Adventure School

We are finding that the school work we are doing is altering the way our children learn. They are genuinely interested in what is happening around them on many levels, so the ‘want-to-know’ factor is prevalent. The result is that they are engaged in their own learning and are seeing the immediate value of their knowledge. They are keen to learn and are therefore taking ownership in their education.

(from “School, Fish and Racing Sailboats” blog post January 2016)

We are passionate about travel and sharing creative learning adventures with our kids. About six years ago we were inspired to try something different, so we just… went! We did a heap of research, packed our bags with books and hope and have not looked back. Loving what we do, and living a creative life are qualities which resonate with us. We are teaching on the go and yet learning as a team, as a family. Annually, we spend roughly six-months on land and six-months at sea.

We realize there are many types of home-schooling families. Though we don’t seem to fit into most categories we have found. We are homeschooling, but mostly not at home. We are not running from a failed system; we are not overtly religious. We just want to travel, learn more about the world and educate our own curious children along the way. We call our program “Adventure School” or “Travel School.”

We originally chose the Calvert School model as a base, which worked very well for us in the beginning. However, we didn’t follow it to a “T” as we found a lot of the topics of learning were not congruent with the places we were traveling (for instance, why study US history in Europe?). So we modify the kids’ curriculums to fit our travels. We study European political and religious history when in Europe. We read Cervantes in Spain, Melville in the Bahamas.

Over time, we have developed a more eclectic approach to our curriculum. We combine Saxon and Calvert Math with IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing), Susan Wise Bauer’s World History, and Write Shop. We use IXL for geography, language arts and additional science. I teach segments on art, poetry, ethics, critical thinking, spelling/vocabulary, finance and cursive writing.

Most of the time we do not have access to high speed (or any speed at all) internet, so we are careful not to base our school time completely reliant on computer connections. Our “Adventure School” is a bit “old school”. We read a LOT of books. Our poetry curriculum spans the two grades and involves creating our own personal anthologies. We study Spanish and Portuguese using Rosetta Stone, Duolingo and IXL. We also use IXL online as a secondary Math course for each grade.

If interested, click on these links to see more about the benefits of the Calvert School, IXL, IEW, Rosetta Stone, Write Shop and Duolingo.

We have discovered an unusual model for educating our children, which has blossomed above and beyond anything we could have expected. This plan of ours is hard work – but it also works very well for us all. We love what we are doing and our children are thriving!

In this digital format Tony and I chronicle our family adventures – exploring and learning as we go. Please subscribe to receive updates on our journey, and send us notes – we love feedback and questions are welcome!

Thank you for reading – xx Lynne Rey

published July 2, 2015

“Leave the Dock and Good Things Happen.” Tony often says this – which applies to boats on every level – but also to life in general. Sometimes you just have to let loose the docklines and… go!

We love traveling and to share a life of experiential learning with our children has been more than fulfilling for the entire family. And so we have decided to continue this path for now… because we love it.

(Lynne, counting mountains in the Dolomites. Lake Garda, Italy. September 2014)

Locations of Study 2018-2019 (List in Progress)…

Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Museu Fundación Juan March (Museum of Modern Art) Palma, Mallorca

Soller/Porto de Soller | Valdemossa/Porto de Valdemossa

Es Baluard: Museum of Contemporary Art, Palma, Mallorca

Cala Falcó Cliff Climbing (by boat), Mallorca

Porto Portals | Porta Cala

Valencia, Spain

Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de) Valencia

El Miguelette (Tower of Migulette)

The Institut Valencià d’Art Modern (IVAM)

International House of Valencia: espanolé (Language School)

Hispania-Valencia (Language School)

Mercado Colon | Serrano Towers | el Carmen

Museu de Belles Arts de Valencia

Universitat Politècnica de Valencia | Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències

Oceanográfico Valencia (private tour)

Newport, Rhode Island

Busey Farm, Jacksonville, Fl

St. Augustine, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Jupiter (Florida)

Ft. Lauderdale | Miami

Locations of Study 2017-2018

University of Rhode Island, 2017 fall Honors Colloquium: Jane Goodall, speaker

Black Heritage Trail, Boston, MA

Boston Common & Public Gardens, Boston, MA

Museum of African American History, Boston, MA

INTREPID: Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York City

2017 Food Film Festival, NY, NY

New York Public Library and Bryant Park

Times Square, New York City

“About Jane”, Documentary (w/ newfound video footage of Jane Goodall), Newport RI

Adams Crypt, United First Parish Church, Quincy, MA

Adams National Historic Park, Quincy, MA

Cummer Museum of Art, Jacksonville, FL

Wynwood Walls – Urban Graffiti Art Exhbition, Miami

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Coconut Grove, Miami, FL

Frost Museum of Science, Miami, FL

Barnes Sound | Lignum Vitae State Park

Key West History Tour

Hemingway House and Museum

Florida Keys | Cape Sable, Gulf of Mexico | Naples, FL

Cayo Costa State Park, North Captiva

Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, Ft. Meyers

Lake Okeechobee Locks

Playhouse Theatre, Coral Gables, FL

Marlins Park Tour (Miami Marlins Arena)

Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, University of Miami

University of Miami: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

Miami International Boat Show, Key Biscayne FL

Key Biscayne | Jupiter Island | Melbourne | St. Augustine

Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral (NASA)

