Working Without Borders

05/01/2024

Today, my 13-year-old son Kaz and I are psyched to announce a new AI-powered, web-based platform called Cazzy.

As background, I’ve long known that family dinner conversation is important for kids’ cognitive, social, and emotional development. Research from the Family Dinner Project at Harvard shows that engaging in meaningful conversations during family meals boosts kids' vocabulary, improves academic performance, strengthens family bonds, and builds resilience among adolescents.

However, it’s challenging enough to get dinner on the table, let alone think of the optimal conversation topic each night.

So, we aim for Cazzy to become the world’s most advanced language model for generating conversation starters tailored to each family’s interests and needs.

It’s a solution that’s been impactful for my family. Now, each night at dinner, my 9-year-old daughter says, “Daddy, what question do you have for us?"

She's come to expect an intriguing scenario—a fascinating question—that pulls everyone into an interesting conversation, allowing each of us to hone our thinking, our ethics, and our understanding of the world.

I look forward to this cultural shift happening for more families.

Beyond that, I’m eager for the world to see that young people who take advantage of AI can make a big difference. Cazzy was built entirely by a middle schooler, who coded over a thousand lines across three programming languages, fueled by curiosity, passion, determination, and a smart use of AI technology.

Your family can try Cazzy for free for a whole month by going to www.cazzy.ai

Kaz and I will be eager to hear about your experience!

Enhanced Conversation Creator creates meaningful topics to talk about during any meal of the day.

12/31/2023

Hey Moms and Dads! Here are the ages of the kids and teens confirmed for the 4-week Sacred Valley Family Learning Adventure that will take place in Peru from June 15 to July 13. They will get to do project-based learning and field trips with similarly-aged local youth, making this a rare opportunity to expose young people to other ways of life and enable them to become friends with peers from another culture! You can get more info at https://trips.workingwithoutborders.com/t/wwb/sacredvalley-june24

12/19/2023

As we look towards the holidays, our founder has recorded a brief video about some unique opportunities for families in the new year.

This is more than a reminder; it's an invitation to embark on a deeply bonding, cross-cultural adventure with your loved ones.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season and an amazing year ahead!

A Personal Note about Next Year's Programs

11/29/2023

Ready to sprinkle some magic on your kid’s character this holiday season?

Act fast - our Early Bird pricing ends on November 30th, just 2 days away.

Here are the Top 10 Lifelong Gifts they'll unwrap by participating next spring break or summer in one of our family learning adventures in Peru and Colombia:

1. Linguistic Gymnastics: Your kid’s journey with Spanish will be like mastering a playful new routine, adding twists and turns to their growing language skills. 🤸

2. Cultural Kaleidoscope: Immersing in the Sacred Valley or Medellin is like putting on new glasses – suddenly, the world will be richer, more colorful. 🌈

3. Global Village Vibes: Youngsters will morph into mini-globetrotters, seeing their world as a vibrant tapestry of interconnected threads. 🌍

4. Adaptability Olympics: Watch as your kid turns into a cultural chameleon, mastering the art of bouncing back in new environments. 🏅

5. Social Symphony: Like a well-orchestrated Colombian cumbia, interacting across cultures will teach your kid to dance in rhythm with the world's diverse tunes. 🎶

6. Brain Buffet: Just as a Peruvian market bursts with colors and flavors, so too will your kid’s intellect, spiked with a dash of Andean wisdom. 🍲

7. Confidence Cocktail: Cross-cultural immersion will infuse boldness in your kid, as strong as Colombian coffee. ☕

8. Creative Cornucopia: Like the vibrant streets of Medellin, exposure to diverse cultures will feed your kid’s imagination, turning it into a playground of ideas. 🎨

9. Open-Hearted Exploration: Every new cultural practice your kid encounters will be a key turning their mental lock, opening doors to creative thinking and curiosity. 🔑

10. Mental Yoga: Just as yoga flexes the body, cultural immersion stretches the mind, enhancing your kid’s cognitive agility. 🧘

As the calendar pages flutter towards November 30th, remember that Early Bird Pricing for these life-altering adventures is fluttering away too.

So, why wait?

Apply today and turn this holiday season into a launchpad for your kid’s holistic growth!

https://www.workingwithoutborders.com/upcoming-retreats

11/20/2023

🌟 Exciting News This Thanksgiving! 🌟

As we gather with our loved ones, we're thrilled to unveil a heartwarming opportunity for your family: Our 2-week Spring Break Family Learning Adventure in Peru, from April 6-20, 2024, is now open for applications, complete with all the details!

