WWII Normandy Summer Tour
Get college credit and learn all about WWII in the process!
“Starting in New Orleans at The National WWII Museum, students get an up-close view of the weapons, gear, and materials used in Normandy. Hold an American M1 and a German MG 42 and climb inside a Sherman Tank. Review the specifications of the Higgins Boats that were crucial to the landing operations and hear from WWII veterans while touring the Museum’s immersive exhibits.
Following the New Orleans experience, continue to Normandy for the most immersive and in-depth tour specifically designed for students. Visit private chateaus that were turned into Nazi headquarters and living space for German officers. Walk on all five landing beaches and hear the stories of the heroic men who rallied the troops and pushed the Allied forces inland. Witness the rebuilding that saved historic cities such as Caen, St. Lo, and Falaise. Traverse the Falaise Gap, including the infamous “Corridor of Death,” where the Battle of Normandy was reduced to one farm lane that the German Army used to flee a closing encirclement.
Along the way, students will be asked to examine, analyze, and evaluate the decisions made during the campaign. Which bridges should be taken? Were the paratroopers used effectively? What altitudes and flight paths should the bombers take? The discussions prompted by these questions are critical in the development of each student’s academic, citizenship, and leadership potential.”
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If your interests and strengths lie in History and Social Science, think about pursuing one or more of these activities:
Enter the National World War II Museum’s Essay Contest.
Launch a WWII-era inspired recycling campaign with Get Scrappy.
See our post on getting any historical research you may have done published in The Concord Review.
If your school offers the ability to do an independent study or writing projects, consider doing a larger research project that expands on the themes you explored in your WWII-inspired modern day impact project. Colleges love “pointy” students, and expansion on a theme will demonstrate your ability to go deep!
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SUMMER PROGRAMS: College admissions officers are very adept at identifying “resume padders”: expensive, one-off programs paid for by your parents which do not mesh with your narrative arc. Therefore, make sure any summer program or course you consider falls into one (or more) of these four buckets:
Highly selective/competitive
Totally unique + linked to your narrative arc
Evidence of adulthood (long hours, multi-year commitment or simply hard work)
A jumping off point or expansion for an authentic narrative arc.
If none of the above apply, a program could still have value to you if it allows you to test a potential interest. However, if it does not end up being a jumping off point for further interests, then you may not want to mention it in your high school resume