Program Reviews

What do you do during your summers? Do you like to travel? As a teenager with a strong passion for traveling, Blyth was a fantastic idea for me as I got to travel, meet new people as well as get an official credit which goes towards my high school diploma. During my summer, I got to explore Central America, try new foods and learn the grade 10 science curriculum. As a group, we did many exciting things such as visit a coffee plantation, zip lining through the mountains, swimming in the ocean, surfing, snorkelling and exploring the city, just to name a few. Overall, I had a fantastic time and I made memories with my friends and teachers that will last a life time. I would strongly recommend this program to anyone who loves to travel and try new things.

This was an amazing experience and I strongly encourage anyone on the fence to check it out. Both my brother and my sister have also attended these programs and have had an equally compelling expirience. I’ve never been away from home for so long before and I was a little worried, but everyone makes you feel at home right away (even though you’re constantly travelling!). The friends I made on that trip are still my friends and we travel to see each other a couple time a year. I do feel that taking a photography credit was a good choice for me becasue it gave helped me discover the passion I had for it. Since that trip, I’ve entered and won a few different contests using things I learned while abroad. All in all I think it was well worth the money for me and I would suggest that if you’re uncertain to go to an info session for more information. For me it was 10/10!

Having the opportunity to take this travel and travel was the best decision ever. Sure, you get nervous at first if you're going alone (which I did) because you're unsure of the friends you'll make etc. However, that lasts maybe a couple of hours until you all begin talking about where you're from and what you're excited for.

Not only did I meet some amazing friends that I am still in contact with to this day, but, I also got a high school credit while doing it (grade 12 university english). It was the best version of summer school! Despite moving around every 4 days, the teachers always kept us on tract with the curriculum and were available around the clock to talk about our ongoing assignments. The other 2 staff (manager, and activities coordinator), essentially made sure we were safe at all times, in the right place, and having fun all at the same time.

Let's just say, if I could still be exploring western Europe right now, I 100% would be.

I was nervous at first to go on this trip as I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know anyone else going and I wasn't sure what to expect regarding the work load. I can safely say that making friends was not an issue. Everyone on this trip was on the same boat as me, no one came with a friend and we were all eager to get to know each other. Within the first hour after getting dropped off at the airport, I already got to know 2 people very well. The teachers cared about their students much more than any other public or private school teacher would, making it much easier to understand the work. The teachers were available at all hours to help their students with any difficulties we would have. The experiential learning opportunities were beyond incredible. While learning and reading about both world war I and II, we got to visit Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach. We had the chance to see first hand where certain battles took place which helped us visualize and picture the challenging lives of the soldiers in the war. Not only did we get to see the educational aspect of France, but we were also immersed in the amazing French culture. Our trip led us on incredible paths leading to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Mont-Saint-Michel, and much more. Truly and incredible trip!

I travelled to various locations in Italy to obtain my grade 11 English credit this summer and I can honestly say it was the greatest experience of my life. Not only did this experience allow me really break out of my shell and make life long friends , but I experienced academic enrichment like I’ve never had before. Every day in Italy was a new adventure for me and the memories I created with my class will last a lifetime for me. Not only are all the staff so supportive and easy going, but they are also there to help you maximize your success in their class. All the excursions and tours I had on this trip were unforgettable. As someone who is extremely anxious when separated from home, everyone on the trip made me feel so comfortable and really allowed for me to mature and let go of my fears. I remember in Florence my friends and I sprinted through the city to make it to the top of the Micheal Angelo view point to see the beautiful sunset across the city. It was truly the trip of a lifetime and if you ever have a chance to experience Blyth, without a doubt ... DO IT!

I went to Costa Rica with Blyth August 2018 and it was definitely the best month of my life! The staff were so friendly and easy to talk to and I made so many lifelong friends. Playa del Coco, the beach town that you are in most of the trip is such a fun place to be and you really feel connected with the location. I would recommend doing the surfing excursion because you go to this gorgeous beach town and can go exploring and learn to surf. As for the school portion of the trip, I did grade 11 Biology and it was great. My teacher was super cool and she always went the extra mile to make sure I fully understood every concept before evaluations. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone! Remember to take tons of pictures and enjoy every moment you are there!

I didn't really know what to expect from this trip and I was more than a little nervous when I arrived, but over the course of two hours, I'd already met some awesome people that I would end up hanging out with the entire trip. The teachers were fun and easy going, often chatting with students during downtime and organizing fun little activities like runs down to the beach. We first landed in Marseille and stayed in Aix-en-Provence, we were there for about three days. We then travelled by bus to Mandelieu where we stayed for roughly a week. Of the three cities where we stayed, Mandelieu was the best, cooler and closer to the sea than Aix-en-Provence, and quieter/calmer than Paris. Lastly, we travelled again by bus to Paris and remained there for the final two weeks of the trip. We ended up seeing all kinds of different landscapes and styles that aren't seen as much (if at all) in Canada. It was fascinating and exhilarating and I can easily see myself going on another trip, probably not back to France, but definitely with Blyth.

There are so many reasons to explain why this trip was life changing, to name a few; the teachers were supoortive not only for schoolwork but emotionaly as well, i met some of my best friends, learned to be more independant and learned about the culture i was surrounded with. Its been months since ive returned home but i still think of this trip daily and how it has changed my life. Because i got to experience this crazy oppurtunity i was able to apply what it taught me in my everyday life. I was more open to learning new things and meeting new people which i was cautious about before the trip. This had majorly helped me in my life because im usually a shy person around people i just met. overall i would 100% recomend this trip to anyone because it truly is life changing.

Blyth Academy International Summers was nothing short of fantastic. My trip was small, but that made it all the more inclusive and fun. BlythAcademy makes you feel included and safe from the minute you walk into the security line at the airport to the time you are back in your parents arms at the end of your trip. A fun story of mine is that I travelled with a close friend of mine, but we arrived at the airport at different times, so I decided to strike up a conversation with a girl on my trip that I was infront of, and i dont regret it, since that dayy we have never stopped talking. All I can say is, it is almost impossible to sum up my month abroad in a few short sentences. So I urge you to try it for yourself. I loved this experience from the second it started and now I wish it never ended. I met seven great frineds on my trip, I am happy to say that we are still in touch and I can not wait for more memories to come. The advice I can give to you is talk to as many people as you can, try and make the best of your experience.

Grand Tour Europe East was the second Blyth Academy International Summers program I participated in - the first being a Grade 9/10 trip England, Scotland, and Ireland. During both programs, I studied photography and loved every minute of it. Every few days, my group moved to a new city, exposing ourselves to new cultures and opportunities. Our teachers were so supportive and kind, and were wonderful in helping us to reach our academic goals.
Our excursions were incredible - my group spent time paddle boarding, cycled around Slovenia, and travelled to Kutna Hora, a church filled with skeletons, just to name a few.
I also made so many friends on this trip - a few of whom I have travelled with since, and plan to see again soon! Blyth Academy is a wonderful place to meet incredible and interesting people.