This isn't your typical holiday trip. It's a transformative expedition into the heart of the Andes. 🏔️ Imagine your family diving into the vibrant culture of Peru and walking in the footsteps of the Incas at Machu Picchu, creating lasting bonds that go beyond the usual.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For kids and teens, it's a journey of discovery in local schools and cultural workshops. Parents, you'll have your own adventures, exploring local traditions, working with stunning views, or diving into cultural and adventure activities. Our adventure starts in Pisac and ends with a celebration in Cusco.

Stay in cozy bungalows in Calca, nestled in the Sacred Valley - the perfect spot for family bonding and cultural immersion. Plus, your participation helps support local communities, especially schools. 🌍

Gift your family something unforgettable this holiday season. Join us for an adventure of a lifetime!

📅 Early Bird Pricing ends Nov 30 - spots are limited!

https://trips.workingwithoutborders.com/t/wwb/peru-springbreak2024

11/20/2023

We’re so excited to have Jamie and Jace Neilans (one of the WWB families from our 2023 Peru Sacred Valley Family Adventure!) featured on the Wonder Year blog!
Check it out 🤩

https://wonderyear.com/fernweh-families-the-neilans/

11/13/2023

In the Andes' embrace, where ancient wonders call, 🏔️
A journey beckons families, to experience, to enthral.
Sacred Valley, a canvas of culture and lore,
Where each step leads to self-discovery, and more. 🌄

Children mingle, with new pals they bond,
Learning, growing, beyond the pond.
Crafts and flavors, stories untold,
In Peru’s embrace, watch their worlds unfold. 🍲

Parents find respite, a moment to reflect,
In workshops and nature, a journey of self-respect.
Remote work or exploration, find your heart’s door,
In these timeless landscapes, personal growth and more. 🚪

Together wander, in Machu Picchu's mystical light,
Discovering life’s treasures, day and night.
With the Quechua, a lesson in life’s ebb and flow,
A journey in empathy, letting inner wisdom grow. 📚

Join us tomorrow, a session not to miss,
For an adventure that brings more than bliss. ⏰
Zoom into stories of transformation and lore,
Where learning and bonding promise so much more.

Sacred Valley whispers, in months to explore,
Not just a trip, but a life opening door.
Sign up, tune in, let the journey begin,
In Peru's heart, where new chapters spin. 💫

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlceCsqTgqHtEqzuefJYYCSgdtyXT0KsRj

11/08/2023

Attention all adventurous parents! 🌎✨

Your chance to leap into a family adventure soaked in culture, language, and the spirit of Colombia’s renaissance city awaits!

Today, at 12pm Pacific, join our info session to unfold the treasures of Medellín, hailed as the City of Eternal Spring.

Imagine your kids and teens bonding with local amigos in a lush hillside camp, while you relish a mosaic of excursions or indulge in some remote work with a view.

Don't just daydream about it, make it your next family escapade. Click the link to register and let the magic of Medellín enchant your family's 2024! 🇨🇴💫👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMldOqrrjotEtPgqP3TSzN7eng6YL0KfFVQ

11/06/2023

In Medellín, where eternal spring 👑 does reign,
Where your fam can chill or hop on a train 🚂,
Join the troupe, pack your bags, don't be tardy,
For a month that promises to be extraordinary!

"Come one, come all," the invitation rings, 📣
To a place where even the winter has springs. 🌸
This Wednesday at noon, let's all meet, 💻
For an info session that's gonna be sweet! 🍭

So, if adventures with kin are what you crave, 🌍
Sign up and surf this cultural wave. 🏄‍♀️
November eighth, save the date, ⏰
For a family escapade that's bound to be first-rate!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMldOqrrjotEtPgqP3TSzN7eng6YL0KfFVQ

11/04/2023

Ah, Spring 🌸, the season of rebirth, and what better way to experience it than by plunging into the ancient heart of Peru 🇵🇪?

Unveiling a two-week odyssey for families to trot along the age-old trails of the Sacred Valley 🏞️.

Amidst whispers of bygone eras and the jovial camaraderie of local youth, discover a realm where learning and laughter 😄 are the choicest companions.

Your perch to peek into a past rich with tales awaits this April 📅.

