Suzy: Have you considered bringing the teacher along with you on your family travel adventures? Today I chat with Johanna Carp from Together Explorers, who does just that with the traveling school community she founded—bridging core academics with full-time world exploration. Johanna shares how her family transitioned to 18 countries of immersive travel, how to balance structured curriculum with cultural freedom, finding the right traveling teacher for the job, and the reality of navigating global unpredictability as a traveling educational cohort. Listen to the end to discover what language immersion will look like and how Johanna's family travel is evolving.

Suzy: Welcome to the Wander Worldschool Podcast. I'm Suzy, a travel-loving money nerd, mom of two, and our family lives between Spain, Colorado, and Japan. On this show, we discuss the stories, logistics, and finances of traveling families and the many ways to learn along the way.

Today we get to know Johanna Carp. Please tell me more about you and your family.

Johanna: Thank you so much for having me. Hi, so my name is Johanna. I'm originally from France. I was born and raised in Paris, but I haven't lived in France in a long time and I have spent years of my life traveling the world. So I'm married, I have two kids—a boy who's 12 years old and a girl who's 10 years old—and I set up about three years ago a traveling school and community to be able to combine full-time travel with giving a good education to our kids, and still be able for them to learn and travel the world at the same time.

Suzy: And I first heard about Together Explorers from a friend that did the Sevilla pop-up a couple of years ago, and they've been traveling with you. I've heard so many amazing things. So I'm very excited to learn more about Together Explorers and also your family travels. But let's take it back to where your love for travel started.

Johanna: Well, that's a very interesting question. I think I was always a traveler at heart. As a kid we didn't travel that much, but as I turned about fourteen or fifteen, I think it was my first interest in other countries, other cultures. I was really interested in learning languages too, because I wanted to be able to communicate with people who had different lives. And so I traveled as a teenager mostly to English-speaking countries, like England or the US, to improve my English. And then as a young adult, I really kicked off my love for traveling, so I went to more ambitious destinations. I traveled to Central and then South America, and then it was just hard to stop. As an adult there were very few years where I actually didn't travel. And then we took it one step further and just went to live abroad. About ten years ago, we left France with my husband and set off to live in Asia—first in Singapore and then Hong Kong.

Suzy: And you said your kids are ten and twelve now. What has family travel looked like?

Johanna: It's looked like a lot of different things. When we left France, my daughter was not even two. And so obviously now, as an almost 11-year-old, it's just so different to travel with tweens and teens than it is when your kids are really, really young. I think we take more advantage of what every country has to offer. We do a lot of cultural activities. When they were younger, you had to incorporate more naps, and there were more constraints with food and stuff. Now we kind of go full in. They're expert travelers, so it's made it much easier and much more exciting to be able to discover all these places through their lenses as well.

Suzy: And what are some of those locations that you went to as a family? And I'm also curious which places were your kids' favorites?

Johanna: Oh, that's such a hard question because there have been so many places! When we lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, one of the big perks of being based in Asia is that both places are really great hubs to travel. One of our personal favorites was Australia. There's something about the landscapes and the color of the sky particularly that I've always really loved in Australia. I really like big spaces and driving around, so it's such a beautiful country to do this. My kids really liked going to the beach and seeing kangaroos and koalas in the trees, so it felt really magical for a lot of different reasons.

These past few years as we were traveling with the traveling school, we've been to 18 different locations as part of the program. Favorites for my kids were Italy—we went to Torino for five weeks. They really loved the city and the food; the four of us are really big foodies, so we try to take advantage of what each country has to offer, and Italy was definitely a highlight. We've all enjoyed Japan, even though it was quite a culture shock, also because of the food and cultural activities. We enjoyed Sri Lanka because we could surf this past year. Mexico was a great treat because we were there for Día de los Muertos, and it was so special to be there at that time. At the end of each year we try to have a ranking, and it's always very hard to choose—it goes from great to super great!

Suzy: The best thing is actually when you cannot decide which was your favorite place because all of them are in the top rankings.

Johanna: Yes.

Suzy: Let's talk about education as well, because this is intricately linked with Together Explorers, but also existed before you started it. I'm wondering if you could share more about what your approach to education is with the kids, and also what languages look like.

Johanna: Yes, I think my approach to education has varied a little bit along the way. France is a very rigid country when it comes to education, I would say. Even though I think I received a good education, I was not necessarily interested in replicating exactly the same for the kids. I've always appreciated a system that nurtures more the love for learning than the actual learning itself, and this is what we've tried to offer the kids as part of this traveling school.

The way I call it is that it's really the best of both worlds. For me, it's important that my kids learn some math, some ELA, and have a good base in terms of core academics. But at the same time, it was always important for me that they learn in a less traditional way—not sitting at a desk for five hours a day, but in a more dynamic and engaging way. At the same time, we really wanted to make sure that they learn as much as possible about the world and the countries that we visit. A big part of what they've been doing at school is getting to discover, meet local people, meet peers their age, and get a good understanding of the countries.