Cubicle SpeedCube Competition, Daytona, FL

Busey Farm, Jacksonville, FL

Museum of Science and History, Jacksonville

Pruitt Softball Complex, Jacksonville University

Lifespan CPR and First Aid Certification Course, Newport Hospital, Newport, RI

Trinity Church (c 1698) tour, Newport, RI

Volvo Ocean Race Village/Team Vestas boat tour, Newport, RI

Fenway Park, Boston Massachusetts

Sail Newport Keelboat camp, Newport Harbor, Newport, RI

Locations of Study 2016-2017

San Francisco Maritime Museum and National Historical Park

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA

Angel Island State Park and Immigration Center, San Francisco

Cable Car Museum, San Francisco, CA

DeYoung Fine Art Museum, San Francisco, CA

SF MOMA (San Francisco Modern art Museum)

San Francisco ZOO, California

Alamo Square Park and Lombard Street + Gardens, San Francisco, CA

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Presidio, Chrissy Field)

The Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco

AT&T Park (LA Dodgers vs SF Giants) South Beach, San Francisco, California

Golden Gate Bridge (walked across), San Francisco

Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception, San Francisco, CA

Sierra Nevada Mountains, California/Nevada

Truckee, CA – Lake Tahoe, NV – Reno, NV – Fernley, NV

Tahoe Science Center, UC Davis/Environmental Research Center, NV

North Sails SuperYacht Finishing Facility & Sail Loft, Minden, NV

Yosemite National Park

Food Film Festival, New York City, NY

High Line (walked the length of) New York City, NY

Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY

Ft. Lauderdale | Stuart | West Palm Beach Florida

NASA Launch viewing and Museum Tour: Kennedy Space Center-Cape Canaveral, Fl

Vero Beach | Melbourne | Daytona | St. Augustine | Jacksonville, Florida

North Palm Beach | Miami Florida

Wynwood Walls – Urban Graffiti Art Exhbition, Miami

Perez Art Museum Miami – PAMM

National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, Ft. Pierce, FL

Elliott Key | Boca Chita Key | Marine Stadium, FL

JetBlue Park at Fenway South, Fort Myers, Florida (Red Sox vs Yankees, Spring Training)

Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, Florida (NY Mets vs Miami Marlins, Spring Training)

Mystic Seaport and Maritime Museum, Mystic, CT

Locations of Study 2015-2016

Centro Cultural de Cascais: Sam Shaw, Photography Exhibit. Cascais, Portugal

Art Collection of the Condes de Castro Guimarães. Cascais, Portugal

Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum. Cascais, Portugal

The Palacio Nacional da Pena, Sintra, Portugal

Castelo de Sao Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal

Alfarma District, Lisbon, Portugal

Capela dos Ossos (Bones Chapel) Evora, Portugal

Se Catedral de Evora, Portugal

Templo de Diana (Roman Temple) Evora, Portugal

Santa Maria de la Sede Cathedral, including the Minaret Tower, Seville Spain

Iglesia de San Marcos, Seville Spain

Parque Maria Luisa and Plaza de Espana, Seville Spain

Flamenco Shows, Seville Spain

Alcazar Palace, Seville Spain

Alhambra Palace of Granada, Spain

Albaycin of Granada, Spain

Volvo Ocean Race Headquarters, Alicante, Spain

L’Hemisfèric, Valencia, Spain

L’Umbracle — Walkway / Garden; Valencia, Spain

El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe — Science museum Valencia, Spain

Oceanografic, Valencia, Spain

Mercado Colon and Serano Towers, Valencia, Spain

Aya Sofya (Haghia Sophia) Museum, Istanbul, Turkey (built in 537 AD)

Blue Mosque (Called Sultanahmet Camii in Turkish), Istanbul, Turkey

Yerebatan Sarayi (Cistern Basilica), Istanbul, Turkey

Hippodrome of Constantinople or Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul, Turkey

Boat Tour of the Bosphorus River, Turkey

Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul Modern (Museum of Modern Art) Istanbul, Turkey

Pera Museum, Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church, Istanbul

15th Century Kapalicarsi (Grand Bazaar) Istanbul

The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Bodrum, Turkey

Bodrum Castle, Bodrum, Turkey

4-day cruise aboard OBELIX on the Aegean Sea, Bodrum/South Turkey

Asia: Walking tour and dinners, Asia (Istanbul/Asian side)

Newport, RI

Art Basel, Miami : Modern Art, Installation and Mural Show

Miami Mini-Makers Faire: Art, Engineering and Science

Ocean Reef Club | John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, FL

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Islamorada, FL

Turtle Hospital Tour and Hidden Harbor Marine Environment Project, Marathon, FL

Sombrero Reef Sanctuary Preservation (snorkeled on reef)

The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center & Natural History Museum

Florida Keys/NOAA National Marine Sanctuary

Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Key West

Butterfly and Nature Conservatory,, Key West, FL

Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum, Key West, FL

The Harry S. Truman Little White House, Key West

CityView History Tour

Jet Blue Park/Fenway South, Ft. Meyers, FL

Abacos, Bahamas: Great Sale Cay, Spanish Cay, Guana Cay, Great Turtle Cay, Sandy Cay, Little Harbour, Tilloo Cay, Sugarloaves, Marsh Harbor, Elbow Cay, Hopetown, Man-O-War Cay, Mermaid Reef, Matt Lowe Cay.