September is synonymous with renewal. Pencil crayons get re-sharpened, sleepy kids shuffle back to school and carefree days shift into routines with ugh, homework. Learning opportunities pursued as an adult are often voluntary and way more enjoyable (minus the soggy tuna sandwich and having to fret over a pop quiz). Intentional learning is easier as it’s self-directed and impactful than, say, fractions and singing rounds of Four Strong Winds in music class.

Here’s a look at Wild Women Expeditions ‘curricula’ if you like to learn on the go. It’s recess and educational experiences all in one–without the noon hour dance in the gymnasium. Cue up “Stairway to Heaven” here!

Cooking Classes in Jordan

On our Journey into Jordan adventure, participate in a lively Levant-style cooking workshop at Beit Khayrat Souf, a unique women-owned and managed cafe located in a stone house in one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods. Beit Sitti (Arabic) translates to “in my grandmother’s house” and the three entrepreneurial sisters who started the cooking school have attracted the attention of BBC News, CNN Travel, Conde Naste Traveler, Vogue…and Wild Women! With a few spicy fool-proof recipes up your sleeve you should opt to bring home Beit Sitti’s Arabian “Big Guns” trio (tahini, za’atar and sumac) to woo your future dinner guests.

Charles Darwin 101

The Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora (in the Galapagos Islands) is a wonderful wander through conservation efforts that support the safe release of young tortoises to the islands. Since 1970, over 2000 ‘galapaguitos’ (artificially incubated eggs from Pinzon, Santiago and Santa Cruz Islands) have been born, reared and returned to their native areas. 

The Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center at the Charles Darwin Research Station is dedicated to the 43-year service of tortoise keeper Fausto Llerena, who cared for Lonesome George. He was the last known Pinta Island tortoise–George died at the Breeding Center on June 24, 2012. His body was shipped to New York to be taxidermied. Spending a few minutes in the climate-controlled environment of Lonesome George is a dynamic moment that won’t be forgotten on the Galapagos Islands Yacht Adventure.

Coral Farming in Bali

Visit the Candidasa Coral Reef for an incredible underwater marine stewardship experience led by an expatriate marine biologist on the Beauty of Wild Bali tour. This coral farm produces corals for reef restoration projects and the aquarium industry. Exploring the restored reefs, we’ll learn about how coral grows in that area before cutting and transplanting a piece of coral to a new section of the reef. Coral reefs are essential to life in the ocean, but they are globally threatened by multiple threats, especially climate change. This is your chance to physically help cultivate the ocean floor! 

Citizen Science in the Amazon

Refugio Amazonas Lodge is the headquarters of Wired Amazon, the first citizen science project that permits guests to contribute to the region’s dynamic research on species like the elusive jaguar and white-lipped peccary! Frequently, a lucky guest discovers a brand new tiger-moth, scorpion-wasp, caddisfly or treehopper species. It could be you! Take advantage of a lecture presented by researchers from the Wired Amazon Project about the opportunities and challenges of their unique projects in the Tambopata National Reserve. 

You will also be introduced to a wide variety of healing plants and trees that lcoals have relied on as their natural medicine cabinet. The Amazon rainforest includes an ever-growing list of remedies found in species like Sacha-Ajos (“forest garlic”), Uña De Gato (Cat’s Claw) and Ayahuasca, a South American psychoactive brew. This ‘tea’ is gaining interest with travelers desperate for enlightenment from its guaranteed high and curative powers. The sacred elixir is still used in ceremony by some tribes. The Psychotria viridis shrub along with the stalks of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine are cleaned, smashed, brewed and distilled into a highly-concentrated formula. Free samples will not be provided!

This 4-day Amazon extension is part of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Trek.

The Floating U

This is the class schedule you longed for in high school: geology, botany, archeology, Inuit art, climate change, kayaking. In partnership with Adventure Canada, our small ship expeditions aboard the Ocean Endeavour (dubbed the “floating university” for good reason) allow you to explore niche subjects via shore excursions, presentations, workshops and discussion panels that you won’t want to skip! Whether you choose the company of polar bears or penguins, our Antarctica and Arctic expeditions are A+.

These are just a few of our most popular classes around the world! There are endless options of course, from planting mangrove trees in Bali to bean-to-bar chocolate workshops in Peru, to visiting open-air museums like the Valley of the Whale in Egypt!