We were lucky to catch up with Lainie for an extended chat from her home in Guanajuato, Mexico.

So many of us in the worldschooling community know who you are. For those newer on the scene, can you tell us about your journey?

Sure. In 2008, I was a business owner and a single parent living in Los Angeles. I had worked in advertising and marketing for 18 years, the last eight of those with my own agency. When the economy crashed in 2008, I knew I was going to close my business. I wasn’t going to bring back my staff the following year, and my clients started going away. I remember being frustrated and overworked, with lots and lots of stress. And then just having this inspired thought one night late in the office. My son ​Miró was nine at the time and it was too late for him to be in the office, but I still wasn’t done with my work. He was playing a video game, and I just said to him, ​Miró. And he stopped. He looked over at me and I said, What do you think if we just get rid of all this stuff? And you and I go have an adventure? 

I didn’t even know where that inspired thought came from. I wasn’t planning on it, hadn’t been thinking of it. It just came out of my mouth. And he said, Are you sure? And then before he replied, he said, I have one question: if we do it, do I have to go to school? And I said, no. And he’s like, yeah, let’s do it. 

So we started excitedly talking about it. We decided that we would leave the following year, get rid of our stuff, sell it or give it away to downsize. We were going to just travel for a year, and I wanted to go south. Our plan was to go into Mexico and then head south overland via bus, take the time that we needed in each location and end up in Ushuaia, Argentina. I created a little nest egg so when we came back, we’d have some money to restart. All the things we needed to do to make this trip our trip, we did in partnership. And then one year turned into 15 years, and we never did make it to Ushuaia! We just haven’t gone home. 

What does community mean to you? How have your programs helped foster a sense of community among worldschoolers?

I guess the best place to start is that the desire for community never came from an outward need. It came from the inner desire to connect. And a lot of that is an extension of the mental health work that I did to prepare myself to be a good parent. When we started out on our journey, it was just the two of us, and that was enough. For the first couple of years, it was about the connection between Miró and me–creating a stronger bond, really talking about our inner worlds while experiencing the outer world, healing, learning together, and growing together. 

A lot of the traveling was so rewarding, so fulfilling. And coming from hyper-commercialism and -consumerism, we shed that and started living on way less money and connecting with the humanity around us more. We really started to ground ourselves in being present in our lives by cooking together, going to the market and having relationships with the vendors, being friendly with them and being invited in and exploring their lives, and by meeting people from all over the world. It was really about digging deep and the cultural exploration and the conversations about our own worldviews and about our humanity that helped us to expand. 

When ​Miró hit adolescence, he started to kind of feel disconnected with the journey we were on. Just with the biological changes that happen around that time, he was feeling isolated. We had conversations about it–do we want to go back, do we want to make changes in our life? We were living high in the Andes, in Peru, and his only ability to connect with others was through the local children of potato farmers. There were expats around, but they were mostly coming through and leaving to go to Machu Picchu. We weren’t forming relationships with them. 

So, our idea was to create a temporary learning community for teens. It would include immersive learning and social learning with all the people around us. It was just another inspired idea that sent me down a path of learning everything I could about teenage brain psychology. I learned about conflict resolution and about holding space. I learned about sacred ceremonial spaces by studying a Native American tribe, and I learned philosophies on how to facilitate power. I learned everything I could about the stages of development in the adolescent brain. That allowed me to tap back into the tools that I used in my own mental health journey. And then I was like, okay, I feel prepared. Let’s do it. 

How did all this lead to the Project World School retreats?

Soon after, ​Miró and l launched our first business together, Project World School. And for the first few years, it was amazing. We created our circle structure and functioned in a partnership, but in the early years he was mostly a participant. And a friend of mine, a French traveler, helped me co-facilitate based on the structure we designed before the retreat. I learned so much about hosting communities.

As we did our first retreat, we figured out what worked and what didn’t, then we adjusted the next year. With those changes, the retreats became a little more polished. Communities are very much based on intention. I learned everything I could about the participants and the stages of development that they were in, and the ways and tools to serve them. 

Our retreats are based on consent and consensus. We interview people before they come in, and we start off with a set of agreements. We talk about what the next day is going to be in our evening circles. We use consensus because if one person doesn’t want to do it, that means their needs are not being met. We try to accommodate everybody who has opted into this experience and find out what is not working, and to use tools and strategies for managing and holding space for people when they’re outside of their comfort zone so they feel seen, heard, and understood. It’s really about intentional communities, and because it is temporary, there is this greater sense of urgency to fill every moment. And as the organizing adult, I am taking responsibility for the safety, wellness, and mental health of the teens–they are other people’s children I am serving. 

We had about a 75% return rate for retreats before the pandemic when we were doing anywhere from three to five retreats a year. We had great experiences; people felt very connected to it. We ran ten conferences in different places around the world. Our first one was in 2016, and we ran them until COVID, and our most recent one was in March 2023 in Mexico.

What do those events look like now? 

We do two kinds of trips with teens. We do a short format for the younger teens stepping into being on their own for the first time. Then we’ve done a longer format–we just did one in Thailand in November. 

We’re going to be doing a bit of restructuring to Project World School. We’ll continue the shorter trips.

​Miró wants to do an 18+ trip, which will have a different flavor, more like peer/mentor. ​He’ll soon be turning 25. It’s a great transition and he’s really excited to start leading. The biggest challenge for me in stepping away from the longer trips is the caretaking and safeguarding I do as a mom, which gives parents confidence when they’re sending their kids to a retreat. I’m accountable and responsible for all these kids. 

What about your early online offerings?

First, ​Miró and I produced a podcast. And it was like our mom and son project together – it really wasn’t for other people to listen to. Every place that we went to, we would research together and talk about either the history of the place or find a story about it. And then we’d find somebody interesting, and we’d interview them. Like I remember we were in Panama and ​Miró was really interested in two things at that time, zombies and pirates. And that became a part of the podcast. It just was so much fun putting together the episodes. 

They became popular in a strange way. They were on our website–there were no streaming services at the time–we just uploaded the files, and we played them and had our show notes pages. It was just a lot of fun. And then we started getting travel questions from people who listened. There were hardly any other travel blogs, especially family blogs, especially single-parent family blogs. So I was blogging, too. I’d write about travel fears and all that stuff. 

