Learning Never Takes a Vacation

"What is that?"

"It's a shell. A little animal lives inside," my daughter started to explain to her younger brother. 

We were vacationing on the beach. Life was slow and relaxing, but we were still learning. 

​You see, all of life is an adventure and learning is a fun part of that adventure. 

We are always soaking up knowledge of some sort. It might be learning about flying or fighting from playing a video game. It might be learning about crime scenes from watching a murder mystery. We learn about animals from taking care of our pet. Sometimes we learn negative things, too. Why not be proactive learners, instead of passively soaking up information?

​I am always curious. I love to imagine.

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Teddy Roosevelt's Library at Sagamore Hill. Photo courtesy of NPS.

I remember as a child visiting Sagamore Hill, Teddy Roosevelt's family home at Oyster Bay, New York on the beach with a creek running through the property. I loved the library best! So many books. And there were so many photos and old-fashioned gadgets everywhere. I imaged myself going back in time and meeting President Roosevelt and playing with his boisterous children. We had driven up to Canada to see some friends. On our way back, we visited Sagamore Hill and a vineyard. Both were educational, but I didn't know that. I thought we were just having fun!

It's so fun to discover what happened in that lovely old house 100 years ago or where does the road over there go. I want to explore and investigate. 

I have tried to pass that on to my children. 

As a Christian, I want to learn all about what's happened in the past, the world around me, and people who've changed the world. Why? Because God made the world and there is so much to discover about Him when we uncover natural laws, intricate design, and the amazing variety of nature. 

In addition, He is the center of history. Jesus created the world, became a man and lived in it, and He will return to judge it. I want to know what the Lord has been up to throughout time. 

Vacations are so exciting because we are often in a new location with different people, and sometimes, a different culture. 

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Underground in Caves de Tres Rios, Dominican Republic, 2013.

d​I love to visit museums to learn about the past, or nature, or trains, or fashions. I want freedom to wander to the exhibits that interest me. 

Whether we are on a nature walk on the beach, climbing a lighthouse, exploring a cave, touring a garden, or visiting an art gallery on vacation, let's keep it fun and relaxing. Let's talk about what we like and don't like. Let's allow freedom to learn and explore. 

We always take one day of vacation to visit an educational place like a museum, gallery, garden, zoo, aquarium, historical site, or tour. We try to choose something that will be interesting and fun.

​Instead of sucking the life out of learning, let's put back the fun, the thrill, the wonder. Vacation is a great time to do that. 

Happy Traveling! 
​Meredith Curtis

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