I think we're a bit traditional when it comes to the worldschooling environment, but quite alternative when it comes to real life. We feel a little bit in between both worlds. It's worked really great for my family and most of the families who've joined us, but I know that philosophically we differ a little bit from a lot of worldschooling families who tend to be more unschoolers.

Suzy: I appreciate you bringing that up because I welcome everyone of different backgrounds on this podcast. It is important to find what works best for each family, and every family's journey is going to be different. Hearing yours, someone's going to relate to that, and maybe someone else will relate to a different story.

There's room for everyone, because when you're in the worldschooling community, you think there are a lot of us, and then you actually get out into the real world and there's not. We've taken a bit of a traditional approach because half the year our kids are in a school in Spain—the language piece is so important to us, and I cannot provide them Spanish the way a school in Spain can. There are ways to think about what your goals are and how to accomplish them. I do like that you're combining place-based learning with having a teacher with a trained background who can really take the lead.

What about languages? You said you speak a couple of languages. What does that look like with your kids as well?

Johanna: Languages have always been an important part of my life. Once you learn one, you're more inclined to learn another, and then another. My husband is Israeli, and we met 20 years ago in Argentina. At the time, our only common language was English, but then I learned Hebrew and he learned French, so our family is a mix of languages. Our kids learned English in Asia when they went to international schools, so they're fluent in English.

I learned Spanish a while ago when traveling to Central and South America, so I can speak Spanish fluently as well. One of our goals for next year—referring to defining objectives and implementing them—is that we've made learning and improving Spanish a priority. That determined two of our locations for our upcoming school year, and we're introducing a new component: a part-time Spanish instructor on top of our main teacher.

The last three years we prioritized a diversity of locations where every country had a different language and alphabet, spending five or six weeks in each country. We knew it was impossible to learn the language; we focused on an introduction to get by and order at a restaurant. Next year, regardless of whichever level the kids start with, the goal is that everyone ends the year with a much stronger level than what they started with.

Suzy: I love it. That's going to be so cool to switch up the priority a little bit. The approach to travel can really vary because there is so much value in having that diversity of language and location—it expands kids' worlds so quickly—but taking time to prioritize language is going to make the travel shift a little bit depending on locations and duration.

We're going to dive into Together Explorers, but I also want to touch on the financial and logistical part. You've been doing this for a couple of years. What has that looked like for you and your family to financially and logistically continue this lifestyle?

Johanna: It's a very important question—probably the most important one before starting this lifestyle. It's been interesting to travel with other families because there really is a variety of ways that families set off.

In our family's case, both my husband and I worked remotely. My husband had his own company and I was freelancing. Other families do it differently: some take a gap year with jobs waiting for them, others work remotely, and in several cases one parent stays back home to work while the other travels.

For us, being geographically independent was the key. During the pandemic, our professional situations changed and we started working remotely, so all of a sudden we didn't have to be constrained to living in one country. It felt liberating, but at the same time, when you can technically go everywhere, it's really hard to narrow it down to just one place. It's been very helpful to have an itinerary defined for the school year so we know in advance exactly where we are going, rather than not knowing how long we'll stay or where we'll go next.

Suzy: There is a lot to be said for planning ahead, having a program, and knowing what to do. Having anywhere in the world be an option means decision fatigue is very real! My husband and I talk almost every day about "should we do this or that?"

Let's talk about the innovative Together Explorers program. Maybe first take a step back and share how the program started, some of the logistics, and what's coming up.

Johanna: After leaving Asia, my husband and I decided to go to Spain because we found a nice alternative school for the kids. While we really liked it there, I heard of a group of families traveling with a teacher—at the time called The Traveling Circus. The Kovacs were the real trailblazers who set up this group of families traveling for about a year and a half, mostly in Latin America, making their way to Europe. We joined them for a full session in Spain and Portugal for about three months, and we absolutely loved it.

We expected the kids to like it, but we didn't necessarily expect that we as parents would benefit so much from the presence of other families nearby. We decided to keep traveling together the following year, but unrelated to us, most of those families decided to head home and stop traveling. Around April or May, I was left with the decision to either give up the idea or set up a similar group of my own.

So that's what I did: I looked for a teacher first, and then I looked for families with similar-aged kids to join us. The timeline was very tight, and I had no idea how things would pan out. But that first year was incredible on so many levels, so we decided to go for another year, and then another. We tweaked the educational side into more of a structured school program rather than homeschooling, but kept the core of like-minded families enjoying learning together.

Our first year focused on Europe and the Mediterranean: Italy, Morocco, Cyprus, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria. Our second year was Asia from east to west: starting in Japan and ending in Georgia. Last year we traveled across the Americas from north to south, starting in Quebec and ending ten months later in Brazil. Next year we're switching it up: the pace will be a bit slower, going to only three countries.

