Excursions and Visits
The Hamilton Junior Year in France offers a rich program of excursions and visits included in the annual fee, at no cost for students.
Excursions and visits, an important element of the HCJYF, give students the opportunity to broaden their experience beyond the classroom and get acquainted with aspects of French culture and history. Excursions are designed to provide an array of activities, the least of which is not discovering regional cuisines and historical, cultural, or artistic treasures.
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Weekend or day trips: The program organizes four or five overnight excursions in different regions of France (Brittany and Mont St. Michel; Provence; the Loire Valley castles; Alsace, etc.) as well as some day trips in areas not too distant from Paris (e.g.: Fontainebleau, Giverny). Whenever possible, excursions include both visits to historical points of interest and to local places of activity (e.g.: vineyards, farms, workshops). Travel, accommodation in hotels, meals, visits and guides are included in the program's annual fee.
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Visits within Paris: Depending on student interest, the director may organize guided visits to unusual sites in Paris (e.g.: Institut du Monde Arabe; the Gobelins tapestry workshop; the catacombs; the Père Lachaise cemetery; or guided thematic walks in particular neighborhoods).
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Co-curricular/cultural activities: Some Hamilton classes include regular visits to sites in Paris or outside Paris (e.g.: "Modern French Art" alternates classes at Reid Hall with visits to various museums and monuments; "French Theater" includes shows in renowned theaters every two or three weeks; entrance to films required for certain cinema classes will be reimbursed by the program).
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Cultural outings allowance. Students are reimbursed up to a certain amount for selected cultural outings they do independently (European films, museum and monument visits, opera, ballet etc...)
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Group dinner parties and receptions. In addition to the traditional Thanksgiving group dinner, there are occasional receptions and other meals organized for the HCJYF students during the year.