Can you tell readers a bit about your Facebook groups?

I started getting a lot of travel questions in Facebook groups I was in. And somebody said to me, why don’t you start a Facebook group for traveling families? At the time, we were unschooling. I knew intuitively a year of travel would be way more educational than fifth grade, but I discovered there was something called unschooling, and we were already doing it in partnership. I started including unschooling into my blog and getting questions about that as well. 

One of the people we ended up interviewing for our podcast was a young man, Eli Gerzon, who was unschooled as a youngster and through his teen years. When he became a young adult, he started traveling more, but he always hated the word unschooling so he called it worldschooling. I was like, that is the coolest thing ever! We met him when he was in his late 20s, and he was doing other things, so he had outgrown it. So when I started getting questions, I was like, I’m going to call this worldschooling. 

Eli had started a Facebook group called Worldschoolers. It was dormant for like five years; there were less than 200 people in there. I asked him if I could take over the group because I had a vision for it, and he said sure. I built it up to more than 40,000 members. It was built so we could tap into the brain trust of the community, because I couldn’t answer everything. Instead, everyone could ask each other. 

Later I moved away from the Worldschoolers page, and now I manage another page called We Are Worldschoolers. The Summits have dedicated pages I administrate, too.

Let’s switch gears to some of your other projects. You wrote a book called Seen, Heard & Understood. Can you tell us about it?

It’s about understanding parenting and partnering with teens for greater mental health. The book is a combination of personal stories and scientific research. It’s a psychological exploration for the reader to understand themselves in order to connect in the spaces where teens or adolescents are needing connection. The book talks about how to manage the trigger responses you have when interacting with them. I wanted to understand that from a neurobiological perspective, a hormonal perspective, and an evolutionary psychological perspective. And then understand it from a sense of self and use connection as the foundation, not coercion. The book has a lot of information, but I made it easy to absorb. I’m not a PhD or MD; I’m a researcher and a mom who has lived this.

And you’re writing another book now, too? 

Yes. It’s about partnership parenting which is really anarchist parenting, like how to parent without rules, without the authoritarian paradigm, what tools to use and how to manage moving through challenges. There’s neuroscience and psychology and all this stuff wrapped into it–there’s a lot of multidisciplinary places that I’m pulling from. I’m going to self-publish it like I did my first book.

You have a new class on getting started with worldschooling. Can you tell us more?

We’re doing a three-hour course on how to create your family culture, with tools and strategies on how to worldschool from a family culture perspective. This is such an important part of anybody’s worldschooling journey. Every worldschooler should understand it as a foundation before they set out. Before they budget, before they sell their stuff, before they make their itinerary: they need to get their house in order. We also wanted to make the class very low cost–it’s just $25–and accessible online. 

Did I see that you are also planning a Summit reunion?

Yes, that too! Because everybody’s telling me they want another Summit, and I kind of miss them. There’s a big part of me that knows I’m kind of an elder now. My son is grown. But I miss creating conferences. I miss the community. I loved the connections and for me it was very, very important to normalize the worldschooling experience for kids–for them to meet other kids who worldschool.

What’s outside your window right now? What fascinates you about where you are?

I love Guanajuato, where I live. It’s colorful. It’s a university town, there are young people and we have a big arts festival here. There’s theater, music, and all kinds of art everywhere. My house is funky, and I have an art studio and being able to paint again is really lovely. I have a garden on the roof. There’s a peach tree and a lemon tree. This is the place for me at this stage of my life. ​Miró lives in his own apartment in town.

If you could go back to the beginning of your journey, are there things you wish you’d known that you’d share with others? 

I really didn’t know what I didn’t know and what I needed. I mean, people ask me for advice all the time. And, you know, it’s always like, slow down, let life unfold, be present. But those are things that you have to experience in order to know their value.

Which of those is the hardest for you to live by?

I guess being present, because I come from a culture of busyness, of productivity. My mother would say, if you’re lazy, you’re worthless; you’re doing nothing, you’re not contributing. And so I had this really tough relationship with relaxing. And although I already got really good at multitasking and reaching lots of goals, there’s still a part of me–even though it’s been healed–that doesn’t feel worthy unless I am doing, doing, doing. When I was a kid, I used to say to myself, I’m going to live a great life and show them. It put me in that habitual belief that I still need to show them, whomever “them” are. 

Do you think that’s why you keep creating new things? 

Probably, but I wouldn’t know what else to do with myself. I spend time in the garden. I play with my dogs. I paint.

Do you feel like you get to enjoy your creations, too?

Remaining curious and playful are core values to me, and I am really in my element when I’m with teens. I will always carry the responsibility of holding space, but I get to unapologetically be playful, too. I get to do improv and be crazy and tell stories and work on shocking the teens and getting them to laugh and connect. That’s where I feel most alive. 

What else are you doing with teens?

I offer a 12-week online course for teens. Our 13th cohort is going to happen soon. This is where I teach the tools in my book, and create a safe space for teens to be exactly where they are on their journey. These courses are filled with weekly challenges, reflections, accountability, and sharing. Most teens feel a sigh of relief when they finally recognize two things: there are tools to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and other experiences; and, they are not alone.

I also show up weekly for two online meetups for teens. Thursdays are for teens 15 and older. There’s a 21-year-old there who started at 17, and she still comes! And I do a group on Saturdays for tweens and younger teens ages 11-14. The meetups are totally free, online safe spaces. The first hour we have conversations. We talk about philosophy. Like today we talked about whether a person’s nature can change. Or we do “Would You Rather,” so we can talk about their choices. And then the second hour we play, like games or drawing or creating music or writing stories. So it’s playful, it’s joyful. And they know I’m that adult who shows up for them every week so they know they’re important. And they won’t let me quit.

Clearly, you’re giving a gift and the participants gain a lot from it. And listening to the energy in your voice, it sounds like you do, too.

I love it. I love it. It’s just my honor to do it. 

We are grateful to Lainie for spending time with us and sharing her personal stories and thoughtful perspectives. You can use these links to find out more about her offerings for teens, parents, and the worldschooling community at large. 

