Wonderstruck
A NEWSLETTER FROM THE TEAM AT WONDER YEAR
Volume 10 • March 2024
Book News
Six months post-book launch, Wonder Year continues to gain momentum both in sales and promotional events. We have many presentations coming up at conferences, shows, and REI stores. Check out our press page!
We will again be speaking at a Travel and Adventure Show, this time at the Santa Clara Convention Center on March 16. And just for our newsletter followers, here is a code for FREE tickets to the entire show! To redeem, enter E24WONDER100 when you buy your ticket.
Other Big News: our publisher, Wonderwell, has joined forces with Greenleaf Book Group to distribute Wonderwell titles under a partnership imprint. We are excited about this new relationship and the opportunities it will bring.
Blog Roundup for February
In February we published two blogs sharing inspiration both grand and granular! The first offers a powerful worldschooling tool: traveling timelines that can be a unifying visual for the events and people worldschoolers learn about over the course of their travels. Annika had fun revisiting the process and serendipitous discoveries in her family’s timeline.
The second post is a recap of a conversation between Julie and Florence Williams about some of our favorite topics: nature, awe, travel, and wonder. Florence Williams is an award-winning author and a leading voice in science journalism. She is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine and a freelance writer for The New York Times, New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, and numerous other publications. 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.
March Happenings Around the Globe
- International Women’s Day – International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. IWD is a day to recognize the achievements of women, raise awareness about discrimination and inequity, and take action to achieve gender parity. The earliest commemoration was held as “Women’s Day” in 1909 in response to the New York City garment workers’ strike. Activists called for improved working conditions, better pay, and voting rights for women. Learn more about the background of International Women’s Day here. #InspireInclusion.
- Ramadan – Ramadan is one of the most sacred months for the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, and this year, Ramadan begins on the evening of March 10. Through fasting, worship, service, spiritual awareness, and gathering together with family and friends, Ramadan is a time of gratitude, compassion, self-control, and spiritual rejuvenation.
- SXSW Festival, USA – From March 8-16, the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals will happen in Austin, Texas. This highly anticipated annual festival celebrates film, music, and comedy. Participants come to be entertained and learn about innovations in technology, education, pop culture, and art. If you find yourself anywhere near the Lone Star State, we recommend dropping into Austin for some finger-lickin’ BBQ and SXSW.
- Nyepi Day Bali (Day of Silence) – Who wants to go to Bali? We do! If you are lucky enough to be on this magnificent island in the Indonesian archipelago in March, expect to be very, very quiet on the 11th, the new moon, as the New Year is celebrated in silence. All light and sound will be turned off, and there will be no traffic, electricity, or activities. On Nyepi Day, the Balinese mediate and serenity reigns.
- St. Patrick’s Day – Kiss me, I’m Irish! Not really, but you don’t have to be Irish to partake in the St. Paddy’s Day festivities. They say the world goes green on March 17, so wherever you are, look for quirky parades, skipping dancers, marching bagpipers, face-painted children, waving flags, and green rivers (that’s right, on St. Patrick’s Day, the Chicago River is actually dyed green!). You can learn more about the history of St. Patrick’s Day here.
Nature’s Offerings
- Spring Equinox – March 19 marks the Spring Equinox. According to the National Weather Service, “There are only two times of the year when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun resulting in ‘nearly’ equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes.” In the Northern Hemisphere, the spring, or vernal, equinox marks the start of spring and in the Southern Hemisphere, fall begins. Check out this post from The Lonely Planet that shares eleven incredible sites to experience the Spring Equinox.
- Salar de Uyuni Mirror – The 4,086 square miles of salt flats in the southwest corner of Bolivia are something to behold. The grandest of grand mirages, cast by water upon impermeable surface, looks like the world’s biggest mirror! To catch this phenomenon you need to be there during the wet season, from December to April. And, if you need a splash of pink added to the scene, you are in luck! In March thousands of flamingos call this place home.
- Alaskan Winter Wonderland – While most of the Northern Hemisphere is welcoming early signs of spring, in Alaska, winter is in a state of illuminated glory. Finally, there is daylight to enjoy the full menu of outdoor winter activities. In March, the famous Iditarod sled dog race takes place, visitors can experience the Aurora Borealis, skies are bluer, days are longer, and smiles are brighter.
- Honey Bees – Bees are integrally linked to our food web. Along with birds, bats, butterflies, beetles, flies, and small animals, they provide the service of pollination to many plants. Our delicious and nutritious food supply depends on these buzzing beauties! Unlike most insects, honey bees stay awake through winter months, but the colonies get smaller as the bees reach the end of their lives. In March, the queen bee starts laying eggs, the first step in rebuilding the colony. Check out this National Geographic Kids site for more family-friendly information.
- Forest Celebration! – Forests support our life on Earth. They provide us with oxygen; secure our water; provide paper, pulp, and food; and sustain the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people. Forests also provide a crucial sink for CO2. Globally, forests absorb 2.6 billion tons of CO2 each year, approximately one-third of the total amount of CO2 emitted annually from the burning of fossil fuels. Forests must be protected. Wherever you are this year on March 21, hug a tree and look for opportunities to celebrate International Day of Forests.
Links We’re Loving…
- @thesojournies – Sojourner White self proclaims that she is “obsessed with train travel.” She will open your horizons to ways that you can incorporate train travel into North American and international destinations. Her Instagram is engaging, loaded with tips, and just fun to follow!
- Oak & Park – These useful and kid-friendly arm bags are perfect for worldschooling families on the go. The clear bags are great for concerts and sporting events when you want to be hands-free. And you’ll be supporting the female-owned business of a worldschooling family.
- Looking to build your environmental literacy? E Movement and Thorne Nature Experience both offer curriculum databases of environmental education lessons and activities. Resources can be filtered by grade level, subject, topic, location, and more to find ones that fit your family’s interests.
- @tranquilotravel – Josh Berman is a teacher, travel columnist, frequent contributor to The Denver Post, and author of several Moon Travel Guides. Josh just hiked 75 of the best trails in Colorado for his newest book, Moon Colorado Hiking, which launches in April and is available for pre-order now.
- LocalHarvest – LocalHarvest makes it easy to find good food by connecting people with those who produce it. Their directory lists over 40,000 family farms, farmers’ markets, restaurants, and grocery stores that feature local food, offering a fantastic resource for traveling families who want to eat seasonally and support local economies.
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
