We’re really sorry, but a lot can happen in 12 days in South America.
In fact, when you jam-pack an itinerary with hiking mountains, exploring villages and jungles, travelling the mighty Amazon, learning tribal culture, zip-lining, white-water rafting, and course work, it is pretty much guaranteed.
Throughout the journey, we encouraged every student to embrace a growth mindset on their own terms. As a result, we saw students take on new challenges, overcome fears, and build new bonds, new trust, and a higher level of confidence in their own decisions and in their peers.
You might have noticed that the kid you dropped off at the airport came back a little different. No, we are not talking about little scrapes, the Amazon tan, or the cool new haircut they scored for $10 in the village. It is something far less tangible, something quietly exciting in every way.
It’s inner growth
Sure, they might be a centimetre taller if you measure them. But you will find they might also look at the world a little differently now: trying new things, eating new food, listening a little longer, and respecting the new learning opportunities that come their way from new people.
We believe travelling with students is invaluable, at home and miles from home.
It is exciting, and it is also a lot of work. Sure, there is the occasional dash of stress, but at the end of the day it is deeply rewarding to watch the kids we teach every day grow stronger, gain skills, and evolve into the confident, enlightened young adults they all want to become. They are pure potential.
Downtime and choices are essential to all of us
We also made sure every day had built-in options, and that no student had to do everything. It is a balance we learn and work with daily at AVRO. As an alternative high school, we have always done things differently. So if a student needs a break from class to recharge in the lounge, we encourage it. And if they need a backflip in a lagoon, well, that is even better.
Whether the setting is a classroom in midtown Toronto or a village in the Andes, the same idea holds: growth comes when students are trusted to take it on for themselves.