The planned routes of our dream to drive around the world.

1. 1 Yunnan, China 2 months August & October 2016
2 Bali, Indonesia 10 days November 2016
3 South Asia 4 countries, 1 month December 2016
4 New Zealand 1 month February 2017
5 U.S.A. & Canada 7 – 10 months May 2017 – February 2018
6 Europe 6 countries, 2 months May – June 2018
7 South America 6 countries, 5 months September 2018 – January 2019
8 Africa 5 countries, 3 months March – May 2019
Note: The Europe
portion is short because
it’s more expensive. The
U.S.A.-Canada portion
is long because that’s
where I am doing most
part of my research
about alternative
education. Australia
may be done in the
future depending on
the finances. Instead of
Europe, Africa may be
done after U.S.A. If
budget doesn’t allow,
we can postpone
Europe to a further
future date. The trip to
the 4 countries south of
Yunnan may be
replaced with just trips
within China. In short,
nothing is set in stone
and the plan is flexible.

2. Drive from Dagang, Tianjin to Dali, Yunnan
Stop by Chengdu to visit the Waldorf School
Exploring Yunnan
Visit countries
south of Yunnan:
1. Burma
2. Thailand
3. Laos
4. Vietnam
China and Countries South of Yunnan

3. Bali, Indonesia (10 days)
Visit the Green
School and Green
Village

4. New Zealand (Drive from north to south – 1 month)
Non-Traditional Schools to Visit in New Zealand
1. Deep Green Bush-School, Auckland - We do not have classes, we will not administer any tests
and we will not give homework. At the Deep Green Bush-School youth learn the responsibility
inherent in freedom and demonstrate how well people can manage themselves through
democratic decision-making.
2. The Kaitaki Collective, Auckland - We are a democratic, nature-based learning collective in
Auckland, rooted in indigenous & Maori wisdom.
3. Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discover – Christchurch - special character state school with
a fundamental tenet that the child is central in directing his or her own learning so that the
enthusiasm and love of learning is retained. All of our students, from new entrants to Year 13
are able plan their learning around their personal interests, needs and passions. This diverse
and flexible approach to developing individual learning pathways, allows our students to
explore all aspects of the curriculum, in a safe and supportive environment. Our students are
encouraged to be creative, innovative and take risks with their learning.
Years 0 to 6 – Discovery Campus 90 McMahon Drive, Halswell, Christchurch 8025
03 365 4678 | discovery@aotawhiti.school.nz
Years 7 to 13 – Unlimited Campus Wairarapa Block, University of Canterbury, Cnr Parkstone Ave &
Oak Drive, Christchurch 804103 377 7773 | unlimited@aotawhiti.school.nz

5. U.S.A. & Canada (Drive from east to west – 8 - 10 months)
U.S.A., East Coast
1. Science Leadership Academy – 55 N 22nd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – from TED Talk – Will Richardson: The Surprising Truth
about Learning in Schools; real work for real purpose. SLA is an inquiry-driven, project-based high school. SLA provides a
rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum with a focus on science, technology, mathematics and entrepreneurship. Students at
SLA learn in a project-based environment where the core values of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection
are emphasized in all classes.
2. The Free School, Albany, New York - Founded in 1969, The Free School in Albany, New York is the longest running inner-
city independent alternative school in the United States. We provide a unique alternative to traditional models of
education by offering children a self-directed approach to their learning.
3. Unschooling, New York
4. Alternative Education Resource Organization, New York - 417 Roslyn Rd. Roslyn Heights, NY
5. Relatives and friends in New York – Ninang Lin, Tita Shereen, Ate Bigi, Mew Yee, Peggy, Acela, Gambel, Melody
6. Big Picture Learning – a network of schools that use project based learning – 325 Public St., Providence, Rhode Island - A student-
centered learning design, where students are actively invested in their learning and are challenged to pursue their interests by a
supportive community of educators, professionals, and family members.
7. The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center – Providence, Rhode Island – the first Big Picture Learning School
8. Sudbury School – 2 Winch St. Framingham, Massachussetts - There are no traditional classrooms and no traditional classes;
instead children are free to do what they wish with their time. This may or may not include formally exploring academia or
speaking with staff members or other students about academic interests, as part of educating themselves.
9. Friends in Boston – Bill and May
10. Harvard – Cambridge, Massachussetts
11. Timbernook – Barrington, New Hampshire - Our programming provides ample time for children to explore their surroundings,
create, build, design, take risks, and dive into their imagination – all while fostering a love for the great outdoors.
12. Farm of unschooling family of Ben Hewitt – Cabot, Vermont

