Learning

‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’
–Benjamin Franklin
Get the whole family involved and excited for your next adventure. Open minds and open hearts are the best conditions under which to travel.
Check out the resources below to immerse yourself in learning how to discover the world.

Kyleen Bontrager

The Bonnie Traveler

Kyleen is a wife, homeschool mama, lover of teatime, and passionate traveler. Having lived on 3 continents and visited +32 countries, she helps others enjoy memory-making experiences for multigenerational travel. Ready for a bonnie adventure? Let’s go!

Destination Education

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Food

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FAQs

How does learning impact travel?

Learning about a place, culture, or environment before you visit is important for a number of reasons:
+ it can spark your interest in the place, people, or nature that you will experience. Curiosity can be a powerful thing. Once you learn one thing, you will want to learn more.

+it gets you invested in what you will see and do. There’s nothing more boring than seeing some more “old rocks.” But when you understand that those “old rocks” once held the gladiatorial games or was the spot for the famed Trojan Horse you have a greater appreciation for what you are seeing.

+it builds empathy and mindfulness for the people and creatures you will encounter. This place may just be a stop on the tour for you, but it’s someone else’s home. When children (and adults) show appreciation and understanding for someone else’s situation we help build better global citizens who can interact well within our world.

How does travel impact education?

When you return from a trip you are never the same. The people you encountered and the things you experienced make an impact on who you are and how you see the world. Travel impacts education by:

+broadening horizons. If you always stay in the same place doing the same things, you will never grow. Travel helps you see a world outside yourself.

+building multifaceted skills sets. Travel is not done in a void. We don’t travel and only input the knowledge given to us by a tour guide. When we travel, we learn about independence, self sufficiency, and confidence to do hard things.

+using whole brain learning. We truly learn something when we can connect that information to other subjects and topics. Math, Science, History, Literature, they are all connected and interwoven when we experience these concepts during travel.

How can travel be educational?

It starts with intentionality. Any travel can be educational. Travel can be as simple as going to your local park or as complex as traveling to the other side of the world. If you want that trip to be educational, then you must be intentional to learn something new about that place or in that place.

+When you plan a trip make sure to think about how you can build learning experiences into the activities.

+Choose activities that are educational for the age range of your travelers. The zoo might do for your littlest learners, but an animal sanctuary might be a better fit for older students, and a guided walking tour might be the best fit for seniors. Basically, know your audience.

+Disguise learning in fun activities. If you know that something might seem boring to children, find ways to make it fun and engaging. Check out The Best Ways to Explore the British Museum with Kids for ideas on how to get kids excited to learn new things.

What are some examples of educational travel trips?

That depends on the how you want to travel. Here are some examples of how you can take an educational trip with (or without) your children.

+Educational tourism. Educational tourism is traveling for the purpose of studying abroad or for education. Think about charter buses of middle schoolers in red hats touring Washington D.C. If you are an educator or parent, this is a great way to fit travel for your student into the school year. This is also a wonderful way to spark interest and curiosity into the hearts of students.

+Guided tours. Guided tour groups offer so much education. When you book guided tour, whether it be through the great cities of Europe or the savanna’s of Africa, you get knowledgable guides filled with information, cultural excursions, and a variety of experiences all rolled into one. This is a great option if the idea of planning a whole trip seems overwhelming to you. Contact a travel agent, like Pat at Faith and Family Travel, if you’d like a more curated planning experience.

+DIY travel. This is where you plan your trip and include activities that have educational value. You know your family best. You know what activities and experience they will enjoy and what will spark interest in learning. Some great educational trips for families would be Nature themed: like National Parks or other outdoor locations such as Iceland, Alaska, Central America, or an African safari. Cultural Centers: this would include places like capital cities (Washington D.C., London, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, etc.), places with significant historical value (Egypt, Greece, Philadelphia, Israel, etc.), or heritage centers to help you learn about your family’s past. Eco-tourism locations that provide education for conservation and environmentalism (Galapagos Islands, New Zealand, Denmark,Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp, Thailand). Religious/Spiritual Venues: places that are important to your religious beliefs (Jerusalem, Bodh Gaya, Kumbh Mela, Mecca, etc.).