Parents and families... help your traveler begin their journey -

Have a look into the philosophies, inspirations, and motivations that are at the heart of the 8th Grade Expedition. 

An “expedition” is an adventure or journey taken by a group of like-minded individuals with a specific goal in mind. Throughout history, expeditions have led to the discovery of new lands, new people, and new ways of thinking.

Today the term “expedition” refers as much to exploration of a new place as it does to a mission of self discovery. We no longer travel with the intent to impose our ways on others - we travel to open our minds to let others influence and expand the way we live our lives.

Our expedition is a bit of all of these things. We will be heading out into an exciting and exotic part of our country in search of adventure, beauty, and a sense of our place in the world.

That is the difference between a traveler and a tourist. 

That is what leads to new discoveries of place and of yourself and a safe return as a much different person then when you left.       

Whats the Point of Travel?

“We go abroad not just for a change of scenery but in the hope that the outer landscape will help rearrange the inner one.”

-Alain de Botton

Journalist, and author of eight books, Richard Louv talks about “Nature Deficit Disorder” and the importance in getting children and adults outdoors to reconnect with the natural world.

In his books Last Child in the Woods, The Nature Principal, and Vitamin N, Louv discusses the end of the era of free outdoor play that many experienced in their childhoods. 

He notes that “the more high-tech our lives become, the more we need to achieve a natural balance.”  There is no better evidence of this than in the current generation. Interested in reading more?

Mother Nature’s Child explores nature’s powerful role in children’s health and development through the experience of toddlers, children in middle childhood and adolescents. The film marks a moment in time when a living generation can still recall childhoods of free play outdoors; this will not be true for most children growing up today. The effects of “nature deficit disorder”

are now being noted across the country in epidemics of child obesity, attention disorders, and depression.

Mother Nature’s Child asks the questions: Why do children need unstructured time outside? What is the place of risk-taking in healthy child development?

How is play a form of learning? Why are teachers resistant to taking students outside? How can city kids connect with nature?

                                                     ...What does it mean to educate the ‘whole’ child?