
During our first week, participants become immersed in life at the American Farm School, taking part in Greek language instruction and experiential learning activities such as yogurt making, winemaking, and working with aromatic plants. We will also explore the city of Thessaloniki.
An important part of the Greek Summer experience is active participation in life on the farm. Participants take part in a variety of hands-on agricultural activities, which may include weeding, harvesting, cutting and sorting aromatic plants, landscaping, and other seasonal farm work. These activities often take place outdoors and may involve extended periods of physical activity in warm summer conditions.
We end the week with a full-day experience at Mount Olympus, the legendary home of the Greek gods. Participants will explore this spectacular landscape and experience one of Greece’s most celebrated natural and cultural landmarks before returning at the end of the day.
After the adventurous mountain climb, we’ll be heading to a village outside Thessaloniki for a ten-day stay. There we will begin our service project, in a rural Greek environment. The students will lead an English language camp for the elementary students for five days at a local elementary school, as well as take part in different culture exchange activities with the local community.
We’re now in the middle of the village-stay, where the English language camp usually is the highlight of the week for many of our participants, with many of the local boys and girls coming for English lessons. Besides this, we also visit the surrounding area with visits to tea farms, historical sites, towns, and villages, before saying our final goodbyes and departing to Thessaloniki. Once back on campus, we’ll be going on more excursions such as a one-day trip to Meteora to see the beautiful monasteries atop cliffs, and to Vergina where we tour Phillip II’s grave site and tomb.
The final week of Greek Summer is packed with activities. We’ll be heading to Athens for sightseeing and a deep dive into history! We tour the Panathenaic stadium, the Parthenon, the Acropolis museum, and the old neighborhood of Plaka in order to fully discover ancient and modern Athens. We also visit many more sites linked with our Greek heritage, such as Thermopyles, Kalimarmaron, and Delphi. On July 22 we sum up where we started and then we part ways, after four unforgettable weeks of Greek Summer!
JASON PAPADOPOULOSGreat Neck, NY, GS'11
"Greek Summer is one of the greatest experiences I have ever had."
ANTHEA LEWISNEW YORK, NY, GS'10
"Greek Summer gave me moments I will keep with me always."
LUCAS ATHANSSIADISAgoura Hills, CA, GS'11
"Greek Summer was - without out a doubt - the best six weeks of my entire life."
For more information contact:
Seth Sikes, Greek Summer Recruitment Coordinator
Email greeksummer@afs.edu.gr, 212-463-8434 Office (voicemail only), 646-256-7118 Cell.
We want to hear from you! Tell us a little about yourself:
Discover Greece on an unforgettable four-week life journey. You will see the very best of Greece while learning hands-on how to play a role in protecting our environment, changing young lives with a service project in a local village, and making lifelong friends along the way.
Colleges today seek to learn about the depth of a student’s character, commitment to others, and genuine involvement in social change. They seek leaders and risk-takers ready to give of themselves – while finding themselves through their own personal journey. You can do all that while having the time of your life! Climb Mount Olympus. Explore ancient and contemporary Athens by visiting the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and joyful Plaka. Visit historic villages and cities such as Thessaloniki and explore Alexander the Great’s birthplace. Summer 2026 can be the beginning of your unique Odyssey.
Greek Summer is an unforgettable four-week journey for high school students. They experience a home-stay with a family in a local village, taking part in a community service project and leading an English language camp for young village children. Participants see the very best of Greece by being immersed in its culture, and meet lifelong friends along the way.
Of course, we are in Greece so experiences include the rich culture and history in which they are immersed. Participants explore ancient and contemporary highlights – they climb Mount Olympus and visit the Acropolis in Athens. During the third week we take a deep dive in other important sites linked to our Greek heritage.
Participants have described their Greek Summer as a life-changing feast of memories and reflections, building powerful relationships and redefining their world. Greek Summer will give your children something to remember forever. Send your child to celebrate our 50th journey – it will be their own Odyssey.
A note about physichal activity. Greek Summer is an active, immersive program. Participants should be prepared for outdoor activities, hands-on farm work, walking and hiking, including our full-day Mount Olympus experience. Summer temperatures in Greece can be high, and some activities may involve extended periods of physical exertion.
Families of prospective participants with health concerns, orthopedic conditions, mobility limitations, or other medical issues that could be affected by strenuous activity are encouraged to carefully consider the physical nature of the program and, when appropriate, consult with their healthcare provider before participation.
Colleges today are seeking students with character, commitment to others, and genuine involvement in social change. They seek leaders and risk-takers ready to give of themselves while finding themselves through their personal journey. AFS Greek Summer is just that – and much more. For over 50 years, the American Farm School has helped young adults embrace life challenges. AFS Greek Summer is an excellent summer choice for students eager to explore the world and themselves, to make a difference, and to develop their potential to become change makers in college and in the world.
Participants take part in hands-on learning about the environment and sustainable living during their ten days on our working farm. During a village home-stay they contribute to a community service project for the village children. They climb Mount Olympus, explore ancient and contemporary Athens, and visit historic places including 2500-year-old Thessaloniki, the beautiful monasteries of Meteora, and Alexander the Great’s birthplace.
Participants have described their Greek Summer as a life-changing feast of memories and reflections, building powerful relationships and redefining their world. Greek Summer will give your students something meaningful to share with friends, family – and colleges.