Dust off the family adventure hats, Peru beckons! 🎩✨

An immersive Spring Break program for parents with kids and teens aged 7 to 16 in the Sacred Valley of Peru.

10/19/2023

On Oct 31 at 12pm EST, you can hear directly from a mother and her two daughters who attended this summer's Sacred Valley Family Learning Adventure in Peru. 🇵🇪

If you're interested in doing this program next summer, then join this info session during which you can pose questions to folks with firsthand experience! 🧐

Register at the link below!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlceCsqTgqHtEqzuefJYYCSgdtyXT0KsRj

10/01/2023

CBS News just brought worldschooling into the mainstream with this article featuring Working Without Borders and other 'hubs' around the globe. Just read this piece and you'll have a crystal clear understanding of the trend we're part of - it's one of the most positive, inspiring things happening in the world today. Everyone who is a parent - or wants to become a parent - will benefit from being familiar with these concepts. All of this deep cross-cultural understanding and connection will lead to a more empathetic world.

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/world-schooling-revolution-traveling-families/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h

Jessica Doty Figliolini KyAnn Lewis

Known loosely as "world-schoolers," families are traveling for brief periods, while others open schools and remain on the road for months – or years – at a time to educate their children.

09/27/2023

Just 1 day until our info session on next summer's Sacred Valley Family Learning Adventures!

We're excited to see which 8 fortunate families will get to participate in each of the two instances of the program in 2024.

Register here to join our Zoom call at 9am Pacific/ 12pm Eastern: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpd-iorjsuE90HnizsmwvjeQwuC-PnQOG7

09/25/2023

Curious what it'd be like to participate in our Family Learning Adventure in the Sacred Valley of Peru? 🤓

Here's what one mom has to say about her experience with her son this summer. 👩‍👦

To learn even more, register for our Info Session this Thursday, Sept 28 at 9am Pacific (12pm Eastern): https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpd-iorjsuE90HnizsmwvjeQwuC-PnQOG7 #/registration

09/14/2023

Big news! Working Without Borders is headed back to Peru. 🇵🇪 The summer 2023 program was such a success that we've added 2 for the summer of 2024. Our participating families loved the immersive and authentic Peruvian experience.

The Sacred Valley Family Learning Adventure is a month-long program. This amazing family trip includes:

- Immersive program for kids & teens ages 7-16: Including Spanish language immersion, guided field trips, and cultural activities
- Weekday activities for parents: Including a Friday night cocktail party, while kids attend a supervised pizza party
- Weekend excursions for families: Including an overnight visit to Machu Picchu
- Accommodations: 2-4 bedroom bungalows with high-speed internet for remote workers

The first session takes place June 15-July 13, 2024. The second is August 3 - 31, 2024. Two programs mean that more families can participate, although space is still limited to eight families per program to maintain a tight community.

Be sure to "Express Interest" now to get on our list. We're offering an Info Session on September 28th at 9am PT/Noon ET.

Click the link for additional details: ⬇️
https://www.workingwithoutborders.com/upcoming-retreats

We'll announce additional 2024 destinations soon. Newsletter subscribers get an early heads up. Sign up to stay in the know.

09/08/2023

The WWB Family Adventure Programs include a special planned day or evening each week just for the parents! These designed to reflect the culture and history of each location as well as provide a fun outing for the parents to spend time together while the kids & teens are enjoying their own activities.

Last month during the Colombia Family Adventure 🇨🇴, the parents in Medellin spent one of their Friday evenings enjoying an incredible culinary experience with a local chef 👩🏼‍🍳. Here are some highlights 😋

The WWB 2024 locations and dates will be announced next week! Watch this space for details 🤩🥳♥️🙌🏼

09/07/2023

Today is Throwback Thursday! We are revisiting mid-July during the last week of the 2023 Sacred Valley Peru Family Adventure…

The amazing 1-month for these families ended with traditional Andean ceremonies (“ofrendas”) … enjoying outdoor sports together and shared meals … many hugs and some tearful goodbyes (but just for now … 😊)

The kids, teens and parents on this 1-Month Family Adventure all had incredible experiences, learned about Peruvian & Andean culture, made amazing memories and created beautiful friendships!

The WWB 2024 dates and locations will be announced next week!
Watch this space for details 🤩♥️🙌🏼

08/01/2023

The kids, teens and parents that join our WWB Family Adventures have so much fun and learn so much! However, spending a month living in a new culture and surrounded by a language that you may only speak “un poco” or “un petit peu” is not without its challenging moments. 😅

At some point, while visiting or living in a different country, we are all called upon to stretch a bit out of our comfort zones.
In our recent Peru Family Adventure, our teens were not only awake at 6:30 am and joining the local school from 8 am - 2 pm … they also participated in cultural workshops each afternoon. For some of the teens in our group, some of these workshops were very new experiences!

Nevertheless, these teens jumped in and took a chance! They participated with their whole hearts, learned to embrace the opportunity to stretch outside their comfort zone and found the joy in doing hard things and developing new skills. I am so incredibly proud of these kids! The heart-felt and sincere notes that they wrote to the facilitators of their circus arts and outdoor adventure workshops brought tears to my eyes. (Sharing these with permission 😊).

Thank you Tanit Trails, Sacred Experiences, and Kasa Circolar for providing a safe and nurturing environment for our visiting teens to feel safe stretching out of their comfort zones and experiencing the joy of these activities. 🤩 🥰 ♥️ 🛶 💪🏼 🎪 🤸‍♀️ 🙌🏼👏🏼

07/31/2023

Are you looking for a family adventure that includes an awesome and fun summer camp for your kids (focused on learning languages and culture! 🙌🏼👏🏼🤩)…?

The WWB 2024 Medellín Family Adventure includes an incredible summer camp (on a beautiful campus in the lush green 🌱🌳🌺⛰️ mountains overlooking the city!) for kids and teens ages 3-17 and it is run by a fantastic multicultural, bilingual team of dedicated and nurturing counselors and staff … check out what they have to say about ♥️😊

https://instagram.com/stories/thinkingmindco/3158537632246025792?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

07/27/2023

Interested in a big city Family Adventure with WWB? Does your family also love getting out in nature? Our Summer 2024 Medellin Family Adventure could be a great fit for you!

Our families in Medellin this summer for the Family Adventure program were not only living amidst this vibrant, lush and beautiful green city, they also had easy access to many of Medellin’s urban parks, walking and hiking trails of the nearby mountains and the surrounding villages. The best of both worlds! 🥳🤩🏙️🌲🌳🌺🌱

07/20/2023

One of our local partner schools in the Sacred Valley of Peru is Sumak Kawsay, a beautiful community of child-focused, project-based learning for approximately 70 local elementary school aged children.

Two of the visiting kids in the Family Adventure Program joined this school for 4 days a week during the past month and it was such a beautiful immersion experience for them. They joined the 4th grade class and, along with their 12 local peers in the class, they practiced multiplication and fractions, worked on writing, and learned about the chemistry of local water sources (alpine lake, tap, rivers, etc). Of course all of this was in Spanish. They also went on hikes in the Andes and played soccer and other games during the many times they spent outdoors each day!

Sumak Kawsay is a young school and as a non-profit organization, they rely 100 % on fundraising and donations. They are in the middle of a campaign to raise funds for scholarships and new classroom buildings. You can read more at the link below.

If anyone in our community is moved to give, I can guarantee it will be deeply appreciated and will touch the lives of many beautiful children and their families in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Here are some photos of a joy-filled afternoon festival that we attended at Sumak Kawsay a couple of Saturdays ago. ♥️

https://gogetfunding.com/sumak-kawsay-comunidad-educativa-cultural/?fbclid=IwAR29XkUq7jDQB0dbHgfIZSQexBYVcx-CvNwGeYl_2dGbLwaaRkCkO9Zulvg_aem_th_ARVnKtHF7Rc8sLzMcBGgzd3DPq-bzzz9mbbHL54gpfMUQXzlKe7Wkkn0ji7LwBuS75I

07/17/2023

The visiting families in the Medellín Family Adventure Program have been having so much fun that we’ve barely had time to share about their experiences and activities!

On a recent Saturday, our families spent a fascinating morning at a family-run flower farm in the nearby village of Santa Elena. They learned about the silleteros, a cultural tradition that started in colonial times for practical purposes of carrying produce. However, as another example of Medellín’s incredible transformative nature, the silleteros have evolved into an internationally recognized demonstration of breathtaking artistic skill and physical ability … a huge celebration that makes the month of August in Medellín a family-favorite destination for Colombians across the country. 🇨🇴 ♥️ 💐 🌸 🤩

07/14/2023

We are feeling so grateful for so many amazing opportunities for learning and connection here in Peru!

