The World's Greatest Classroom

What if some of life's most important lessons happen outside the classroom?

A heard from a parent about telling their children's teacher they were considering living abroad for a quarter. Expecting concern about missing school, the parent was surprised by the teacher's response.... there may be no better education than experiencing life in another country.

I love that perspective.

To discover that English is not everyone's first language. To experience different foods, cultures, and ways of living. To see extraordinary wildlife in its natural environment, and begin to understand our own place in this great big world. This is the global classroom that travel can be. And I think Costa Rica is one of the most remarkable places for this kind of learning.

Imagine a country where tropical rainforests are alive with monkeys, sloths, and colorful birds. Where volcanoes rise above the landscape, where rivers wind through dense jungle, and where the Pacific Ocean opens up an entirely different world of discovery.

Costa Rica is a small country with extraordinary biodiversity. Its tropical forests, rivers, and coastal ecosystems are home to an incredible variety of life. And equally inspiring is the way Costa Rican people have made conservation and care for the natural world such an important part of their country's identity.

There is so much to learn here. And not only about nature.

Travel is more than going somewhere. This concept is becoming more well known throughout the travel industry and among travelers. Our planet is shared. Those of us who have the privilege to travel also have a unique responsibility to consider the ways we occupy the places we visit.

To ask the question, how do I serve the places I go? How does the place benefit from my being there? This is more than an economic answer, that we spend money there. What about another kind of exchange that brings longer term benefits? That has benefit to the traveler and the people and the places we go. This may seem disconnected to those who just want to enjoy some time on a beach, have a rum punch and decompress. However, even with all that, there are ways to incorporate something that matters.

This is where With Heart Travel comes in

My dad enjoyed his rum punches but also wanted to experience the places, get to know local people, and was open to learning and contributing in some way to bring kindness and care to those we met during our family travels when I was a young child.

I have not stopped traveling since age two! And with a mindset given to me, considering how to do so in a way that contributes, in the best way I can, as a steward of this earth.

Caring for the people and places we go means we interact. We share time together. I call it a “giving exchange” because everyone benefits. For example in the photo below, who knew a handful of plastic bottle caps could help open up Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches to more people? Through DONATAPA, these colorful little caps are collected and transformed into accessible beach features, helping people of all abilities experience the joy of the ocean. A powerful lesson for young travelers in how small actions can make a big difference!

Consider a trip that parents and grandparents share with their children.

Our April 2027 Costa Rica journey is designed to be one of exploration and discovery, inspiring new awareness and learning. It is one of immersion, connecting on a deeper level with the places and people, and of service — sharing time with local organizations on projects that contribute to caring for the environment and our communities.

One morning, we will float quietly along the Peñas Blancas River, watching for monkeys, sloths, tropical birds, and other creatures within this living ecosystem. With a local naturalist alongside us, we'll discover more about animal behavior, adaptations, and the remarkable ways life in the rainforest is interconnected.

On another day, we'll explore the landscape around Arenal Volcano, visit a beautiful waterfall, and learn how cacao becomes chocolate. Along the Pacific coast, we'll discover marine ecosystems and learn about efforts to protect sea turtles and their nesting beaches.

And we'll meet the people who make Costa Rica what it is. Local artisans, entrepreneurs, conservationists, and community members who share their traditions and show us how caring for people and caring for the environment can go hand in hand.

There are opportunities to participate, too. To plant trees, learn how plastic waste can become something useful, and join in conservation activities that support the communities we visit.

Imagine what a young person might take away from these experiences.

Perhaps a new curiosity about the life of a rainforest. An understanding that people around the world live differently, speak different languages, and share many of the same hopes. Or the discovery that even small acts of care can contribute to something much larger.

These new experiences tap into new parts of oneself. This is experiential learning — how will I interact and what do I need for the day? Young people and adults alike find their brave, open to the unknown and embrace the day-to-day, and gain flexibility as a traveler, allowing a readiness to fully live the moments.

In this case, we will travel as a group. Families and fellow travelers on a journey together. It becomes one cohesive group who look out for one another, get excited together about the new things we experience, see, feel, hear.

Yes — senses alive, curiosity awakened.

It is a journey that will live in our hearts and perhaps inspire something new that we bring back home. Maybe it is knowing that other places exist and the awareness of different ways people live. Maybe it will inspire more care for one's own environment. Or some new topic to investigate and continue to learn more.

This is what I love about travel. The learning does not end when we return home.

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Come learn about Costa Rica with us!

Your family is invited to a free Travel Talk on Tuesday, December 1, at 7:00 PM Eastern to hear more about our April 2027 Costa Rica family adventure. We'll share more about the places we'll visit, the people we'll meet, and the experiences that make this journey so special.

Register for the free Costa Rica Travel Talk

Or explore the full Costa Rica Family Adventure itinerary.