6. U.S.A. & Canada (Drive from east to west – 8 - 10 months)
Canada – Eastern part
1. Forest School – Nova Scotia
2. Compass for Self-Directed Learning – Ottawa
3. Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (c/o Lally) – Toronto
4. Friends in Toronto – Kenneth, Lally
5. Carlo Ricci – professor of education and founder, Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning – Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario
U.S.A. - Minnesota
1. Relatives in Minnesota – Rinna & Chris
2. Friends in Minnesota – Julia & Julio
Canada – Regina & Whistler
1. Friends in Regina – Danielle & Toren
2. Whistler – skiing!
U.S.A – West Coast
1. Redwood Forest
2. Tinkering School – 1960 Bryant St. San Francisco and Peninsula Coastside – TED Talk – Gever Tulley: Life lessons through tinkering – The use of real
tools to tackle real problems – lets children handle tools and build what they imagine
3. 826 Valencia – San Francisco – TED Prize – Dave Eggers – dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages 6 – 18 with their writing skills
and to helping teachers get their students excited about the literary arts
4. Friends in San Francisco – Edmund, Cotton, Egay
5. Incubator School – 7400 W. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles – students launch entrepreneurial ideas
6. Friends in L.A. – Claire, Danny
7. Jacqueline Suskin and the Poem Store – L.A.
8. High Tech High School, K-12, Graduate School – San Diego, California - The design principles permeate every aspect of life at High Tech High: the
small size of the school, the openness of the facilities, the personalization through advisory, the emphasis on integrated, project-based learning
and student exhibitions, the requirement that all students complete internships in the community….
9. San Fernando Institute for Applied Media – 130 N. Brand Blvd. San Fernando – TED Talk: Pearl Arrendondo – My story, from gangland daughter to
star teacher
10. Grand Canyon
11. Bryce Canyon

7. Europe (2 months)
1. Italy
2. Switzerland
3. France
4. Germany – visit Karen
5. Netherlands
6. Finland
(Note: Drive from Italy to the
Netherlands and then fly to
Finland to interview people
about the Finnish education
system
Must Visit in Italy
Nestled in a lush green Italian forest, the Ai Pioppi
Playground began as a hobby meant to promote a
small restaurant has evolved over 40 years of creation
into a stunning home-brewed amusement park full of
one-of-a-kind rides, all built by one man.
Over the next 40 years, Bruno continued to design and
build increasingly complex rides with more and more
moving parts, although all without power. From a
tumbling, swinging bridge to giant merry-go-rounds to
contraptions that nearly defy easy description, the
collection of dreamt up amusements grew. Bruno says
he got the inspiration for his builds from the
movement of the constantly encroaching nature all
around.
Visit Forest Kindergartens in
Germany
There are now more than 700
Waldkindergärten (forest
nurseries) in Germany, out of a
total of 25,335 kindergartens
across the whole country, and the
number is rising rapidly as parents
team up to found new ones. While
the idea, in which children up to
the age of six spend half of each
day outside, in all weathers -
playing, learning, building,
exploring, climbing trees, getting
dirty or close to wildlife and
generally forgoing the usual
structured classroom environment
- sounds experimental and
hippyish, it in fact marks a return
to the roots of German education.

8. South America (5 months)
1. Peru
2. Chile
3. Argentina
4. Paraguay
5. Brazil
6. Columbia
Escola Lumiar Sao Paolo, Brazil TED Talk – Ricardo Semler
In recent a survey jointly conducted by Unesco, Stanford
University and Microsoft, Lumiar has been chosen as one of
the 12 most Innovative Schools in the World (the only one in
Brazil).
Urban
planning
Curitiba Brazil They've invested in an extensive bus system that operates
for less than a tenth of what a subway costs to operate;
developed recycling programs that clean up the environment
and also address poverty; attracted new industry while
expanding green spaces; and used preserved historical areas
to revitalize neighborhoods and grow tourism. Curitiba has a
radical approach to city planning, unique not only within
Brazil but also globally.
Fundacion
Escuela Nueva
Colombia Across Colombia, 20,000 schools have been influenced by
the model, which features project-based learning, parent and
community engagement, learning by doing and according to
student interests, and democratic decision-making.
Must Visit:

9. Africa (3 months)
1. South Africa
2. Zimbabwe
3. Zambia
4. Tanzania
5. Kenya

10. The simplified North and South
America routes. The U.S.A./
Canada journey can be cut into
east and west parts and we can
just fly to Minnesota to see
relatives and friends there. I
hope this is enough to reduce
the trip time to 7 months
instead of 8 – 10.
The South America leg can also
be shortened so it can be done
in 5 months instead of 6.