Homeschooling, unschooling, worldschooling, schoolcations, are all fancy buzzwords for experiential education. Studies have shown that those who are taught through firsthand experiences tend to absorb and retain information best by relation. Consider how important in-person activities like field trips are for students to better understand what they are learning. Now apply this to learning from outside the traditional school setting in the real world, and you get Worldschooling.

From learning about cultural differences and similarities in the world to seeing nature’s beauty in person, students better grasp information when it is immersive. In-person experiences through travel also promotes a lifelong love of learning about new things with a fun sense of adventure and relatability. It is much easier to recall important events and information from a personal standpoint outside of a textbook. Travel also teaches valuable life lessons that aren’t always learned through traditional schooling, such as independence, social skills, and world awareness.

As destinations in the United States and around the world begin to open, travelers can look into which destinations best suit their needs. If you have young children, you may look at destinations where the kids can be out in nature, learning about the physical world firsthand.

The Galapagos Islands, Central America, Africa, South America, and US National Parks are some of the best destinations for outdoor learning. The best location will depend on the “Pod,” a trusted group of friends, and their specific needs. Our travel consultants can help you narrow down the best options.

For older high school or even college-age students, travel can be a huge part of their learning adventure and help prepare them for the future with real-world experiences. Depending on their interests, the world has endless opportunities from health and human services, cultural studies, art, and architecture to environmental and political sciences.

For adults wanting to buckle down in a serene environment where they can focus on work and play hard after hours, their destination of choice depends on how much they want to relax and how hard they want to play!

I recommend starting two-three weeks in Ecuador to begin Worldschooling. Here, students will experience three biospheres: the Andes, The rainforest, and The Galapagos.

With a stay at Hacienda Zuleta, the family can get into a rhythm of world schooling. Adults can work, and kids can do remote learning, where there is strong Wi-Fi and plentiful common areas to work in. They don’t need to worry about cooking or cleaning for any meal, eat delicious food, and are looked after. They can focus on work and learning, and when the day is done, they have all of Zuleta to explore. They can be exposed to a different culture and history, learn and practice Spanish all in one place.

The journey would then wrap up in the Galapagos islands just off the coast of Ecuador. An archipelago formed by volcanic activity, the children will learn about geography as well as about biodiversity and the great biologist Charles Darwin here in the Galapagos. Here the kids will experience many weird and wonderful species, most of which only live here on the islands. With no natural predators, many of these creatures are easier to appreciate up close.