For families with older teenagers, consider adding an educational component to your next family trip. Educational adventures will not only foster curiosity about different places, but your kids will also learn a thing or two about the world around them, broadening their perspectives in life. Read on for some suggestions on educational adventures for older teenagers.

Located on New Zealand's North Island, Auckland has a population of around 1.5 million. The University of Auckland was established in 1883, and the metro area is rife with arts, culture, history, and gustatorial opportunities. 

Planning a school trip is a lot like coordinating a large-scale battle…

And you’ve got an army of a million troops… 

And a billion things are likely to go wrong…

And while you’re planning the trip, you’re expected to balance a beach ball on your head while spinning more plates than a professional plate spinner at the Plate Spinning Olympics. 

But when a school trip, whether it’s a day in the countryside or a week in Barcelona, goes off without a hitch, there’s no stopping the feeling of pride that’ll race in your heart. 

Learning And Living
Traveling is the ultimate learning opportunity, and the learning aspect  is one of the most pleasurable parts of the journey. A vacation to a new locale will teach you all kinds of things about local culture, customs, and geography; and you’ll retain it much longer than should you memorize it from some book. When you can put your hands on something, it makes a more indelible impression. 
 

Central America is a hop, skip and a jump away from the United States. It’s that kind of access I want my students to know. It’s that possibility and ability of choice that can help make travel happen. Places become more than dots on a map - they become memories. Accents are not solely other languages or sounds fumbled through in high school - they become conversations with new friends. Customs are not only cultural artifacts in a classroom or answers to a standardized test - they are embraced, honoured and learned in an adventure-filled afternoon.

Last week I caught up with a former high school student who happened to be in San Diego, California for a visit. Now a twenty-something graduate assistant and student finding her way in the world, we spent the day discussing travel wishes, living in new cities, dreams, opportunities, and how learning should be fun.