The Center for Gifted Studies

TRAVEL AND STUDY PROGRAMS

Travel/study tours are opportunities for eighth grade and high school honors students as well as interested adults to learn about the history, culture, and wonders of such places as London, Florence, Venice, Australia and Rome. Travel/study tours are usually offered during spring break.

SPRING BREAK IN PARIS,

March 30 - April 8, 2007

What is it?
Am I eligible to go?
When is the deadline?
How much is it?
What is the itinerary?
How do I apply?
What about...? Some frequently asked questions.

(For the complete Spring Break in Paris travel brochure in .pdf format, click here.) If you would like a brochure mailed to you please let us know (270.745.6323 or gifted@wku.edu.

What is it? This program is an opportunity for eighth grade and high school honors students as well as interested adults to spend spring break learning about the history, culture, pageantry, and people of France. This program, sponsored by The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University, is designed to provide participants with a carefully structured experience in Paris and selected points of interest outside Paris. Twenty-eight qualified participants will be accompanied by the program directors.

Am I eligible to go?

Eligibility Criteria for Eighth Grade and High School Honors Students includes:

Enrollment in the eighth grade, freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year in high school;
Involvement in high school honors or gifted program; and
Two signatures (teacher, counselor, principal, or G/T coordinator) recommending participation.
All applicants must be able to participate in normal physical activities.

Eligible participants will be admitted to the program in the order in which applications are received. All participants must be able to participate in normal physical activities.

When is the deadline?: The deadline for applications is January 31, 2007. However, the study tour may be filled by that date as applications will be accepted in the order in which they are received. A nonrefundable deposit of $300 is due with the application. The deposit will be refunded if the maximum number has been reached.

How much is it?

The program cost will include the following:

Roundtrip airfare from Nashville.
Hotel accommodations in Caen and Paris.
Breakfast each day at the hotel.
Admission to most historic sites, museums, and other places listed in the itinerary..
Travel by train and chartered motor coach for excursions outside Paris.
Metro tickets for travel within Paris.

Payment Schedule

$300 Nonrefundable deposit and a passport- size photograph are due with application

$1125 Payment due by January 31, 2007

$1125 Final payment due by March 1, 2007

What is the tentative itinerary?

March 30
Friday

DEPART THE USA FOR PARIS

March 31
Saturday Arrive in Paris and meet our guide. Travel by private motor coach to Caen. En route stop at Giverny to visit Monet's home on the Siene River. Monet lived at Giverny for the last 40 years of his life, and many of his paintings were of his garden and lily pond. Travel on to the beaches of Normandy to view the site of the D-Day invasion and visit the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Check into the hotel in Caen and attend an orientation session.

April 1
Sunday Depart Caen for an all-day excursion to Mont Saint Michel to visit the town and the impressive Gothic cathedral built on a rocky island off the Normandy coast. On the way, visit the town of Bayeux to view the Bayeux Tapestry which tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England.

April 2
Monday
Visit the Peace Memorial in Caen to see films and artifacts of WWII. Then travel down the D-Day beaches to Arromanches to see the remains of the artificial harbor constructed for the D-Day landing. Visit the museum and have lunch. Leave Arromanches for Paris. Arrive in Paris in the early evening and check into the hotel.

April 3
Tuesday
In the morning travel by the Metro to visit the Eiffel Tower for a breathtaking view of Paris. Then walk to the Hotel des Invalides, a hospital for veterans, and visit the Dome Church, burial place of Napoleon Bonaparte. In the afternoon, tour the Musée d'Orsay to view an extensive collection of Impressionist art.

April 4
Wednesday
Leave Paris for an all-day excursion to the Loire River Valley, stopping at Chartres to tour the massive Gothic cathedral famous for its beautiful medieval stained glass windows. Travel on to Blois for lunch and then go to Chenonceau to visit one of France's most beautiful chateaux.

April 5
Thursday
In the morning, visit the old city of Paris on the Ile de la Cité, an island in the Siene River, to see Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Conciergerie. Stroll through the Latin Quarter. After lunch, visit the Musée de l'Orangerie to view Monet's paintings of water lilies, "Grand Nymphéas."

