LEARN MORE ABOUT GREEK SUMMER
Week#1
The first week is about discovering Greece in general, and Thessaloniki and the American Farm School in particular. Getting to know the group, touring the campus, exploring the city, learning and producing the AFS specialities such as wine, butter, and yoghurt are some of the things the students actively are participating during the first few days.
Then, we end the week with visiting the Home of Greek Gods, Mount Olympus. With a 2-day trek to one of the mountain camps, this always creates a great chance for the group to bond and have a great time!
Week#2
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.
Week#3
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.
Week#4
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 26 we sum up where we started and then we part ways, after four unforgettable weeks of Greek Summer!
The AFS Greek Summer 2023
The School
Founded in 1904, the American Farm School of Thessaloniki, Greece, applies its hallmark Learn by Doing approach to educate students of all ages toward responsible stewardship in the areas of agriculture, food systems, the environment and other life sciences related to our sustainable future. Greek Summer has been offered to U.S. and international high school students since 1970.
Home-stay and Service-learning
In the past, a keystone of Greek Summer has been the period in which our students have stayed with a village family in their home. Greek Summer helps students develop their cross-cultural skills, empathy and confidence to learn and thrive in new environments. A particularly meaningful part of the program is the family stay in a traditional Greek village where students spend days exploring village life, conducting community service projects and developing relationships with their Greek families and villagers that can last a lifetime. While changing the lives of their hosts, they change their own lives and perceptions – making this summer more than a simple vacation.
Discovering Greece
We are in Greece so experiences extend beyond the farm and village to engage in the rich culture and history that surrounds them. Students climb Mount Olympus and visit important sites linked with our Greek heritage. This experience is like no other: Greek Summer will give students something to remember and share with friends, family – and colleges.
Our Staff
Staff are committed educators focused on providing compelling learning experiences. They help participants reflect on and process those experiences to deepen personal growth. Their in-country experience and training ensure that participants’ health and safety are top priorities. Our past participants have viewed their time in the program as life changing and cherish memories and relationships developed with other participants and with their Greek families.
JASON PAPADOPOULOSGreat Neck, NY, GS'11
"Greek Summer is one of the greatest experiences I have ever had."
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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."
Learn More
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:
