As a parent, I want to foster my children’s education. They are always learning, observing, and noticing different things. While my children are only 5 and 3 years old, they may not be able to take in everything, we as a family never shy away from educational experiences while we are on vacation.
Over the years helping families plan vacations, one thing
that sticks out to me is families saying “we want our kids to have fun…they are
in school the rest of the year. They can do their learning there.”
Do not limit them. They are always learning. Foster it.
Learn something yourself. History and Science can be fun.
In this series “Educational Experiences While on Vacation” I
will cover a few popular well known family vacation destinations as well as
some activities you can do while on vacation to make it fun and educational for
both your children and you.
To start this series off let us start with a popular family vacation….
Walt Disney World.
Is Walt Disney World educational? Most would answer “No” to this
question, but I beg to differ. Can you make your trip to Walt Disney World educational?
Absolutely! A visit to Disney can foster their learning about technology,
wildlife, nature and even history. While most parks do not offer the same level
of educational opportunities, the two that without a doubt can lead you and
your family on a whole new adventure of educational vacations is a visit to Disney’s
Animal Kingdom and EPCOT.
The number of educational opportunities at Walt Disney World
would take me pages upon pages to list out. But below you will find a few that
are the top experiences to foster learning:
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Animal Kingdom: This whole park is a learning experience.
Nature, Animals, Conservation, Environmental Issues, and Veterinary Care are
just a few.
o
Take a ride on Kilimanjaro Safari through a wildlife
rescue that focuses on conservation efforts, along with seeing and experiencing
animals interacting together in the savanna.
o
Take Rafiki’s Plant Watch Train to the Conservation
Station, where you can experience a petting zoo, learn about the meal preparations
and veterinary care for the park’s animals. You might even get lucky and have a
front row seat to a veterinary operation or checkup in one of their veterinary
viewing suites.
o
The park also offers a Wilderness Explores Program.
This program lets kids earn badges by participating in hands-on educational tasks
throughout the park.
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EPCOT: With Culture, Art, Language, Food, History,
Technology and Engineering. EPCOT offers endless opportunities to not only
learn but grow.
o
With 11 World Showcase pavilions offering food,
shows, and the opportunity to talk with representatives from that country, you
can help your children visit another country, without going there.
o
The other half of the park focuses on Science
& Engineering. From space exploration, flight, farming, and water
conservation to building the perfect car. There are so many hands-on activities
to get those minds going.
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While Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are
not as layered with the educational experiences, there are still opportunities
to learn a thing or two.
o
From how movie sets and stunts work at Indiana
Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Hollywood Studios to Carousel of Progress showing
the impact of technology on our society all the way to a lesson on American
History at the Hall of Presidents.
o
Even visiting with Princesses and the other
characters, can help with fostering their little imagination.
Most parents do not realize how much their children are
leaning when they are having fun. To be honest, when my kids are having fun, which
is when they are absorbing the most. Take the vacation, make it educational.
A final note: if school is still in session for your
children, when visiting Walt Disney World, find out from their teacher about
what they are learning. I guarantee you can apply what they are learning to
what you are having fun doing.
Next post in the series we will cover the Junior Ranger program
that the National Park Service offers. Trust me, it is fun for all ages!
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If you are looking to plan a vacation, whether it is to Walt
Disney World or somewhere else, reach out to SPTC. Or even if you just have questions
about how to make your next trip educational.
We would love to help you make your next trip Simply Perfect!