Mentoring and courses for teen mental health: https://transformativementoringforteens.com/about/

Partnership parenting courses: https://partnershipparent.com/

Trips and retreats: https://projectworldschool.com/

Summits: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProjectWorldSchoolFamilySummit

Worldschooling community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weareworldschoolers

Lainie’s personal page: https://www.instagram.com/ilainie/

The post Community Connectors: Lainie Liberti appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

We are honored that Florence endorsed our book, Wonder Year. We consider her a friend and mentor and are delighted to have had the chance to sit down with Florence for a conversation about some of our favorite topics: nature, awe, travel, and wonder. All these topics are also front and center for family travel and worldschooling. Here is a recap of that fascinating and informative conversation. 

Tell us a bit about yourself and what sparked your interest in being a science writer.

I have always been interested in environmental topics, and in college, I started the student environmental group and environmental newspaper. I was interested in the convergence of journalism and environmental stories, some of which involved a lot of science. Then, out of college, I got hired by High Country News, a wonderful environmental magazine. Progressively, I got more interested in science stories, and not just classic stories about deforestation, pollution, what’s happening with a proposed mine, … but how these situations are playing out in our human bodies. To understand what was happening in our bodies, I had to learn more about topics like biology, cell physiology, and endocrinology. The more I learned, the more I geeked out and thought this was an underreported area of journalism. 

Then I became interested, not only in how the environment hurts our bodies but also in how it can help our bodies. 

In Your book, The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Healthier, Happier and More Creative you examine the science behind why nature is good for us. Can you explain what’s going on? 

There’s a lot of emerging research on multiple levels. Because of advances in field technology, we can see what’s happening, for example, to people’s brain waves when they are outside in nature. There are more innovative ways to study human physiology outside and that has helped spur a lot of this work. 

What we are seeing is, even after just 15 or 20 minutes of being in a pleasant outdoor environment, people’s bodies shift into a state of greater calm. Their nervous systems go into a place of parasympathetic where their respiration slows down, heart rates may slow down, and stress hormones decrease. That was really impressive and surprising to me–that we can see those changes in just 15 minutes. 

Researchers today are looking at many different elements. What happens when we hear birdsong? What happens when we smell amazing compounds that trees emit? There’s research showing that they increase certain immune cells. Who would have thought that? One researcher, an immunologist I met with in Japan, found that our killer T cells, a type of immune cell that can kill infected or cancerous cells, increase 30% after a walk in the woods and stay highly elevated for a week or longer. All of these different sensory systems are being studied to explain why we feel so good outside. 

Also, if you look at the large-scale epidemiological studies you see some really impressive data. There seems to be a relationship between just living near green space and living longer and being healthier. These results are the same after adjusting for income. So, there is a measurable health boost for living near green space. 

Can you tell us about the effect of nature specifically on children, on young brains? 

I was really fortunate to spend some time in forest preschools in Scandinavia where up to one in ten kids attends a forest preschool. The data emerging from these settings show these kids have healthier microflora inside their bodies. That means they have stronger immune systems – less asthma, less skin disease, and fewer colds and viruses. We know that these kids, by the time they get to the conventional schools, are a little bit behind their peers on reading, writing, and arithmetic, but they catch up within a couple of years. And, they are ahead of their peers and they stay ahead of their peers on all kinds of really important, but softer, measures like self-regulation, self-confidence, ability to work together in teams, conflict resolution, leadership, innovation, self-discovery, self-learning. These are life skills that, unfortunately, so many kids lack today.

We know that our young brains are designed to learn through exploration . And that’s the really fun thing about being outside. You are not giving a kid a pencil and paper and telling her exactly what to do with it. They are roaming around and they’re finding things. Nature is always changing. There are different birds moving through. There are different water levels, changing weather. One day there is going to be ice across the creek and you can stick your foot in it and you can make cool cracking noises and then see amazing fractal patterns. You can watch the snowflakes land on the pine trees. There’s changing light. After a big storm, there’s the opportunity to collect cool leaves and twigs that have fallen. Kids outside follow their curiosity. What a beautiful way to learn. 

I think being in nature, being outside, teaches us to look and to feel what it’s like to be a sensing animal. And it turns out, our bodies and our nervous systems really like that. 

One of the amazing things about travel is how easy it is to spend time outside, in nature, to be unplugged, to be self-directed. And there’s a lot of research that points to the benefits of travel. What are your thoughts on the benefits of traveling with kids? 

We know kids and all humans are drawn to novelty. That’s one of the problems with cell phones. We can always find something new and interesting to pull us in on a cell phone. So you have to compete with that by providing some novelty, some excitement, by stimulating curiosity, allowing dopamine to flow. We know that travel does that. It pulls us out of what’s familiar. It makes us pay attention and observe. It enables us to experience the joy of discovery. When that happens it can also pull us out of our own negative thoughts that we all experience, including children. Some kids are more ruminative than others, but I think we can all identify with this notion of seeing something novel and beautiful and all of a sudden we’re back in the world and engaged in things outside of our own heads. We know from the research that this leads to emotional resilience in people. 

Another important thing about travel is that we can adapt to becoming a little bit comfortable with discomfort. We’ve heard the term helicopter parent, but there’s also the term “bulldozer parent” where we are erasing all the friction in our kids’ paths. We want them to be comfortable every second. That is not real life. That is not setting them up to handle when things go a little bit awry. Being in a new place, there are discomforts all over the place. There may be foods you don’t like or weather happening you don’t like. Travel innoculates kids to be able to handle, accept, and roll with these discomforts. 

Recently you have written a lot about awe. Can you break down why awe is such a powerful phenomenon? 

There are so many reasons. We’ve talked about the novelty aspect and when we see something beautiful it pulls us out of our own heads. But what also happens when we see something vast, whether it’s the Milky Way or a wild animal or even just the idea or the concept – like asking ourselves, “why do the colors in the sunset look the way they do?”- in those moments we feel a little bit less self-involved, a little bit less self-important. We feel more connected to the world around us. And the science shows we also feel more connected to each other. So awe is a really powerful antidote to things like loneliness and anxiety that are so prevalent among young people today. 

We used to see the Milky Way all the time. We used to encounter wild animals, see the sunset every night, sit around the fire and sing songs, experiencing collective awe. I think today we are awe-deprived as a culture. This is another reason it is important to bring children into the natural world.

How can we, as modern people, as modern parents get more awe in our lives?   

