Next Gen Normandy

07/25/2022

The 2022 NGN program official poem written by this year's students while at the British Normandy Memorial. Special thanks to guide Lena Biehler for the poetry exercise. Lest we forget.

07/24/2022

The Next Gen Normandy 2022 program has come to an end as students get ready to fly back home. The experience will help them forge their identity in the years to come. As a reminder, they each get to carry a set of NGN 2022 dog tags with their name and the words "Courage - Service - Purpose - Gratitude". Bon voyage!

07/22/2022

A very powerful last day for our students that started with a guided tour of the German cemetery at La Cambe by German guide Eva Rüttger. Next was an interactive tour of Pointe du Hoc before a visit to the Lebrec cider farm Bernard Lebrec Calvados where students were welcomed by Bernard Lebrec. They completed a "44 challenge" there by shooting some hoops and scoring 44 points in under 6 minutes and 6 seconds! Omaha Beach was next where students walked from low tide to the seawall to discover the ordeal of US forces there. To finish the day of touring they attended a moving wreath laying ceremony just for them at the Normandy American Cemetery which was wonderfully organized by the excellent American Battle Monuments Commission staff. Students then went out to highlight the graves of servicemen and women whose stories they had encountered on the tours in the US sector these past 2 days.

07/21/2022

Time for our students to venture into the American sector. After an immersive experience in a C-47 flight simulator at the D-Day Experience, Saint Côme du Mont participants paid tribute to the 19 men who died in the crash of C-47 transport plane piloted by Captain John Schaefers at Clainville. Visits to the La Fiere and Sainte-Mère-Eglise battlefields preceded a luncheon hosted by the mayor of the first town liberated by American airborne forces on D-Day. Next was a special welcome at the Ravenoville memorial and guide Regis Giard explained the strategy of the Utah Beach landings and beyond through a fascinating soccer activity on the beach!

07/20/2022

What better way to be inspired than to follow a D-Day legend who landed on Gold Beach in a WWII jeep. The great team at Gold Beach Company took the NGN students from Ver-sur-Mer to Crépon as a tribute to Victoria Cross recipient CSM Stanley Hollis. A poetry excercise at the new British Normandy Memorial and a tour of the artificial harbour at Arromanches highlighted the Gold Beach sector and concluded the anglo-canadian part of this year's program.

07/20/2022

Time for the NGN students to remember and pay hommage to the Canadians on D-Day. What better way than to bike along Juno Beach (spécial thanks to Plaisance 2 Roues ) before a great tour by resident Juno Beach guide Lena Biehler ! It was followed by a warm welcome from Mrs. Nicole Hoffer who showed us around her property, the first house liberated by Canadian seaborne troops on D-Day, the Maison Des Canadiens Bernieres Sur Mer
And finally, not only did the students visit the Centre Juno Beach / Juno Beach Centre but they helped remove invasive plant species that cover up the remnants of the Atlantik Wall defences at Courseulles-sur-Mer.

07/19/2022

Today our students started their D-Day journey in the Sword Beach sector. The day kicked off with a sound and light experience at the Merville battery, a guided visit at the Pegasus Memorial, several stops at iconic locations on Sword beach with excellent guide Sean Claxton , a tribute to the South Lancashire Regiment with a cup of tea and finally stories & poppies at the CWGC cemetery at Hermanville-sur-Mer. The students finished with a wartime meal cooked by chef Nicky Hylier We Love Normandy in the presence of Geneviève Grandin, a civilian eyewitness of the D-Day landings

07/19/2022

No visit to Normandy is complete without a tour of Mont Saint Michel. A 1000 years of French history in one iconic place! Thank you so much to our wonderful guide Noémie de Goussencourt and special thanks for Camille at La Fleur des Délices for our medieval picnics^^

07/17/2022

NGN students have safely arrived in Normandy! They explore the history of the WWII occupation and discover their accommodation. The Fish 'n Chips prepared by chef Nicky Hylier from We Love Normandy were fantastic!

07/17/2022

Students have arrived safely in Paris! A quick stop at the Eiffel Tower and great welcome dinner at a typical Parisian bistro to get a feel for the culture!🍷🥖🧀🐌

07/15/2022

J-1 to arrival of our Next Gen Normandy students in France for the first group program! We are very grateful to LOC'EVASION 14 for providing us with our on site transportation in style: the local Caen Drakkars hockey team van!✈️🚆🚐🏒👍🇨🇵

05/30/2022

We remember them on Memorial Day: rich and poor, young and old(er), men and women, black and white, Native Americans and immigrants, Privates and Generals, fathers, sons and brothers, Northerners and Souterners, Christians, Jews and Muslims, soldiers, sailors and airmen, English and Irish, Scotts and Welch, Poles, Czechs and Russians, Australians and New Zealanders, English and French speaking Canadians, known and unknown...Gratitude for all those who paved the way...valuable lessons for the Next Greatest Generation on this Memorial Day.

