Our History

Going beyond for 69 years

Since 1951 Putney students have trekked the globe, immersing themselves in cultures and communities as their lives are changed.

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.

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.

1972 – Putney’s first program in Africa explores Tanzania and summits Mt. Kilimanjaro.

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 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 – Putney inaugurates its first program dedicated entirely to service, in Montserrat in the Caribbean following Hurricane Hugo.

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.

2005 – At Yale University, Putney introduces programs focused on global awareness, with students addressing issues of poverty, sustainability, development, healthcare, and much more.

2007 – National Geographic and Putney partner to create National Geographic Student Expeditions. Learn more about this collaboration on page 69.

2017 – The New York Times and Putney partner to create New York Times Student Journeys. Learn more about this collaboration on page 70.

2020 – Putney invests in carbon offsets to cover carbon emissions on group flights, launches programs focused on careers to inspire future leaders, and brings back its classic Mount Kilimanjaro program.

the barn today

Our team includes educators, linguists, world travelers, a former ship captain, a governor, an MFA in writing, Watson and Fulbright fellows, artists, moms and dads, a capuchin monkey researcher, and much more. Give us a call or connect with us on the road as we travel to meet with prospective students this winter.