First, we need a more generous understanding of what awe is. Awe is not necessarily the Grand Canyon or the top of a mountain, or a narwhal whale under our kayak. Instead, we can find astonishing moments of beauty if we are open to looking for them. When we are out walking, we can remind or cue ourselves to be mindful by asking, “What am I noticing right now?” “What birds am I hearing?” “What plants are coming out?” “What’s the sky doing right now?” “What am I smelling?” These are really simple cues that will help ground us in the present moment. 

We can do this regularly, even if we can’t get outside every day, we can cue ourselves with, “Why is this soup so beautiful?” “Look at these colors in my house plant” And the amazing thing is that this trains us to be open to beauty. So, it’s a practice, and you can practice it every day with simple, ordinary things. This practice is a way to savor, appreciate, and step outside of ourselves a little bit. 

You’re also a badass outdoorswoman. You kayak and canoe, hike, ski, backpack, take epic solo trips, and put yourself way, way out there. Can you talk about what you’ve learned from these expeditions and how adventure has shaped your identity? 

I love it that you think I am a badass but really I am not. I used to try to keep up with all of the guys and experts and at some point I realized it’s so much fun out there even if you’re not an expert. So we can give ourselves permission to not be great at everything and still get a lot out of the experience. I think that’s a wonderful metaphor for life.

I also think that a little bit of adventure, especially for women, is really important because there are studies showing that girls who participate in adventure sports have more self-confidence. They are a little more focused for one thing, in this day and age, on how their bodies work and how strong and competent they are and that they can acquire skills and mastery instead of thinking about how their bodies look, which is the dominant driver on social media right now. We need to counteract those messages and I don’t think there’s any better way to do it than sports and outdoor adventure. 

After my divorce, my self-esteem bottomed out and one of the things that really helped me find joy again was mountain biking. I found myself riding down this mountain and giggling. I had a huge authentic smile on my face for the first time in months. And I had a sense that I am a brave, competent person and I am going to be ok. For me, adventure sports helped me access that. 

Florence leading one of her nature retreats

Finally, you are also a parent to two amazing children, ages 19 and 22, right? What advice do you have for parents of young children to set their kids on the path of discovery, health, and creativity? 

I noticed that whenever there was inter-sibling conflict, when the kids went outside it immediately dissipated. I think that’s a great thing to remember even if you are not traveling. Unstructured play is just amazing and my kids would instead of fight, delight in each other’s discoveries. 

I also found that, especially with my daughter, it was important to have other kids around that she could connect with outside. We would often travel with other families and that connection seemed to be a mood booster without fail. 

Another big tip is food. We would always have snacks around. Kids need to eat. They need protein. If they get hangry, it’s all over. There’s so much more to share on this topic but I’ll leave it at these three general pointers. 

If people want to learn more about you, your work, your books, retreats and other events, where can they go to learn more? 

It’s very easy, I have a website – www.florencewilliams.com. There are links there to various social channels, books, audio programs, upcoming events, and retreats that I lead in wild places. 

Here’s a great book trailer of Florence’s book, The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Healthier, Happier and More Creative.

Florence also recently wrote the PEN-Award winning HEARTBREAK: A Personal and Scientific Journey. She regularly hosts small retreats for people who want to explore or have a need to focus on writing, healing, or relationships. 

Florence’s most recent books will change the way you think about your family’s time in nature.

The post Community Connectors: Florence Williams appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

In our book, we encourage traveling families to individualize their approaches for themselves and their families. Jak’s coaching services have both well-proven modules as well as the flexibility to tailor your own worldschooling plan. We also admire his manifesto of inclusion, camaraderie, personal growth, contribution, kindness, and adventure.

Jak shares his experiences and insights with us below.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hey there!  I’m Jak, and I’ve spent over 13 years immersed in the world of primary/elementary education, working in various international schools across the globe. From South Korea to the UK, Cyprus to Borneo, my journey has seen me wear multiple hats – from class teacher to educational leader and beyond. 

My wife and I have been living abroad since 2010, which started with a backpack and a one-way ticket to South East Asia. Fast forward to July 2022, and we decided to leave our teaching jobs in Brunei and start a new adventure, chasing freedom, full time travel, and worldschooling with our two amazing daughters. This shift from traditional education to a more experiential approach has been eye-opening, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of worldschooling. My family and I are passionate about exploring the world, not just as tourists but as engaged learners, and are currently travelling full time and loving it!

Often a 3 a.m wake up means a budget flight but this sunrise hike was well worth it at Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka

Why did you start The Worldschool Coach?

The Worldschool Coach was born out of my firsthand experience as a worldschooling parent and educator. When my family and I took the plunge into worldschooling, we thought we had it all figured out, armed with my background in teaching. But boy, were we wrong! The sheer abundance of resources, opportunities, and changing routines left us feeling overwhelmed. That’s when it hit me – there was a need for guidance tailored specifically for families like ours. I wanted to create a resource that would both empower parents and give them the tools to confidently navigate the worldschooling, offering practical strategies and personalised assistance to make their educational adventures less daunting and more enriching. 

What are the components of your program?

The Worldschool Coach program is a comprehensive 6-session course designed to empower families embarking on the worldschooling journey. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach – instead, it’s a personalised roadmap to balance education and travel.

The program covers breaking down barriers to worldschooling, crafting a flexible worldschool curriculum, exploring core subjects and resources, maximising learning opportunities through travel, empowering self-directed learning, and tailoring the worldschool model to fit your travels. The course is designed for parents considering a family gap year or extended travel journey, or those already travelling who want to confidently worldschool their children while maintaining academics, nurturing personal growth, and embracing the joy of family travel. 

What is your educational philosophy?

The Worldschool Coach philosophy is centred on flexibility and adaptability, recognising that each child, family, destination, and learning opportunity is unique. It seeks to empower families to find their own educational journey, tailoring a worldschooling model to suit their individual needs and circumstances. 

The program aims to break down barriers to worldschooling, providing families with guidance  and practical strategies to confidently tackle the challenges and uncertainties associated with this lifestyle. It encourages a holistic approach to growth, fostering academic development but also personal, cultural, and experiential learning.

At its core, the Worldschool Coach philosophy emphasises the importance of seizing every travel experience as a valuable learning opportunity.