04/20/2022

Normandy land of inspiration for the Next Greatest Generation! Today we were happy to share the valuable lessons of D-Day with Shokahn (16) who will take them back to Colorado with him and to wherever his journey takes him in life. Courage, purpose, service and gratitude. All the best to you Shokahn!

04/18/2022

Come build the next Greatest Generation in Normandy on one of our private tours! Jackson Barr (15) and his dad Tom came to learn the valuable lessons of leadership, service, purpose and gratitude from the men and women who earned a hard-fought victory here in World War 2. Jackson plans to study law at Columbia University (one of its illustrious former presidents being the man who led the Greatest Generation on D-Day!) Be inspired by what you saw here Jackson an good luck!

04/15/2022

After only 3 months into the yearlong 44 Challenge for the Next Greatest Generation Fundraising Campaign we are already halfway to accomplishing our goal! Over 3322 Euros raised!!! THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS! More 44 Challenges underway so let's do this and raise 6644 Euros for student travel grants and you can help build the Next Greatest Generation in Normandy! Donations can be made here:

Next Gen Normandy is an educational travel program to the WW… Geert Van Den Bogaert needs your support for The 44 Challenge for the Next Greatest Generation

04/05/2022

Program Manager Geert Van den Bogaert observed 44 times 1 minute of silence at the graves of 44 different soldiers buried in Normandy to show the importance of gratitude to help build the next Greatest Generation in Normandy! Special thanks to Jonathan Dale Normandy History Tours for helping with the 1-minute video! Support the Next Gen Normandy Students Travel Grant Program and help a student travel to Normandy! https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-44-challenge-for-the-next-greatest-generation

04/02/2022

Our latest newsetter is out! Stay updated on the Normandy Educational Travel Program that helps build the Next Greatest Generation ;-)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f3rrDE3i5gQ1geoxoIsk4OE6ITkXlEaA/view?usp=sharing

03/24/2022

Travel to Normandy with Next Gen Normandy in 2022. This is a crucial time for anyone planning a trip to Normandy. A time when final plans for the 2022 group program are underway and a time for individual travelers to book the very last available days for one of our private tours. Contact Travel Specialist Kate Coffey at EDU Trips ([email protected]) to book your spot on the 2022 group program or Program Manager and Guide Geert Van den Bogaert for your private tour package ([email protected]).

03/18/2022

03/14/2022

A BIG Thank you to author Nigel Stewart who generously donated 3 additional copies of his latest book with co-author Sean Claxton entitled "Normandy Ghosts" during our live virtual fundraiser tour of Omaha Beach hosted by We Love Normandy We would like to thank and congratulate the lucky winners of our draw who supported our efforts yesterday:
- AnneMarie Ryall-Gould
- Barbara Provus
- Mike Gordon
- Jim Kane
- Hank Green
- Margaret Heesen
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

03/14/2022

So many wonderful supporters with a strong connection to Normandy and the Greatest Generation believe in the transformative power the stories of their WWII heroes can have on young people today! WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! Marsha Smith Steve Rainwater Gayle Barksdale Rainwater Jim Kane Paul Clifford Margaret Heesen Steven Unzicker Tim Bowles Rick Scott Tommy Bowles Colleen Brennan Ann King Posman Mary Dalsin Susie Parker Holton Dwight Anderson Michael Gervasi Morgan Lyons Nadeanne Kleinman Joe Dalsin Lee Ramsey Susan Markley Marjorie Simpson-Rousseau Melissa Stetser Laurie Wooden Jeanne Leonard AnneMarie Lyall-Gould and several anonymous donors!

03/14/2022

A tremendous thank you to Patrick Hilyer from We Love Normandy for inviting Next Gen Normandy Program Manager Geert Van den Bogaert for a 4-mile hike and virtual tour of Omaha Beach which helped raise over $1,800 in travel grants for future NGN students and teachers. Enjoy the replay and thank you again Patrick!

