Wonderstruck
A NEWSLETTER FROM THE TEAM AT WONDER YEAR
Volume 14 • July 2024
Book News
Happy July! Our $2.99 ebook flash sale and giveaway for reviewers wraps up July 5th.
Our big news this month is that we added both a Foreword INDIES Award and an IPPY Award to last month’s IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award. We’re glad that the book’s messages of curiosity, adventure, and discovery are resonating with so many.
As rewarding as that public recognition feels, even more heartwarming are the personal connections we make with our book. While RVing through Nova Scotia last week, co-author Angela stopped in to shop at the independent MareGold Bookstore in Annapolis Royal. Not only did she see Wonder Yearon the featured books shelf, she autographed a copy for a customer who was purchasing it as a gift for her adult daughter. Wonderful.
Blog Roundup for June
In light of the tension between encouraging adventure travel and trying to minimize our carbon footprint, we offer an informative and timely blog on carbon offsets and sustainable travel. This piece provides an honest look at offsets’ current and future impact.
We’ve been at this blogging business for almost two years now, so we decided to write a roundup postpointing to Wonder Year blogs that answer some of the most frequently asked questions on worldschooling. If you’re new around here, this dive into FAQs is a great place to start.
July Happenings Around the Globe
- XXXIII Olympiad – July 26 is the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. In addition to the gorgeous celebration of sport, the Olympics are also chock full of worldschooling opportunities in geography, language, history, music, fashion, food, social studies, and perhaps most importantly, the social-emotional rings of competition. So while you are watching your favorite events and cheering for Simone or Trischa or Sha’Carri, listen to their stories and notice their perseverance, self-motivation, risk-taking, positive thinking, drive, resilience, grit, and unity.
- International Day of Friendship – July 30 marks the International Day of Friendship. Proclaimed in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly, this lovely day recognizes that friendly connections between people and countries can help build peace. So make new friends and keep the old as you are part of a global bridge of peace and friendship.
- LA Shorts International Film Festival is billed as “the world’s most prestigious short film festival.” This year it’s taking place from July 17-28 at Regal LA Live, an immersive multiplex theater. The festival features over 350 films and attracts 10,000 people each year. If being there in person is not an option, check out the On-Demand Shorts Platform where films can be accessed through the month of July. And for die-hard film lovers, here’s a year-round list of other great film festivals.
- Gion Matsuri Festival in Tokyo is considered one of the three greatest local festivals in Japan. It takes place throughout the entire month of July as a celebration of Yasaka Jinja Shrine. An upbeat mood infuses Tokyo during this time when locals open their tatami rooms to the public and display their beautiful decorations. Gion Matsuri is a time to celebrate and revere Japanese culture. There is a procession of floats, lanterns, sacred carriages, and flower sunshades. At the end of the festival, there is a ceremonial banishing of evil and prayer for protection from sickness.
- Move over baseball, the Euro Cup’s in town–well, in Europe at least. The UEFA European Championship is an uber-popular contest that determines the European champion among men’s national teams. Held every four years, the 2024 tournament is taking place in ten world-class stadiums throughout Germany. Visit the official website to learn how to get tickets and Ole Ole Ole!
Nature’s Offerings
- July 26 marks International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established Mangrove Day in 2015 to build awareness about the importance of conserving the mangrove biome. These unique shrubs and small trees – saline woodlands – grow in coastal salt water or brackish water in the tropics and subtropics. They are beautiful, fun to explore, and fascinating to learn about. Check out this excellent National Geographic infographic that explains how the mangrove ecosystems serve as the “ocean’s nursery” and help prevent coastal erosion.
- North American Monsoon (NAM) starts in Mexico in June and is in full swing in the US Southwest in July. This is the time when afternoon thunderstorms roll in with some regularity. The precipitation cycle is caused by a shift in winds that bring moisture from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California into what is usually a very dry region. Check out this information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to learn more about this seasonal phenomenon. Local tip: If you’re hiking in the Rocky Mountains in July, get an early start and pack a rain jacket! The monsoons are no joke and you don’t want to be caught above treeline during a thunderstorm.
- July is Patagonia’s wettest and coldest month. To be sure, Chilean and Argentinian families on winter break will be out enjoying the Patagonian powder, but there won’t be many foreign tourists skiing these South American slopes. So pack your cold-weather gear and enjoy all the flexibility that long-term travel offers as you join the locals on an enchanting, snow-covered adventure in Patagonia.
- Tarantulas are the largest spider on Earth. And in Texas from late May into October, with warmer temperatures and ample moisture, male tarantulas are out and about, by the thousands, looking to mate. Because of their size (when spread out, they can measure 11 inches!) tarantulas can be scary, but they are not dangerous at all! So, if you are lucky to see these hairy arthropods in person, enjoy them from afar and let them do their tarantula two-step without human interference.
- Eight degrees south of the equator is the volcanic tropical island of Bali, a lovely place to be in July. On land, it’s the peak of the dry season and in the ocean, water temperatures average 81°F, ideal for swimming, surfing, and water sports. If underwater adventure is your fancy, you may want to check out the Tulamben Shipwreck Festival in Bali. This amazing gathering celebrates all the mysteries of the ocean. One of the main attractions is diving the wreckage of the USS Liberty. This former WWII cargo ship now is completely covered in healthy corals like crinoids, feather stars, and hydroids, and is home to diverse fish species such as sunfish, regal angelfish and great barracuda.
Links We’re Loving…
We hope you found these updates and tips helpful! We wish you all the best in your worldschooling adventures, whether you’re planning your trip, are currently on the road, or have already returned and want to stay connected to the family travel community.
As always, we’d love your feedback. If you have any questions or comments about this newsletter, feel free to reach out to us at any of the emails below. Thank you!
Happy Trails,
Wonder Year Team
Annika: annika@wonderyear.com
Angela: angela@wonderyear.com
Julie: julie@wonderyear.com