We love to explore local markets – also a great place to put those maths skills to use

As someone with teaching experience, can you give a pep talk to parents who might have no teaching experience? What skills does a parent need to actually do this?

Absolutely, I understand that the idea of taking on the role of an educator might seem daunting, especially for parents without formal teaching experience.

Firstly, parents are natural educators. From the moment your child is born, you embark on a journey of teaching and guiding them through life. You’ve been their first teacher, teaching them to walk, talk, and explore the world around them. Worldschooling is simply an extension of this innate ability to nurture and educate.

Here are some key skills that can empower parents on the worldschooling path:

Adaptability:

The ability to adapt to new environments and situations is a crucial skill. Flexibility allows you to turn unexpected challenges into learning opportunities, fostering resilience in both you and your child.

Curiosity:

Cultivate a spirit of curiosity, not just in your child but in yourself. Be open to exploring new cultures, trying new foods, and delving into unfamiliar topics. Your genuine curiosity will inspire your child to approach learning with the same enthusiasm.

Patience:

Learning is a process, and it unfolds at its own pace. Patience is key, especially when facing challenges or when your child is grappling with a new concept. Understand that every moment is a chance to learn and grow.

Resourcefulness:

You don’t need a traditional classroom filled with textbooks. Leverage the wealth of resources available online, in libraries, and within the communities you visit. Be resourceful in finding creative ways to impart knowledge.

Communication:

Clear and open communication is vital. Encourage your child to ask questions, share their thoughts, and express their interests. Likewise, share your experiences, insights, and knowledge with them. Communication builds a strong foundation for learning.

Critical Thinking:

Foster critical thinking by encouraging your child to question, analyse, and evaluate information. Help them develop problem-solving skills by involving them in decision-making processes.

Joy of Learning:

Infuse joy into the learning process. Whether it’s through games, hands-on activities, or exploration, make learning a fun and enjoyable experience. A positive attitude towards learning is contagious. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert in every subject. Embrace the learning journey together.

Learning about the tea trade in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia

As a current worldschooling family, any advice for parents who want to balance remote work and worldschooling their own kiddos? 

Balancing the demands of work and education, all whilst travelling and planning, is no small feat. From juggling online lessons, minimising screen time, seeking experiences in unfamiliar territories to decoding the mysteries of reliable wifi, the challenges are as diverse as the destinations. 

From one worldschooling family to another, here are some insights gained through our own journey:

Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that balancing work and worldschooling requires flexibility. Set realistic expectations for yourself and acknowledge that not every day will go as planned. Embrace the unpredictability of travel while maintaining a broad framework for both work and education.

Leverage Your Strengths: Identify your strengths and work to them. Whether it’s your organisational skills, adaptability, or creativity, use these attributes to your advantage. Align your work and educational strategies with what comes naturally to you. If you don’t feel confident in the area then level up. We have found so many online courses, YouTube videos, blogs, and online resources such as tutors or coaches to enrich our adventures and improve our skillset.

It’s been great getting to know Jak, his services, and his family’s path a bit more. You can follow Jak on his instagram @theworldschoolcoach or visit his website at www.bostontribetravels. We look forward to following their travels.

8 weeks in Sri Lanka was one of the highlights of our travels so far

The post Community Connectors: The Worldschool Coach appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

In our book, we encourage traveling families to have a “know before you go” approach to community programs and gatherings, and we love that Working Without Borders describes their ideal participant to help you do just that. We also admire their manifesto of inclusion, camaraderie, personal growth, contribution, kindness, and adventure.

Sam shares his experiences and insights with us below.

Please tell us a bit about your background and your family.

From being an exchange student in Australia to a Fulbright Scholar in Costa Rica, the most formative experiences of my life have involved living abroad. My wife’s upbringing, spanning the Middle East, Hong Kong, and France, similarly shaped her worldview. Together, our passion for global exploration led us to French Polynesia with our kids during the pandemic. These experiences and our collective love for diverse cultures laid the foundation for Working Without Borders, a venture born out of a desire to offer families the transformative power of cross-cultural immersion in a post-pandemic world.

Local and visiting kids stroll together through a village in the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Why did you start Working Without Borders?

It began with a dream. A long-shared, long-deferred daydream, imagining we could live abroad, working remotely in an exotic paradise, with our kids. It took a pandemic to make the dream come true for us. In August 2020, we made our big move as a family to Tahiti. Lo and behold, experiencing freedom and joy in French Polynesia gave rise to a bigger dream. We looked for ways to “pay it forward,” helping parents like us to experience living and working remotely in a beautiful location, amongst a community of like-minded families, with kids and teens learning alongside similarly-aged local youth.  

What’s the educational philosophy behind WWB?

Our educational philosophy is rooted in the principles of worldschooling. We make highly immersive, cross-cultural, project-based, experiential learning opportunities possible. By collaborating with local communities, schools, and camp providers, we foster a deep sense of global citizenship in participating youth. This approach not only broadens their horizons but also cultivates critical thinking, adaptability, and empathy. Engaging directly with diverse cultures and environments equips them with invaluable life skills, heightened cultural awareness, and a genuine appreciation for the interconnectedness of our global community.

Families enjoy lunch at the Medellin Botanical Garden to kick off the Family Learning Adventure in Colombia’s City of Eternal Spring.

How do you select locations? What goes into the planning and how long does it take?

Finalizing a new destination usually spans several months. So far, we’ve targeted locations in the Americas and the Pacific, catering to parents working in those time zones. Considerations such as walkability, climate, safety, and local attractions guide our choices. Partnering with a dedicated local ally, who resonates with our vision, is pivotal. Together, we assess accommodations, workspaces, and kids’ camps, and coordinate activities, events, and excursions. Our primary goal is to cultivate a setting where families bond seamlessly, nurturing a close-knit community.

There are many worldschooling communities out there—what sets yours apart?

As a licensed, insured, and bonded travel company specializing exclusively in worldschooling programs, we offer unparalleled professionalism, specialization, and reliability. This ensures parents have peace of mind about the experiences awaiting their families. Parents can confidently work remotely, knowing their kids are in good hands and interacting with local youth. This consistency, quality, and connection with local families sets us apart from many hubs and other programs. 

Two young girls participating in the Sacred Valley Family Learning Adventure marvel at the wonders of Machu Picchu.

What have you learned along the way? How has WWB evolved?

