S.E.A. Venture - France

June 21 - July 15, 2008

Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer were proud and excited to offer our international trip to France, our sixteenth trip. This co-ed four-week trip was for campers who were rising 10th - 12th graders. Approximately 20 campers were selected to travel with three adult leaders to experience the rich history, culture, and natural beauty of France.

This was an interactive and fun learning experience, not merely a sightseeing tour of France. Our trip, which shares camp's emphasis on personal and character development, also provided a wonderful opportunity for campers to pursue what the French call an "ouverture d'esprit," allowing them to move beyond their comfort zone and challenge themselves in a new environment while still enjoying the encouragement and support of a camp group experience. Such an experience can make a difference in a young person's life, and it is the goal of the S.E.A. Venture program to help participants become more confident in themselves and eager to learn more about others.

This venture included many of the same experiences that have received such an enthusiastic response from participants in the past. We began our adventure in Paris, with visits to such sites as the Louvre Museum, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Sainte Chapelle, the Musee d'Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, and many others.

After our time in Paris, we traveled to the town of Aurillac in the Auvergne, where each camper stayed in the home of a local family for an unmatchable and authentic French experience. This is a highlight of the trip year after year, and it is often the part of the trip that campers decide is their favorite. We spent our days together, hiking in the volcanic mountains of the Massif Central, kayaking on the Lott River, and visiting such beautiful and historically significant sites as the village of Conques.

Traveling on to the Loire Valley, we visited a few of the magnificent chateaux that lend such fame to the region, including those of Amboise, Chambord, and Chenonceaux. In Normandy, learned about the events of D Day and visit a few of the sites associated with the allied invasion, including the new museum and the American cemetery at Omaha Beach. We also learned about another famous invasion - that of William the Conqueror in 1066 - and we viewed the nearly 1,000 year-old tapestry in Bayeux that tells the story of this event that forever changed the history of England as well as the language that you speak. Continuing down the coast of Normandy, we visited the beautiful island monastery of Le Mont Saint Michel, which has been drawing visitors of all types for centuries. From there, we traveled to the Breton towns of Saint Malo and Dinard, where we enjoyed swimming and boating on the English Channel as well as visits to the historic town of Dinan and the rugged and beautiful coastline of Cap Frehel.

Leaving the coast behind, we made a drastic change by traveling to the town of Chamonix in the shadow of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in all of Europe. While in Chamonix, we enjoyed hiking, rock-climbing, and canyoning amid some of the most breathtaking scenery you can imagine.

The program began at Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe, NC, and concluded at the Raleigh-Durham airport. All special excursions during the S.E.A. Venture - France trip were led by trained and contracted guides.