Suzy: I see you'll be in Spain and then over into Latin America, Central America, and Argentina—longer time in each country and focusing on Spanish-speaking destinations. What does a typical day look like? What are the hours, what does the teacher do with the students, and what ages are served?

Johanna: The cohorts have been getting older with each year; next year the kids will be between ten and fourteen years old. A typical school week is Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

No two days are exactly the same, but there's a couple of hours dedicated to core academic subjects and project work. We do a lot of outings, language classes, and guest speakers—sometimes parents who are experts on a specific topic, other times local community members. It's a dynamic model with excursions and place-based learning enhancing the traditional school day.

After school, we go back to being regular families. Depending on the location, the kids go to soccer or circus classes, have playdates, or we explore or spend downtime on weekends. It's a very dense and full life.

Suzy: What is the family's responsibility versus the program's part? We know the teacher and curriculum are part of Together Explorers, but what do families contribute?

Johanna: The program centers around the school and ensuring families are aligned on expectations. Outside of that, there's no mandatory family responsibility; it's open to whatever you want to contribute. We all bring our own skills: some find great after-school activities, some plan weekend outings and invite others along, others host dinner parties or organize book clubs.

At the end of the year, the sum of everyone's contributions becomes bigger than all the individual parts. That's my personal favorite part of this venture: seeing everyone come together to create something richer than anyone could manage on their own.

Suzy: Tell me a little more about the teacher. Where do you find a teacher who wants to travel with a group of kids? I have teacher friends who would love that, but it's a huge responsibility incorporating the locations while traveling full-time.

Johanna: A lot of people think of it as a dream job, but it is very demanding. It takes a unique person to reset every few weeks, readjust to a new environment, create a schoolhouse out of thin air, and lead a cohort of kids with confidence.

We had the pleasure of having the same teacher for three years, and next year we're onboarding a new teacher. Both times, I posted an ad in Facebook groups for international school teachers. It was important to have someone already accustomed to traveling who possesses a realistic, pragmatic approach to full-time travel—knowing it's not always easy or glamorous.

Suzy: That leads directly into challenges and wins. Let's talk about the challenges of running Together Explorers and traveling full-time as a family.

Johanna: It really is a roller coaster where the highs are high and the lows are low. On a personal family level, you sometimes miss comfort—a good kitchen knife, your own mug, or a comfortable bed. And the decision fatigue and constant logistics can be draining when you crave predictability.

With a group, you must make compromises and navigate global unpredictability. Our first year, our itinerary included Israel and Egypt right when October 7 happened, so we had to find a last-minute replacement itinerary collectively. This year, right before our session in Colombia, events unfolded in neighboring Venezuela. You need immense flexibility to handle change gracefully; otherwise, it becomes overwhelming. There are always challenges to solve along the way.

Suzy: What have some of the biggest wins been?

Johanna: The sheer richness of what we experience. Knowing my children are exposed firsthand to historical and cultural concepts that most people only read about in textbooks is incredible. And having community nearby amplifies that richness beyond what we could ever achieve alone.

Sometimes it's a sunset, a meaningful conversation, or a moment like last year when we were in Seoul and visited the border with North Korea on a regular Tuesday school day. Experiencing that together as a family and cohort is unforgettable.

Suzy: Experiencing that firsthand is priceless. Next year kicks off soon with the Spanish focus—is there still availability in the cohort?

Johanna: We planned for a 14-student class and currently have twelve. This is run not-for-profit to ensure we cover the salary for our lead teacher and the Spanish instructor, which twelve kids covers. While our core group often stays the full year, having families join mid-year brings great new energy, so it remains an option.

Suzy: Have you started looking ahead to the 2027–2028 school year? Some families plan gap years quite far in advance. What could Together Explorers look like then?

Johanna: We take it one year at a time. Around December or January, our family reassesses whether we're up for the adventure and how we want to shape it.

If we continue, it will likely follow the slower pace we're adopting next year rather than the rapid pace of our first three years. We feel ready for a bit more predictability—having time to settle, not having to explore every single weekend, and enjoying downtime. It might look more like a hybrid approach, similar to what your family does: moving between two or three hubs a year rather than constantly visiting new countries.

Suzy: Family travel evolves as kids grow and as we learn what works best. There's a Notion site with details about the program for anyone interested in learning more or keeping in touch for future cohorts. Where can listeners find and follow Together Explorers?

Johanna: We have Facebook and Instagram pages under Together Explorers. Anyone interested can send a DM directly to either page, and I'll be happy to answer questions.

Suzy: I'll make sure to link those in the show notes. Please follow along with Together Explorers to see their upcoming adventures! Send me a text via the link in the show notes with your questions or thoughts. Johanna, thank you so much for sharing your journey and the story of Together Explorers with us today.

Johanna: Thank you, Suzy, for having me. It was an absolute pleasure!