2025 Mullen French Impressionism and Post Impressionism Program
| Travel Dates: |
March 22, 2025 -
March 31, 2025
Dates are tentative until flights are confirmed
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $1,200 |
Important Reminders
Passport check
Insurance Reminder
Fundraiser
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What to Expect
Please read through all of the information below. More details will be added as your departure draws closer.
Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 22 | USA - Paris | The group will depart the US and take an overnight flight to Paris | Airplane |
| March 23 | Paris | Today the group will arrive in Paris where we will meet our program leader and head to our hotel. After getting settled enjoying our first meal, we will take a boat trip on the Seine River. We'll pass many a famous monuments and soak in the scene of one of the world's most iconic cities. Then it's dinner at a local restaurant, after which we'll attend mass at a local church before heading back to the hotel. | Hotel Paris |
| March 24 | Paris | We will start our day visiting the Orangerie Museum, home of the famous Monet Waterlilies. After lunch, we will head to the beautiful Tuileries Garden, from here we can also see Louvre's pyramids and exterior. Next we'll continue on to the Place de la Concorde and the Place Vendome, a square dominated by a decorated column dedicated to the famous Napoleonic battle of Austerlitz. We'll move on to the home of the current French President - the Palais de l'Élysée , where we'll enjoy the beautiful view from outside. The afternoon will be an excellent chance to do some shopping at one of the most exclusive shopping districts in the world; Champs-Élysées. We'll finish up the day up at the Arc de Triomphe . We'll have dinner at a restaurant nearby. | Hotel Paris |
| March 25 | Paris | Today we will head to the Île des Impressionnistes, or Île de Chatou, is an island in the Seine located to the west of Île-de-France. We will spend the morning at the Fournaise Museum Chatou France where we will learn about the iconic French impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir and admire his work. If time allows, we will continue exploring the Island of Impressionists before lunch. Afterwards, we will take a private bus to the northwest part of the city. Auvers-sur-Oise is the place where Vincent Van Gogh lived, worked, and died. Students will get the chance to explore the neighborhood including a visit to a church the artist painted. We will then continue driving to Giverny where Monet’s studio and gardens are located. In the evening, we will drive back to Paris and have dinner near our hotel. | Hotel Paris |
| March 26 | Paris - Marseille | We say godbye to Paris today as we make our way to the beautiful south part of the country. After breakfast, we will take a high speed train to Marseille. From there we will drive to Aix-en-Provence where participants will visit the Atelier de Cezanne. This was Paul Cézanne's studio from 1902 until his death in 1906 and is now a biographical museum. We will also hike to some of the places where Cezanne used to paint. Before leaving town we will taste calissons, the local food speciality. | Hotel Marseille |
| March 27 | Marseille | Today we will explore north of Marseille. We will begin in St. Remy de Provence visiting the Estrine Museum, located in a beautiful private mansion l'Hotel Estrine which was built in 1749. Students will learn about VIncent Van Gogh's life and will be able to appreciate some of his work. We will then head to Hospice Paul de Mausole, the mental hospital where Vincent Van Gogh was taken in after the episode in which he cut off his ear and visit the room where he painted his famous Starry Night. After lunch, we will go to Baux de Provence where we will visit la Carriere des Lumieres, famous for its immersive and contemporary exhibitions that surround you with projections of famous art works. After dinner, we will head back to our hotel to rest for the day. | Hotel Marseille |
| March 28 | Marseille | We will begin our day with a visit to the Lasallian School Collège Saint Bruno La Salle, more details forthcoming. Afterward, we will take a break for a delightful lunch picnic. In the afternoon, we will shift gears to a more leisurely setting by heading towards the harbor area of Le Vieux Port of Marseille. Spend time shopping in the vibrant local markets or exploring the charming streets surrounding the port. We'll also enjoy a scenic 30-minute drive to the picturesque Village of Cassis and the famous National Parc Les Calanques de Cassis. | Hotel Marseille |
| March 29 | Marseille - Arles - Paris | After breakfast, we will head off the northwest part of Marseille, Arles. We will visit the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation to continue learning about this renowned artist. For lunch, we will visit Cafe Van Gogh, where he painted Café Terrace at Night in Arles in 1888. We will drive back to Marseille to catch our train back to Paris. After quickly settling into our hotel, we will visit the D'Orsay Museum, one of the best places to see impressionist and post-impressionist art. We will end the day with dinner at a local restaurant. | Hotel Paris |
| March 30 | Paris | We will head to Saint Sulpice, a church where our founder Saint John Baptiste de la Salle attended for seminary, and even get to see a chapel there dedicated to him. While there we will attend mass. After lunch, we will tour of one of the most important museums in the world: the Louvre, Inaugurated in 1793, it has a collection of more than 300,000 pieces, among them the Mona Lisa, the Virgin of the Rocks and the famous sculpture of the “Venus de Milo” along with the “Victory of Samothrace." From there, we will walk up to the Opera and admire the beautiful Palais Garnier. We'll tour the inside of the opera house. If time allows, we'll walk on to see the famous department store Galeries Lafayette and appreciate its architecture from the inside. We'll stop for Ladurée macarons, classic French treats before heading to dinner. We will enjoy a final celebratory dinner ahead of our flight home the next morning. | Hotel Paris |
| March 31 | Paris - USA | Today we will leave Paris for our flight back home. Bon voyage! | Your own bed, eventually! |
Fundraising
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Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Meininger Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes
Centrally located in Paris, this hotel features a shared lounge, terrace, and free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation provides a shared kitchen and a 24-hour front desk for guests. Guest rooms at the hotel are equipped with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom with free toiletries and a shower. Each room includes bed linen and towels. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Group Flight
Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.
Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.
Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.
We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.
FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION
Air travel can be unpredictable. Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc. Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route. Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night. Our primary role will be to keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a quick and effective resolution.
Host Community and Project Details
Packing List
What follows is a sample packing list but you know yourself better than we do so please adjust accordingly. We recommend you bring a larger piece of luggage like a roller, duffel bag, or backpack, as well as a smaller backpack that you can bring on daily outings, weekend excursions and shorter activities.
“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all our travelers. The list below should cover everything you would need, but know yourself and what you are comfortable traveling with. We suggest bringing only as much as you would be able to carry on your own.
Finally, we recommend consulting a weather forecast for your destination.
Most importantly, be sure to remember your PASSPORT!
CLOTHES (quantities depend on your trip length) :
- Underwear
- Socks (a mixture of good active socks and casual socks)
- T-shirts (some quick dry)
- Long sleeve shirts
- Sweaters or sweatshirts
- Underwear
- Shorts
- Rain jacket
- Travel/athletic shorts that are breathable and light
- Comfortable, everyday pants
- Nice shirt/top to be worn to more formal dinners (girls might want a skirt or something a little nicer for such occasions)
- Durable athletic/walking shoes
- Sandals (optional)
- Hat
TOILETRIES: BRING THE BASIC TOILETRIES YOU NEED PLUS:
- Sunscreen (you will use a lot)
- Mosquito repellent
- Band Aids and Neosporin
- Hand Sanitizer
- Medication in properly marked original container
MISCELLANEOUS:
- Sunglasses
- Journal and pen
- Book
- Camera (digital, disposable, waterproof)
- Power Converter
- Alarm Clock and watch
- Debit card/US Dollars (we recommend about $50-$150, depending on amount of desired souvenirs, extra items etc.)
- Durable water bottle
- 1 quick-dry towel
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Batteries
- Deck of cards or other portable games
- Host family gift
- STUDENT ID
- French/English Dictionary
Support Team
At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.
Harriet Docena
France Country Director
Harriet caught the travel bug early in her life. Born in the Philippines, with 7,107 islands, both of her parents are avid travelers. Most of their weekends and holidays were spent roadtripping and traveling to new places. After finishing her degree in Fashion design and merchandising, she realized that the fashion world was not for her. That’s why in 2006, she left her job and worked as a photographer on cruise ships. For years, she traveled the world to places such as the Caribbean, Alaska, South America, Europe, the Mediterranean, Hawaii, and Asia. After working and traveling nonstop, she decided to choose a place where she can stay put and have a “normal life”. In 2010 she was lucky to be awarded a “skills and talents” visa in France and chose Paris to be her new home. Harriet is also an avid surfer which brought her to different surf spots and exotic locations around the world. As of this moment, she has visited 80+ countries and around 500+ cities. She doesn’t think she will ever stop traveling. Nowadays, you can find Harriet traveling around Europe, obsessed with her chihuahua and surfing when the European waters are not that cold.
Emory University – B.A. Sociology and minor in Latin American History
During college, Luke spent a semester living and traveling in rural Mexico. His experience sparked a fascination with Latin America and a commitment to community service that continues to this day. Upon graduating from college, he joined WorldTeach and lived with a local family in a small village in Costa Rica while teaching elementary English. After this experience, he moved to San José, the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and wrote for The Tico Times newspaper. Luke has since traveled to over 60 countries on five different continents. Now settled in Denver with his family, he continues to crave massive helpings of rice and beans.
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
- 1 Laurel Gerali
- 2 Logan Gadbury
- 3 Xavier Buck
Blog and Communication
During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program. Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families bak home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.
Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.
GLC Curriculum
Walking Tree has developed a curriculum of activities meant to help travelers get the most out of their trip before departure, during travel and after they return home. These simple and engaging activities are meant to spark discussion, frame experiences, and prepare participants to travel ethically and effectively both on this trip and on future adventures.For more information about student learning objectives and the format of the curriculum, click on the ‘learn more’ button below.
To view and complete the Pre-Program Activities, visit our online portal at the button below.
Standards of Behavior
In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational. As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.
IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL
- Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE
- Getting a piercing or tattoo.
- Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
- Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
- Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
- Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
- Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
- Breaking group rules.
These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.
Health and Safety
We strongly recommend visiting the CDC France website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult with your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before travel.
Our in-country staff prepare meticulously for all programs. Walking Tree will register our programs and travelers with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in case of emergency. In country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families via in depth interviews and home visits, and keep up on important current events in the region.
Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in a multi-day leadership training retreat. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff and U.S.-based staff.
We receive medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we are able to meet every students’ needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues that you did not list during your initial registration process. Program Leaders will also hold an online information session before your departure, as well as an arrival orientation in-country, in order to give participants important instructions on food safety, hygiene and preventing injury and illness. Leaders and in-country staff always respond immediately to any mental, physical or emotional health issues and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.
Insurance
While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel is never without risk. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with two additional provisions: Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Bed Rest. Detailed explanations of both provisions can be found on the link below.
To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry. Begin by getting a quote here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage with CFAR included, you must purchase the plan within 21 days of your deposit/first payment. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight.