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Why Do I Blog?
Hi, I'm Rachel! These articles are my reflection on the communities we create and the life my family lives as a fulltime worldschooling family (nomadic since 2018). I share insights, personal stories, and lessons learned from our long-term travels, self-directed learning, and efforts to build community on the road. Some posts focus on our pop-up gatherings and the importance of connecting with worldschooling families. Others discuss the realities, challenges, and everyday moments of worldschooling life. Together, they’re meant to help families understand what this lifestyle looks like in practice.
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Solo Parent Worldschooling: Understanding the Challenges and Learning from Real-Life Stories
Solo parent worldschoolers often face unseen challenges -- from navigating emotional and logistical challenges to building a supportive community on the road. This article shares insights and real-life stories from solo parents who are successfully navigating life on the road as the only adult.
Rachel Carlson
Dec 9, 202522 min read
Selecting a Quality Worldschool Hub
Looking for the perfect worldschool hub? Learn how to choose the right program for your family—what to look for, red flags to avoid, and the best questions to ask before you join.
Rachel Carlson
Nov 21, 202514 min read
The Value of a Pop-Up and Other Worldschool Communities
Worldschool communities provide more than just activities -- the real value is the people you meet and the memories you share.
Rachel Carlson
Aug 20, 202414 min read
Worldschool Prom 2025: A Sunset Riverboat Party on the Danube
We’re so excited to announce Worldschool Pop-Up Hub's Prom in May 2025: a sunset riverboat party in Budapest.
Rachel Carlson
Jun 20, 20246 min read
Our First Fairytale Worldschool Prom!!
An epic worldschool prom in a French castle? Yes please! These teens had the night of their lives, living it up at a castle with friends.
Rachel Carlson
Apr 30, 202412 min read
Challenges of Worldschooling Part 1: Goodbyes and Societal Confines
I glanced into the back seat and saw tears rolling down my 13-year-old’s face. My momma heart sank. Honestly, I had been pushing down...
Rachel Carlson
Nov 10, 202314 min read
Florence, Italy 2023 Photo Dump
We explored museums and parks, visited the Duomo and other churches, hiked the hills, enjoyed the vistas, walked Ponte Vecchio, tried...
Rachel Carlson
Sep 18, 20231 min read
Madison Aug 2023 Photo Dump
We spent a week with the worldschoolers in Madison, Wisconsin, August 6-12, 2023. We visited Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Chazen museum of...
Rachel Carlson
Sep 18, 20231 min read
Traveling Fulltime with Teens
We began our nomadic lifestyle when our kids were 8, 11, and 13… clearly in the tween stage, but in 2022 they leveled up into triple...
Rachel Carlson
Jul 25, 202313 min read
Istanbul Feb 2023 Photo Dump
We had a great time exploring Istanbul (not Constantinople). Visiting mosques and palaces, taking a less-than US$3 ferry ride up the...
Rachel Carlson
Jun 14, 20231 min read
Athens New Years 2023 Photo Dump
Ringing in the New Year in Athens! So much to visit: The Acropolis, the Ellinikon Experience Park, watching the changing of the guard,...
Rachel Carlson
Jun 14, 20231 min read
NYC Sept 2022 Photo Dump
Autumn in the Big Apple was amazing. Darn near perfect weather, plenty to see and do, and quite the crowd joining us to explore NYC and...
Rachel Carlson
Jun 14, 20231 min read
Pop-Up Prep
We’re so excited to create these opportunities for worldschooling families and want your kids (and you!) to have the best possible...
Rachel Carlson
Apr 2, 202313 min read
Pop-Up Recap: London 2022
When we first scheduled our London event, we seriously wondered if anyone would come. Who exactly goes to London… in November?...
Rachel Carlson
Dec 22, 20225 min read
The Gift of Community
Sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing until we stumble into it. This happens all the time in our lives – think of the stories of people adopting rescue dogs, picking up a new hobby, finding a compatible partner, trying a unique cuisine, visiting a new culture, converting religions… we never really know when we’ll make a connection, no matter how big or small. For the Carlson Family, we traveled fulltime for nearly two years before we landed in our first worldschool gathe
Rachel Carlson
Nov 1, 202210 min read
Spring 2023: Castle Pop-Up & Worldschool Prom
FAQs on our Normandy castle stay, pop-up, and teenage prom!
Rachel Carlson
Sep 19, 202212 min read
Pop-Up Recap: Madison, Wisconsin, August 2022
A Recap of our 2022 Pop-Up in Madison, Wisconsin.
Rachel Carlson
Aug 30, 20223 min read
Spotlight: Old Town Charm in Freiburg, Germany
Here's a sneak peek of all the cool things we'll do out our pop-up in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
Rachel Carlson
Jul 6, 20222 min read
Where Do I Find Worldschool Community?
Worldschool hubs come in many shapes and sizes! Here are links to some of the established hubs plus ideas on how to find worldschoolers and get yourself connected in the community.
Rachel Carlson
Jul 2, 202210 min read
Navigating the Needs of Nomadic Adolescents
When they were young: The Carlson kids started traveling when they were infants, sometimes just a few days old on their first road trip....
Rachel Carlson
May 12, 20226 min read
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