The visiting families in the Sacred Valley Peru Family Adventure spent last Saturday welcomed by the warm smiles and open hearts of the local Huama community high in the Andes. At nearly 13,000 ft high up in the mountains, we were greeted with the traditional clothing, music, and food of their community.

We learned how they hand-spin wool into yarn, use plants for dye, plant and harvest potatoes, and finally how to build a traditional oven in the ground.

The meal we shared with the Huama community was so fresh and delicious 😋🤩 … the whole day was such a unique experience 🥰

07/09/2023

A Quipu is an ancient Inca device for collecting data, recording countable information and keeping records. Colors, knots, and the distances between the knots communicated objects and characteristics.

Throwback to a few weeks ago when the visiting families in the Sacred Valley Peru Family Adventure spent a fun Saturday with some local families!

One of the activities we enjoyed was guided by the inspiring Brisa Deneumostier of Mindfulness Peru … we collaborated within our 2-family teams to create a “Quipu of Gratitude” together, tying knots while sharing things for which we were grateful. It was a wonderful way to get to know another family from another culture ♥️

Muchas gracias Brisa! The families here for the Sacred Valley Peru Family Adventure are so grateful for you and for Tanit Trails ♥️ 🇵🇪 🇺🇸 😊

Brisa Deneumostier

https://www.facebook.com/brisa.deneumostier?mibextid=LQQJ4d

TANIT TRAILS - Experiential Travel, Peru



07/06/2023

The visiting teens in this Sacred Valley Peru Family Adventure Program spend their weekday mornings at the nearby Ayni School, in classes with similarly-aged local teens. Their classes are conducted 💯% in Spanish and include typical academic subject-areas (math, English, science) as well as some non-traditional classes (plastic arts, cooking club, woodworking).

The visiting teens also stay at school through lunchtime (trying many new Peruvian dishes since a delicious meal is provided everyday 😋😋) and outdoor sports time which gives them an opportunity to connect with their classmates in more informal settings.

The local teens in the Secondary School at Ayni (equivalent to U.S. grades 7 - 12), recently surprised the visiting teens and families in our Program with a “Gastronomy & Culture Fair” … an incredible presentation of their English skills, artistic and culinary talents, and shared knowledge about their beautiful and fascinating country 🇵🇪 ♥️

Muchas gracias Ayni School, we are so grateful for your warm welcome to the visiting teens in our Program! They are really having fun building friendships and learning at the Ayni School with the local Peruvian teens ♥️🙏🏼😊🤩

07/01/2023

On this particular WWB Family Adventure Program here in the Sacred Valley of Peru, the local kids are in school session during most of the North American summer season so instead of joining a local summer camp (as the other WWB Family Adventure Programs have done), the visiting kids and teens spend their mornings at two local, project-based educational schools called Sumak Kawsay and Ayni School. The warm, nurturing and heart-felt welcome that these beautiful communities of students, teachers, administrators and parents have given our visiting students has been deeply touching ♥️♥️♥️

The visiting kids and teens in this Peru Family Adventure Program join these local schools on Mondays - Thursdays from 8 am - 2 pm. They have joined their similarly aged peers for classes in some typical academic subject-areas (math, English, science, Spanish) as well as some more non-traditional or extra-curricular classes (plastic arts, cooking club, woodworking). The classes are all conducted 100% in Spanish with some occasional interpreting provided to our visiting kids by local classmates who speak some English.

The visiting kids and teens also stay at their school through lunchtime (trying many new foods since a lunch is provided at both schools) and outdoor playtime which gives them an opportunity to connect w their peers in more informal settings.

Here are some photos from a field trip that our visiting kids took with their 4th grade class at Sumak Kawsay to visit a local alpine lake at approximately 13,100 ft high in the Andes 🤩 … the purpose of the field trip was to gather water from the alpine lakes as part of their current project of study: the chemistry of water and other liquids.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087267199342&mibextid=LQQJ4d

06/29/2023

This past Sunday found us enjoying a relaxed day with some shopping at local markets and a lovely brunch outdoors on the terrace of Pisonay Coffee Roasters here in Calca. Here’s a peek into what a leisurely Sunday can look like on one of WWB’s Family Adventures in the Sacred Valley of Peru 🇵🇪😊♥️

Pisonay Coffee Roasters