April 6
Friday Travel by train to Versailles to visit the famous palace and grounds. Built by Louis XIV, this palace is the largest in Europe and is noted for its extensive gardens. Return to Paris in the afternoon to tour Montmartre, the area renowned for its artist colony and the beautiful Church of the Sacred Heart (Sacré-Coeur).

April 7
Saturday
Start a walking tour at the Paris Opera, going to Place Vendome, location of the Ritz Hotel and the column commemorating Napoleon, and stopping at the Museé du Louvre for a tour of this magnificent museum which houses one of the largest art collections in the world. Have lunch in the Louvre. In the afternoon stroll through the Tuileries Gardens to the Place de la Concorde. Walk up the famous Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Climb to the top of the Arc for another great view of Paris. Spend the late afternoon visiting shops on the Champs Elysées.

April 8
Sunday
Depart Paris for the USA.

last updated 08.26.06

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How do I apply?

Click on the application link below, print out the application and send it to us:

The Center for Gifted Studies

Western Kentucky University

1906 College Heights Blvd. #71031

Bowling Green, KY 42101-1031

In order to download and view the application form, you will first need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not already have it, you can download it for free here.

Application Form

For more information, contact The Center for Gifted Studies by phone 270.745.6323, fax 270.745.6279, e-mail gifted@wku.edu or mail to The Center for Gifted Studies, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd #71031, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1031.

March 30 Friday	DEPART THE USA FOR PARIS
March 31 Saturday	Arrive in Paris and meet our guide. Travel by private motor coach to Caen. En route stop at Giverny to visit Monet's home on the Siene River. Monet lived at Giverny for the last 40 years of his life, and many of his paintings were of his garden and lily pond. Travel on to the beaches of Normandy to view the site of the D-Day invasion and visit the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Check into the hotel in Caen and attend an orientation session.
April 1 Sunday	Depart Caen for an all-day excursion to Mont Saint Michel to visit the town and the impressive Gothic cathedral built on a rocky island off the Normandy coast. On the way, visit the town of Bayeux to view the Bayeux Tapestry which tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England.
April 2 Monday	Visit the Peace Memorial in Caen to see films and artifacts of WWII. Then travel down the D-Day beaches to Arromanches to see the remains of the artificial harbor constructed for the D-Day landing. Visit the museum and have lunch. Leave Arromanches for Paris. Arrive in Paris in the early evening and check into the hotel.
April 3 Tuesday	In the morning travel by the Metro to visit the Eiffel Tower for a breathtaking view of Paris. Then walk to the Hotel des Invalides, a hospital for veterans, and visit the Dome Church, burial place of Napoleon Bonaparte. In the afternoon, tour the Musée d'Orsay to view an extensive collection of Impressionist art.
April 4 Wednesday	Leave Paris for an all-day excursion to the Loire River Valley, stopping at Chartres to tour the massive Gothic cathedral famous for its beautiful medieval stained glass windows. Travel on to Blois for lunch and then go to Chenonceau to visit one of France's most beautiful chateaux.
April 5 Thursday	In the morning, visit the old city of Paris on the Ile de la Cité, an island in the Siene River, to see Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Conciergerie. Stroll through the Latin Quarter. After lunch, visit the Musée de l'Orangerie to view Monet's paintings of water lilies, "Grand Nymphéas."
April 6 Friday	Travel by train to Versailles to visit the famous palace and grounds. Built by Louis XIV, this palace is the largest in Europe and is noted for its extensive gardens. Return to Paris in the afternoon to tour Montmartre, the area renowned for its artist colony and the beautiful Church of the Sacred Heart (Sacré-Coeur).
April 7 Saturday	Start a walking tour at the Paris Opera, going to Place Vendome, location of the Ritz Hotel and the column commemorating Napoleon, and stopping at the Museé du Louvre for a tour of this magnificent museum which houses one of the largest art collections in the world. Have lunch in the Louvre. In the afternoon stroll through the Tuileries Gardens to the Place de la Concorde. Walk up the famous Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Climb to the top of the Arc for another great view of Paris. Spend the late afternoon visiting shops on the Champs Elysées.
April 8 Sunday	Depart Paris for the USA.
last updated 08.26.06