After running month-long programs in French Polynesia, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Peru, we’ve honed our blueprint for delivering transformative experiences. We’ve established specifications tailored to the families we attract, encompassing everything from airport pickups and welcome meals to workspaces, kids’ camps, and weekend excursions. We’ve figured out the right balance between structured activities and free time. Moreover, we’ve pinpointed the optimal group size to ensure our programs are economically viable while ensuring an intimate experience where everyone can get to know each other. 

What programs are on the schedule for 2024?

We’re offering the Sacred Valley Family Learning Adventure in Peru twice in 2024. This 29-day program immerses families in Andean culture, from Inca history to local community engagement. Kids and teens collaborate with local peers on projects and field trips, while parents can work remotely or explore the region. Weekends feature curated trips, including Machu Picchu, all fostering deep cross-cultural connections.

Next year, we’re also offering two instances of the Family Learning Adventure in Medellín, Colombia’s City of Eternal Spring. Over 29 days, families will immerse themselves in Medellín’s dynamic urban blend of culture, innovation, and history. Children will participate in a language camp on a lush hillside, enhancing their Spanish, while parents can work remotely or delve into the city’s cultural and natural attractions. The program fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and community, highlighted by shared experiences like game nights, field trips, and weekend outings.

Visiting and local families hike together in the Andes Mountains during the Sacred Valley Family Learning Adventure.

From the Wonder Year Team: We are so inspired by Sam’s mission and thank him for his commitment to the worldschooling community. We hope this introduction to Working Without Borders is helpful when planning your family’s journey. You can find more information on WWB at:

https://www.workingwithoutborders.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingwithoutborders4U

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/working.without.borders/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/working-without-borders/

The post Community Connectors: Sam Keller, Working Without Borders appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

A Certified B Corporation, Discover Corps is a trailblazing company that understands the power of travel to make positive changes in both travelers and the communities they visit. We at Wonder Year appreciate and admire their impact and share the desire to help traveling families deepen their understanding, empathy, and connection to people and communities around the world. 

Thank you to Lynne Corvaglia, Travel Specialist, and Alex Dubois, Executive Director, for sharing your insights and perspectives. 

Please tell us how Discover Corps started. 

Founded in 2011, Discover Corps was created to harness the power of travel – aiming to foster peace by forging ties of cultural understanding between people of different cultures. We also have a social mission to protect and preserve the geographic, ecological, and cultural environments we visit.

Founded upon the core tenets of volunteer service, sustainable travel, and cultural sensitivity, Discover Corps creates experiences that resonate with travelers from all parts of the world. Embracing our shared humanity, we facilitate positive change in the people we guide and the places we travel.

Discover Corps is part of Terra Education’s portfolio of travel & education programs. We were founded as the second brand in the Terra family following the success of the Global Leadership Adventure’s teen service-learning programs. 

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got involved with Discover Corps? 

I joined Discover Corps in 2012 shortly after it was established. Prior to this, I was living all over the world – from Poland to Germany to Australia – and, through these experiences, developed a passion for travel and all of the ways that it could be used to improve communities across the globe. Beyond this, I wanted to be involved in a business that worked as a force for good in the world. 

Discover Corps (and Terra Education) are B Corporations meaning that they have a social responsibility enshrined in their operations. With this, I helped develop Discover Corps from a small project of just two destinations to over 20 destinations that we offer today. It has been a fascinating experience meeting people and seeing places all around this big, wide, beautiful world of ours.

What kind of travelers do you serve? What kind of trips do you offer? 

Discover Corps serves a diverse range of travelers, from families and solo adventurers to couples and groups of friends. We also provide B2B trips for corporations, universities, and organizations.  Our mission is to provide meaningful travel experiences for those who seek a deeper connection with the world and have a desire to make a positive impact while exploring new cultures.

We offer a wide variety of trip options to cater to different interests and travel styles. Our programs include family-friendly adventures, volunteer opportunities, wildlife conservation projects, cultural immersion experiences, and more. Whether you’re looking for an educational journey, an adventure in nature, or a chance to give back to the communities you visit, we have a program that suits your preferences.

Our programs typically focus on destinations in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, and we work closely with local communities and organizations to create unique and enriching travel experiences.

What are the educational opportunities you offer for kids and adults on your trips? 

At Discover Corps, we believe that travel is one of the most powerful educational experiences for both kids and adults. Our trips are designed to be immersive and educational, offering a wide range of opportunities for learning. For kids, our trips provide a chance to explore new cultures, learn about wildlife conservation, and engage in hands-on activities that foster a sense of curiosity and discovery. They might participate in interactive workshops, visit local schools, or even take part in community service projects. 

For adults, our trips offer opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the world through interactions with local experts, cultural immersion experiences, and educational excursions to historical sites or natural wonders. Our trips often include guided discussions and workshops on topics like environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, and local traditions.

Both kids and adults have the chance to connect with local communities, fostering a sense of global citizenship and empathy. We believe that these educational experiences can have a lasting impact, broadening perspectives and inspiring a commitment to responsible travel.

We know that the impact of travel is very important to you. Can you tell us about how your trips and partnerships impact communities, the environment, and wildlife? 

Every Discover Corps itinerary is designed around a unique purpose that connects travelers to local communities in a meaningful way and gives a deeper understanding of a unique and extraordinary part of the world. And it is the local organizations, projects, and inspiring local leaders that bring these experiences to life. Throughout the world, Discover Corps seeks partners that are involved in a range of causes and missions that work to improve their communities, local wildlife, and the world as a whole.

These partnerships are the heart of the Discover Corps experience. Not only do they provide you with a rich, completely unique behind-the-scenes experience, but also allow you to see the world through a different lens – one that you may carry with you long after the trip. Your decision to travel with Discover Corps has ripple effects across these communities supporting these organizations and projects financially and creating advocates for change. Regardless of the destination, all of our trips will impact not only the communities we visit, but you and your family in a positive way.

Discover Corps has a different idea about family travel. How do you differentiate yourself from other travel companies?

Our trips are designed around people, communities, and projects that reflect our commitment to inspiring our travelers to explore and do good across the globe. Many of these partnerships we’ve carried for over a decade (and sometimes even longer via our sister organization Global Leadership Adventures). These unique connections allow for an experience that is completely unrivaled – taking our travelers behind the scenes and a layer deeper into the places that we visit. We’ve realized that this resonates well with families not only because it leads to a richer travel experience, but also because it forms irreplaceable bonds between parents and their children. 

Beyond this, we specifically work with small, boutique properties around the world that allow for a diverse, yet comfortable experience. We offer children’s pricing on all of our trips and design our dates so that they specifically fall over school holidays. Our guides, the heartbeat of our organization, are some of the best family-friendly hosts out there. In short, we tailor each aspect of our trip to help create a memorable experience for families looking to go beyond the norm.

Can you tell us a little bit about the pricing and logistics of your programs? 

Our trips vary in pricing and logistics depending on the destination and the duration of the trip. The best way to obtain detailed information about a specific program is to request an itinerary or check out our catalog and pricing online. In most cases (with some exceptions such as for Galapagos and Uganda), it costs only $395 to reserve a spot on one of our trips. Full payment for your trip is due 30 days after booking or 60 days prior to departure if you are on an interest-free payment plan where your balance gets stretched out but must be paid in full 60 days prior to departure.

Once you sign up for a trip, our dedicated pre-departure team, specializing in the country you are visiting, will assist you in preparing for your trip. They provide resources such as visa recommendations, packing lists, arrival and departure times, and more. Upon your arrival at your destination, we will pick you up from the airport and take care of you for the duration of your trip. All of our trips are locally guided, meaning you will have a local bilingual guide throughout the entire trip who can help you delve deeper and provide education about the area. Our guides are the heart and soul of our trips. Our packages include 3-5 star accommodations, most meals, local transportation, and activities. International airfare is not included, but we have a flight partner that can assist in booking flights. If there are local flights in the itinerary, we include a supplement fee, but we handle the coordination on your behalf. Additionally, all of our trips include medical insurance and emergency evacuation insurance.

What are some of your most popular destinations right now? Why do you think families are drawn to these places?  

Our most popular destinations right now include Costa Rica and Thailand. Families are drawn to these places for several reasons. In Costa Rica, it’s the stunning biodiversity and eco-adventures that create the perfect backdrop for family bonding and learning about conservation efforts. In Thailand, the vibrant culture, friendly locals, and diverse landscapes make it a top choice for families seeking both cultural enrichment and relaxation. Additionally, spending time at a reputable elephant sanctuary is often a highlight for many.

Overall, families are increasingly seeking vacations that offer a balanced mix of education, adventure, and cultural immersion, and these destinations align perfectly with those desires. Our programs in these locations are tailored to cater to multigenerational families, ensuring a meaningful and enjoyable experience for everyone.

What makes you most proud about Discover Corps?   

What makes us most proud at Discover Corps is the positive impact we have on both travelers and the communities we visit. Seeing our travelers return with a deeper understanding of the world, a stronger sense of empathy, and a commitment to sustainable travel is incredibly rewarding.

We take pride in our partnerships with local organizations and communities, which allow us to contribute to meaningful, long-lasting change in the places we visit. From supporting local schools to supporting wildlife conservation efforts, we believe in responsible tourism that benefits both our travelers and the destinations they explore

Additionally, our dedicated team and the testimonials from our satisfied travelers are a constant source of pride and motivation for us. We’re committed to making each Discover Corps journey a transformative and unforgettable experience. We love having a family come back with incredible stories and memories that will last a lifetime. 

Is there anything else you want to share? 

Since the age of 13, I’ve been exploring the world, immersing myself in the rich tapestry of diverse cultures and customs. From the bustling streets of India to the majestic landscapes of Kenya, Ghana, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Guatemala, and more, my travels have gifted me with a profound appreciation for the beauty of our global community. I am originally from Ontario, Canada, but I now call Turrialba, Costa Rica, my home. By day, I serve as a travel specialist for Discover Corps, where I have the privilege of helping you fellow adventurers embark on unforgettable journeys!

In the background, I’m also a proud co-owner of Wearsos, a social enterprise dedicated to reducing waste, boosting rural economies, and creating spaces for education and empowerment. We work magic by upcycling discarded Southwest Airlines seats in rural Costa Rica, offering employment opportunities to women in remote areas while crafting unique, sustainable products such as purses, backpacks, etc.

That is also why I love working for Discover Corps so much, a company that shares my passion for making a positive impact on the world. I love the way they support sustainable tourism all around the world which helps support communities doing incredible work! So if you’re as passionate about travel, culture, and sustainable living as I am, let’s connect! Whether you’re seeking travel tips, inspiration, or just a friendly chat about our trips, I’m here to share.

We hope this proves to be a great resource for you when planning your Wonder Year. We know we’re inspired!

Check out their website to learn more or request a catalog.

www.discovercorps.com

Follow Discover Corps

@discovercorps

The post Community Connectors: Discover Corps appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

Worldschool Pop-Up Hub is a resource that aligns with our upcoming book, Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-term Family Travel and Worldschooling. While we’re waiting for its September publication, we are excited to feature some wonderful members of the worldschooling community. The answers to the following questions are Rachel’s direct words. [Title Photo Credit: Sarah De Santi]

Carlson Family (Rachel, Salem, Kemaya, Jasper, Lance) on Lake Michigan, Photo Credit: Rachel Carlson

Why did you start Worldschool Pop-Up Hub?

Our worldschool hub ventures stemmed from our family’s desire to continue full-time travel with our teens and tween. Though we have always traveled with the kids, in 2018 we gave up our residence when the children were 8, 10, and 13. That first year of exploring the world was fresh and new for us, and we were super happy checking out the US National Parks, catching up with family and friends, revisiting our former home of Kauai, and discovering the ins and outs of life in New Zealand. 

The traveling lifestyle was novel and we had plenty of friends and people to meet along the way. However, a few things were lacking and our conversations weren’t always of the positive nature. Though people were interested in us and our story, their curiosity about our lifestyle choices – no home, no belongings, no storage unit, no formal schooling – meant we were fielding the same questions over and over again. For every person excited about our lifestyle, there were others that felt the need to be critical and not in a constructive manner. It was never our intention to put our kids in a situation where they needed to defend our family’s choices, we just wanted to see the world and experience all life can be. 