03/12/2022

Countdown to H-Hour! 27 WWII veterans will be honored today during our 4-mile fundraiser virtual tour of Omaha Beach co-hosted by Normandy Guide Patrick Hilyer and Next Gen Normandy Program Manager Geer Van den Bogaert in support of the Next Gen Normandy Student Travel Grant Fundraiser. Join us this afternoon at 3 PM Eastern Time at: https://www.welovenormandy.com/live-video
To access the post-event Zoom Platoon Q & A session at 1:30 PM (ET) flexible donation tickets can be purchased here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-d-day-four-mile-fundraiser-walk-on-omaha-beach-tickets-273723623727?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1&fbclid=IwAR3asJWZi4n3rgjHdHYy-BsOlhuF0cIxBKv25sLUPmDBr6cmDWFNtFNKNRc

03/11/2022

Only 24 hours away from having your WWII veteran honored during a live tour of Omaha Beach! If you would like to put your hero in the spotlight while supporting the Next Gen Normandy Student Travel Grant Fundraiser, contact Program Manager Geert Van den Bogaert at [email protected]

03/07/2022

Your WWII hero can inspire the Next Greatest Generation!

Donations to honor your WWII hero:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-44-challenge-for-the-next-greatest-generation

Live online event during which your WWII hero will be honored:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-d-day-four-mile-fundraiser-walk-on-omaha-beach-tickets-273723623727?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1

#1944

03/07/2022

Earn a chance to get one of three copies of "Normandy War Cemeteries" signed by author Nigel Stewart Artist and Normandy battlefield guides Patrick Hilyer and Geert Van den Bogaert ! No better way to help build the Next Greatest Generation than by instilling gratitude for those who gave their all.
How do you sign up?
Step 1: By making a flexible donation to the Next Gen Normandy travel grant fundraiser for students: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-44-challenge-for-the-next-greatest-generation
Step2: By making a flexible donation to attend a 1 hour virtual Omaha Beach Tour and get exclusive access to the "Zoom Platoon" after the show during which the winners will be announced.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-d-day-four-mile-fundraiser-walk-on-omaha-beach-tickets-273723623727?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1

03/02/2022

Meet the Next Greatest Generation built in Normandy! For Nels Peterson seeing Normandy with his grandfather, Normandy veteran, Oscar "Pete" Peterson, left a lifelong memory and lasting inspiration: "My Normandy Hero helped me build the next greatest generation by instilling in me a hard work ethic, showing kindness to others and how to be humble and grateful with all that we have. All my memories of my Grandpa Oscar are of an incredible man who was wise, gentle, fair, strong, ingenuitive, and loving. He never wavered in his values, his love and his outlook on life and it is that perspective that I treasure and seek to emulate every single day. My Normandy Hero is my Grandpa Oscar Peterson!"

Nels R. Peterson

02/28/2022

HONOR YOUR BRAVE WWII HERO for the Next Greatest Generation! To support the Next Gen Normandy student/teacher travel grant fundraiser we will be honoring YOUR WWII hero on Saturday 12 March during our live fundraiser virtual tour of Omaha Beach with fellow Normandy guide Patrick Hilyer. By making a flexible donation, we will place an Omaha Beach pebble (a.k.a. Omaha Beach "shingle") with the name of the WWII veteran you most admire at the foot of the "The Braves" sculpture on Omaha Beach. We will film all pebbles and cite each veteran's name during the live program!

GoFundMe donations: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-44-challenge-for-the-next-greatest-generation?fbclid=IwAR1dKjHVFKTRRs5MbRxDYKDUI3sdMI1gYiQpyeX2aFTg0pmZVpxlTkLiWxo

Virtual D-Day Live event: https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/virtual-d-day-four-mile-fundraiser-walk-on-omaha-beach-tickets-273723623727?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&fbclid=IwAR2oPV3zeZNmN7TerTtARW_J21e900rKaVHU9E02lNOoyyOriB_OHf8pXCo



02/22/2022

Exciting news from Normandy! Our friend and guide Patrick Hylier at We Love Normandy has invited Next Gen Normandy program manager Geert Van den Bogaert to participate in a 4-mile fundraiser walk on Omaha Beach as part of his "Virtual D-Day" series on Saturday 12 March 2022 at 9AM Eastern Time. Geert will attempt to hike the extent of this iconic D-Day beach in less than 66 minutes and with 44 pounds on his back while sharing some of the inspirational stories from the Greatest Generation! (6.6.44 ;-) ) to help raise funds for the Next Gen Normandy student and teacher travel grant program. Sign up to watch this live event (or recorded version) at https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/virtual-d-day-four-mile-fundraiser-walk-on-omaha-beach-tickets-273723623727?aff=ebdsoporgprofile Donations to support Geert's effort are welcome at https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-44-challenge-for-the-next-greatest-generation 

ON-LOCATION | A four-mile hike along Omaha Beach. Follow two Normandy guides on a walk along Omaha Beach from Charlie Sector to Fox Red.

02/18/2022

What generation do you belong to? See how history labeled you and find out what you want to learn from the Greatest Generation!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=IfYjGxI6AJ8&feature=emb_logo

The fascinating evolution of all seven living generations, compared and contrasted through their unique perspectives over the course of 125 years in America....