View program details and itinerary below.

Leader Profiles:
Dr. Bert Whetstone: Team leader, family psychologist (www.drbertwhetstone.com), musician, athlete and author, majored in French at Wesleyan University and the Sorbonne. A writing sabbatical in the Alps brought Bert into contact with the mountain guides, athletes, and musicians who assist with group activities. Bert has led youth adventure tours in the U.S. and around Europe.

Deborah Moore Orsini: International lecturer and youth activity leader, ten-year resident of France and experienced tour guide. She earned her Masters in French from Middlebury College. Debby teaches language, culture and cuisine.

Olivier Audouard: French national residing in Ardèche, musician with published songs. Responsible for rafting excursion on the Gorges de l’Ardèche, home stays and evening music fests in Valence.

Dom Sebastia & Evelyn Wittmer: Experienced Alpine mountaineers, youth sports instructors, musicians, and worldwide outdoor enthusiasts. Responsible for Alpine sports and overnight hike.

Program

Sixteen students in 8^th to 11^th grades will have the cultural and
adventure-based experience of a lifetime! 

Goals:

Adventurers will learn French language and culture through sports, cooking, music, photography, and contact with French people in all destinations. 

Activities:

· Learn French history “up close and personal” on walking tours through historical areas and castles in Paris, Versailles, and the Loire Valley

· Meet local musicians and learn traditional and popular French songs

· Discover art via museum scavenger hunts

· Explore, shop, and learn how to use local transportation in Paris

· Bike the rolling hills of the Loire Valley

· Play tennis, bike, kayak, and raft in stunning settings in Ardèche and the Alps

· Practice  photography in the Alps

· Hike and camp in high-Alpine terrain

Outcomes:

Adventurers return home with:

· Increased French language skills and a conversation book based on their travels

· Digital photos capturing their adventures

· Repertoire of French recipes to cook for family and friends

· Songbook of traditional and popular French songs to take back to school

· Appreciation of French culture and sports

And, above all, a wealth of life-long memories and connections

Itinerary

         Depart USA - Overnight flight to Paris

PARIS

Day 1:  Arrive Paris am.  Move into hotel. Picnic lunch in Luxembourg Gardens.  Visit Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe.

Day 2:  Historical Walking Tour of Paris:   Madeleine, Place de la Concorde, St Germain, Quartier Latin, Notre Dame, Ile de la Cité.   Evening:   Buffet à la française : pâtés, fromages, pâtisseries in a Parisian appartement..

Day 3: Discover art , architecture and shopping.  Museum scavenger hunts: the Louvre and l’Orangerie.  Visit Tuileries Gardens, Opéra, grands magasins.  Evening in Montmartre.

VERSAILLES

Day 4:  Splendors of the Sun King’s Palace.    Visit the Palace and gardens, picnic lunch near the Hamlet of Marie-Antoinette.  Transfer to the Loire Valley, and Blois.

LOIRE VALLEY

Day 5:  Châteaux de la Loire:  Visit Blois.  Bike and picnic by the Loire River.  Afternoon visit to the Château de Chenonceau.

ARDECHE

Day 6:  Travel to Valence.  French cooking lesson, evening music fest, home stays with French families.

Day 7:  All day white water rafting on the Gorges de l’Ardèche.  Evening music & home stay.

FRENCH ALPS

Day 8:  Travel to Vallandry in the French Alps.  Move into gîte, French cooking lesson and music.  Instruction in Alpine sports and photography.

Day 9:  Choose among alpine tennis, mountain biking, kayaking, and photography.

Day 10:  Alpine overnight hike

Day 11:  Return from Alpine hike. Music celebration at local restaurant. 

PARIS

Day 12:  Transfer to Paris.  Paris by Night.

Day 13:  Depart for USA. Arrive late afternoon. 

Adventurers impress their families with their enthusiasm and storehouse of knowledge!