Merida 2022 Pop-Up: 1st Meet-&-Greet Activity, Photo Credit: Chong See Ming

In addition to this, our kids were aging into adolescence. This is a time in their development where peers take priority over family. Though we did a great job meeting locals and reuniting with family and friends, we realized that we didn’t have enough of a ‘stable’ community. The kids’ social needs were not being met. 

It’s quite common for worldschooling families to hit a wall as their children equate traveling with not having peer interactions. Adolescents may resist being away from their friends and urge the family to quit traveling. They may want to attend a brick-and-mortar school to immerse in a normal, teen-friendly lifestyle.

Adolescence is also a period where teens and tweens need to experience more autonomy… the kids need a safe space to part from the family: hang with friends, go to the mall, grab a coffee at a café, lounge at the beach, etc. Sure this can happen if you have siblings who get along well, but over time it gets a bit lonely because it’s trickier to break into established teen circles while migratory.  

How did Worldschool Pop-Up Hubs start?

We put a lot of effort into seeking other worldschooling families that intersected our travel path because whenever we were able to meet, it was pure magic. It was so refreshing to not have to explain our lifestyle to anyone, we just automatically understood each other…we all were creating the lifestyles we wanted and not the path we were told to live.

But, even with pre-planning our routes, it was difficult to connect in the same place at the same time… so we hatched a plan to bring the worldschoolers to us. Why not pick a place we want to explore and invite other families to join in? Within two days of our first pop-up, the kids were convinced we needed to host another gathering and our 1-week model was born. 

There are lots of hubs out there—what sets yours apart?

Our events stand apart from other hubs for the ease and simplicity of what we provide. It’s the perfect gateway into the worldschool community without a lot of investment of time or money, or loss of independence. Families have full freedom over where they stay, what activities they attend, and how involved they’d like to be with the larger group. And this is true for both our guests and our hosts. It’s the perfect bite-sized way to decide if these connections and opportunities are important to your family.

Florence 2023 Pop-Up Happy Teens at the Duomo, Photo Credit: Rachel Carlson

Once a family is connected within the wider worldschool community, it’s so much easier to meet up with each other again, no matter where they’re exploring…and it doesn’t need to be specifically at a hub. It can happen organically, which is super beautiful. 

How many of these do you personally go to? What role does your family have in the organization?

In the beginning, our family hosted the bulk of the events, typically staying one month in our destination and offering a pop-up at the end of that period. However, as our reach has grown, we’ve welcomed other worldschooling hosts to our platform…we truly provide events created by worldschoolers for worldschoolers. 

This is key to our dream because we’re empowering other worldschoolers to enter this hosting field without having to create businesses of their own. Plus, now we’re offering simultaneous events all over the globe. This truly was my vision for the Worldschool Pop-Up Hub. I want worldschoolers to take responsibility for creating community for one another. Why rely on others to provide what we need when we’re perfectly capable of bringing the worldschool community right to our destination of choice on a timeline that coincides with our travel? 

How has it evolved and refined itself?

Many of our guests go on to host their own pop-up through our platform, plus it’s not unusual for 25-50% of pop-up attendees to be returning families. In essence, we’ve created a stable, but mobile, community. It’s exactly what many families are seeking.

For my family, this is wonderful. Not only do we have friends we see all over the planet, but now we can both host our own events and attend our friend’s pop-ups as guests. We love joining as many pop-ups as we can. It’s heavenly to show up in a place, have a list of cool things to do, and get a little reminder message each day for what’s on the schedule for the following day (it takes a whole lot of the decision-making out of visiting a new destination… whoever does the planning in your family will love a break from that responsibility). PLUS, we have a whole group of like-minded people to meet and explore with. I love how this works!

Our philosophy is to keep it simple…encourage worldschoolers to go to the same place at the same time, provide opportunities to socialize, but also get out and explore a new area! We keep our pricing low to attract families from all backgrounds and encourage participants to check out the local nature, food, culture, and history via our planned activities.

We’ve hosted over 250 families at this point and have welcomed a diverse group of already diverse people! Our attendees have included seasoned travelers, fast travelers, complete newbies, families with infants through adult children, expats, passport stamp collectors, unschoolers, strict schoolers, budget travelers, solo parents, worldschool-curious families… you name it! 

Istanbul 2023 Pop-Up: Photo-Bombing Street Dog! Photo Credit: Rachel Carlson

Our events are open to all ages and have an excellent track record of attracting families with teens and tweens. This age is really a turning point for many families as they strategize how they’ll meet their adolescents’ needs while traveling. 

Even though our events are only a week long, this is enough time for us to use each other as a lifestyle sounding board. If my family is having an issue (say one of my kids wants to leave the family and go to school or perhaps when we go back “home” we don’t fit in like we used to), we have other experienced families who can share their stories and strategies. They’re happy to help us brainstorm a way forward. The families I’ve met have given me strategies to refine our lifestyle to meet our children’s needs, all while staying mobile.  

What are you most proud of/ what do you enjoy most about your creation?

It’s really captivating to watch other parents go through these conversations and see their “a-ha” moments when they incorporate a new strategy or mindset into their personal issues. Even though these events are created to support the children’s needs for friendships, the adults have found the conversations to be equally necessary. There is nothing like finding acceptance, support, and validation for the unique life choices we’ve made. It’s beyond-refreshing to answer the same questions but from a different perspective: Instead of questions that are interrogatory and judging and asking for justification, we’re now talking to others who want to know about how we make this work for our family… and they might just have some input that makes our lives easier. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, there are plenty of worldschooling families with real-life and relevant ideas for all of us. 

I’m so proud that we’ve grown to the point that families seek our pop-ups and incorporate them into their travel planning. There’s no better feeling than saying good-bye but realizing that we’re hooking back up in just a month or two! 

From the Wonder Year Team: Rachel Carlson’s entrepreneurial and mission-driven work have helped so many. We thank her for her work, vision and support of our worldschooling community. Check out Worldschool Pop-Up Hub. Their schedule is impressive and scholarships are available. Sign up for her newsletter on the website which is always chockfull of ideas and inspiration. Our author group plans to host a meet-up in spring of 2023, in Colorado. Hope to see you there!

Follow her on Instagram @worldschoolpopuphub

Worldschool Pop-Up Prom at a castle in Normandy 2023, Photo Credit: Sarah De Santi

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