Intro to Ancient Greek (Intensive) in the Peloponnese
June 27-July 7, 2026
Join us for this unique summer learning experience in Nafplio, Greece, designed for students with a sincere interest in learning the ancient Greek language, a thirst to read great ancient Greek authors, and a desire to explore the wonders of ancient and modern Greek culture.
Master Ancient Greek
Students entering 10th grade and older join us in Greece for this intensive Ancient Greek program. Participants spend their days learning Greek grammar and vocabulary and reading unadapted excerpts from the great authors of Greek literature. We visit Mycenae, Epidauros, local archeological sites, and other places of interest. The evenings feature Greece’s many cultural, leisure, and culinary offerings.
Beginners learn the basics of the ancient Greek language including the alphabet, noun, adjective, and verb forms, as well as the keys to Greek syntax. Lessons follow Learn to Read Greek, a textbook and workbook designed to help students acquire the ability to read and appreciate the great works of Greek literature as quickly as possible. In addition to emphasizing fundamental grammar and vocabulary, this book introduces unadapted prose and poetry by such authors as Sophocles, Euripides, and Herodotus starting in Chapter 3.
Advanced Beginner and Intermediate students who have already had some exposure to ancient Greek follow the same daily schedule as beginners but start from a later chapter in the textbook. Substantial vocabulary lists and complex Greek sentences introduced in this section of the program allow students to significantly advance their knowledge of syntax and practice their reading skills through short and long readings from a wide variety of Greek authors.
Greek students will hone their skills through the personal attention of Dr. Eric Casey, Chair of the Classics Department at Trinity School in New York City, and Cindy Calder, Founder of Calder Classics.
Dive into Greece’s Culture and History
In the Peloponnese the Classics come alive through the study of the ancient language, reading of poetry and prose, and exploration of archaeological sites, while we immerse ourselves in the modern Greek language and culture. During the course, we explore historic and contemporary treasures in the Argolid. Acquiring new modern Greek vocabulary every day enhances our students’ experience and deepens their appreciation for the history and culture of this wondrous country.
Sample Daily Schedule
While the schedule will be flexible, the general plan is as follows:
9-10AM Group Breakfast
10-1PM Ancient Greek Sessions and Field Trips
1-3PM Lunch and Break
3-6PM Ancient Greek Sessions
6-10PM Homework, Dinner and Evening Activities
Accommodations
We are housed in Nafplio, a historic town on the Argolic Gulf in the northeastern Peloponnese. The drive from Athens to Nafplio is approximately 2 hours. Our small, traditional hotel is located at the edge of town, offering easy access to local shops and restaurants. Classes will take place at the residence offering us the convenience of a comfortable setting for our studies.
All rooms are triples or quadruples with single beds and feature air conditioning and internet service.
Accommodations
Dates and Fees: June 27 – July 7, 2026
The $6,500 tuition includes accommodations, transportation within Greece, (including transport to and from the Athens airport for students meeting our group flight), site and museum entry fees, and instruction. Students purchase their textbook. Breakfast and dinner are also included. Students will be on their own for a daily lunch break. Any activities outside of planned group events are at the student’s expense. Airfare is not included.
Application Deadline
Students are accepted on a rolling admissions basis as long as space is available. Please submit your application by the new deadline of March 15 to receive priority consideration for this program. Applications received by March 15 will be reviewed as they are received, and acceptances will be granted upon evaluation by our staff. Applications received after March 15 will be accepted if spots are still available.
Your application will be processed, and you will receive a reply regarding your acceptance status within one to two weeks of your submission date provided that we have received your teacher reference.
Transportation
Students make their own travel arrangements to Athens, Greece. Participants wishing to travel with a Calder Classics chaperone between New York City and Athens should contact a Calder Classics representative during the application process.
Calder Classics will provide transportation for the group from Athens International Airport to our residence in Nafplio, a trip of approximately 2 hours by van, provided that students arrive in time to meet our chaperoned group flight from New York. Calder Classics will also provide transportation for the group from our residence in Nafplio to the Athens International Airport in coordination with the chaperoned return flight to New York.
Our Scholars
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Cindy Calder
Cindy Calder
Cindy Calder founded Calder Classics in 2012 while studying Greek and Latin at Columbia University. She earned her B.A. from Dartmouth College and her M.A. in Classics from Columbia University. She also spent several summers in the hallowed halls of CUNY’s Latin/Greek Institute, where the extremely intense but very rewarding course of study inspired her to share her passion for the Classics through her own high school and adult programs. Cindy founded Calder Classics on the belief that the study of the Classics, when complemented with a first-hand experience of art, history, literature, and modern culture, enriches younger students’ academic experience and encourages adults to re-engage in the joys of learning. At Calder Classics, mixing students of all ages in a shared learning environment has proven intellectually stimulating in wonderfully unexpected ways. Cindy taught Latin at Trinity School, the Brearley School, and Saint Joseph High School in New York City, and she has taught many courses for Calder Classics in-person and online. She has extensive tutoring experience in Latin and Greek. Cindy lives with her husband in Massachusetts and is the mother of four grown children.
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Dr. Eric Casey
Dr. Eric Casey
Dr. Eric Casey earned his B.A. from Haverford College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Classical Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a Professor of Classics at Sweet Briar College for 15 years where he was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award twice and had a teaching and research focus on Greek cultural history and Latin literature and poetics. He has published on strategies of commemoration in ancient Greek funerary inscriptions and the threshold between the living and the dead, as well as on the Great Library at Alexandria, connections between ancient Greek mystery cults and the Freemasons, among other fascinating topics. Dr. Casey is also the recipient of the American Philological Association’s award for Excellence in Teaching at the College Level, and the Classical Association of Virginia’s Teacher of the Year Award. He currently teaches Latin and Greek at The Trinity School in New York City and served as one of the official graders for the AP Latin Exam for over 10 years. Dr. Casey teaches several online courses for Calder Classics and has co-led multiple trips to Greece and Italy.
