in last year’s program to the destination you are interested in, please call us and we will provide you with contact information.
   

• You can review brief bios of each leader from last summer at our web site.  See http://www.goputney.com/About/Leader/about_leaders_Frame.htm .

Community Service

What kind of student chooses a Community Service program?

Our Community Service programs are based in small, rural communities in developing countries.  Students focus on community service work on weekdays, and travel with the group to local areas of interest on weekends.  Students who participate in community service programs need to be enthusiastic about lending a hand (which often involves getting dirty and sweaty!) and living in a community very different from what they are used to at home.  Students who are energetic, open to new experiences, and genuinely interested in helping do best on community service programs. Students generally work 5 to 6 hours a day on weekdays.

How many students are there on each community service unit?

There are 16 to 18 students on each unit.  In countries (like Costa Rica) where there are multiple units, each is separate – different units never join together during the course of the program.

What kind of service work do students on Community Service programs do?

On most Community Service programs, students are involved in a variety of projects.  Generally there is a small-scale construction project, for e.g. building a classroom for a school, an addition to a community building, an outdoor basketball court, a section of a water or drainage system, or an improved road.  Students almost always work with local young people, running an arts/sports day camp for younger kids, or teaching English to kids, teenagers or young adults.  There are often maintenance projects ranging from completely repainting a community building, to clearing an outdoor space for use as a soccer field, to small-scale help provided to local elders or others in particular need.  Finally, since almost all of the villages are agricultural, students often help with local crops, build animal pens or small greenhouses, or take part in an environmental project like planting trees.  Because Putney responds to the particular needs identified by local village leaders, the precise projects for each summer generally aren’t determined until late spring. 

What if a student just wants to work with kids?

All students on Community Service programs take part in all of the projects that the group undertakes.  Students should expect to be involved in physical labor as part of the experience.

Do students need to have special skills?

Students do not need to be skilled construction workers to participate in Community Service programs.  What’s required is a willingness to get involved, take initiative, be patient with the occasional setback, and be flexible in responding to challenges.

Do students have fun on Community Service programs?

Yes!  First, Putney leaders help students see that all of their work can be fun.  Work and fun don’t have to be separate experiences.  Mixing cement can be a dance, not drudgery.  Outside of service hours during the week there is plenty of time for getting to know people in the village, taking a short hike to a waterfall/swimming hole, attending a local fiesta or dance, playing soccer or basketball with local people, taking photographs, playing music or drumming with local teenagers, writing a journal, and getting to know your new friends from the group.  On weekends the group travels together to areas of interest in the region.  Visit a cloud forest, surf at a deserted beach, soak in volcanic hot springs, cruise through a mangrove swamp in search of alligators and scarlet macaws, talk with monks at a Vietnamese pagoda, or ride a camel in the Indian desert.

How many work hours can a student expect to do on a program?

At the end of the program, leaders provide students with a certificate indicating the hours of service work they have done.  This varies depending on the actual activities of the group, but is generally between 80 and 100 hours.  Students must complete the entire program successfully to receive a certificate.

Do students in community service groups live in home stays?

There are no home stays on Putney community service programs.  Students and leaders live together as a group throughout the program.

Where do community service groups live, and what do they eat?

Putney community service groups live in very simple conditions – generally in sleeping bags on pads on the floor of a local school or other community building that is not in use.  Sometimes our groups rent one or two small, simple houses in the village.  There is separate space for boys and girls, and basic bathroom facilities.  Generally there is running water, but in a few locations students use an outhouse and learn to shower using a bucket.  Food is provided by one or two local people who shop for food for the group and do the cooking.  Students, in small work teams, help out with this on a rotating basis.  The food is simple and nutritious and emphasizes local products, e.g. beans, rice, chicken, eggs, and fresh fruit in Central America and the Caribbean, rice, noodles, chicken, seafood, and fresh vegetables in Vietnam.  Students (and leaders) who are vegetarians participate in our programs every summer.  While the local cooks make an effort to accommodate American tastes, students whose diet is limited to a few familiar items have to make an effort to try some new things!

Who are the leaders?

Each community service program has two leaders, one male, one female.  They are college graduates, generally in their 20’s.  We choose leaders who are fun, energetic, creative, safety-conscious, and experienced in the region where the program is located.  At least one of the leaders speaks the local language.  Often, both do.  A significant number of leaders return from year to year, though returning leaders often don’t lead the same program again.  They may lead Costa Rica one year, and Ecuador the next, or Senegal and then Ghana, etc.  For detailed information about last summer’s community service leaders, see http://www.goputney.com/About/Leader/about_leaders_Frame.htm.

Global Awareness in Action

What’s the difference between Global Action and Community Service programs?

Putney created the Global Action programs for students who want to focus their interest in developing countries on a particular set of challenges that a single country faces – health care and HIV/AIDS prevention in Malawi, grass-roots community development in El Salvador, habitat preservation and environmental stress in Madagascar, economic transformation in China, etc.  Student explore the issue in detail by talking with local NGO workers, participating in service projects, doing independent research, and discussing their observations with the program leaders and with other members of their group.  While hands-on service work is a part of the experience, it is not the central component of the program as it is in community service programs.  Global Action programs begin and end a Yale University with discussion and presentation sessions involving all Global Action program participants.         

How many students participate in each Global Action program? 

There are 16 students and two leaders on each program.              

What kind of student chooses a Global Action program?

Global Action participants have a strong interest in the topic that is the focus of one of the programs.  They want to explore this topic in-depth and they understand that getting actively involved is the best way to do so.  They also enjoy the opportunity to sharpen their understanding through extended discussion, and by putting together a group presentation for the Yale University segment at the end of the program.  They are committed to staying involved in continuing efforts to understand problems and find solutions.

Do students have fun on Global Action programs? 

While the subject matter of these programs is serious, students have fun interacting with the people they meet both in formal discussions and in informal settings at a meal, festival, or dance, or on a soccer field or basketball court.  Recreational activities aren’t a focus, but there are opportunities to go for a hike, swim, or ride a bike, explore a temple or palace, visit an extraordinary market, play guitar or drums with local people, or drink tea and visit with a huge extended family in a simple village home.

How many work hours can a student expect to do on a Global Action program?

At the end of the program, leaders provide students with a certificate indicating the hours of service work they have done.  This varies depending on the actual activities of the group, but is generally between 20 and 40 hours.  Students must complete the entire program successfully to receive a certificate.

Where do Global Action students live, and what do they eat?

Students live in campus dorms at Yale at the beginning and end of the program, and very simple guest houses or accommodations similar to those in community service programs while in-country.  Meals are provided as in the community service programs.

Who are the leaders?

Global Action leaders have all the qualities of other Putney leaders.  In addition, they have a background in the focus issue of the program.  For detailed information about last summer’s Global Action leaders, see http://www.goputney.com/About/Leader/about_leaders_Frame.htm.

Language Learning/Cultural Exploration (LL/CE)

How many students are on each unit of LL/CE programs?

Each LL/CE program has 16 to 18 participants and two leaders.

Where do students on LL/CE programs stay, and what do they eat?

Students stay in small, family-owned hotels, guest houses, university dormitories, and small hostels, and supplement restaurant food with frequent picnic meals.  LL programs in Costa Rica have accommodations and food identical to Community Service programs. 

Are there home stays on LL/CE programs?

All language learning programs include a one week home stay with a local family.  Placements are carefully arranged by an on-site coordinator who knows the community well.  Generally only one student is placed with each family in LL programs in order to maximize language immersion.  CE programs in Australia/New Zealand, and in Europe also include week-long home stays.  This provides an excellent opportunity to become fully engaged in another culture.  During all home stays, the program leaders stay in the community where the home stays are located and are available to the students to work through any difficulties they may encounter.  Our experience in over 50 years of home stays is that they cause anxiety in advance, but that students often pick them out as the high light of their experience.

The LL programs in Costa Rica and Argentina include community service:  How does that work?

LL programs in Costa Rica are based in locations identical to those of the regular Costa Rica Community Service programs – small, rural villages, and students work on service projects throughout the program.  The differences with the regular programs are that the students agree to speak only Spanish, language learning is one of the specific goals of the program, and students have a week-long home stay with a village family.  During the home stay they rejoin the group each day to continue with service projects.  The LL Argentina program is similar except that the service component is smaller (about 40 hours vs. about 80 hours) and, with the group living in the small city of Lujan close to Buenos Aires, there are more cultural opportunities.

Who are the leaders?

LL/CE leaders have all the qualities of other Putney leaders (see Community Service Leader description).  In addition, LL leaders are fluent in the target language, Theatre in Britain leaders are experienced actors/directors, and Creative Writing in India are published writers.   For detailed information about last summer’s CE/LL leaders, see http://www.goputney.com/About/Leader/about_leaders_Frame.htm. . 

Excel

Each Excel program has a separate set of FAQs:

Excel at Amherst College
Excel China
Excel Madrid/Barcelona
Excel Oxford/Tuscany
Excel Paris/Provence