Coming to live in a new country and caring for children can be exciting, busy and stressful — all at the same time! Taking time for yourself to find ways to promote your physical health and mental well-being has never been more important. In this class, we will explore how you can use travel, mindfulness, and photography to promote and enhance your overall well-being.

Your journey begins with a flexible, self-paced online module that will be available starting this month. Designed to fit easily around your schedule, you can complete these activities and shared assignments at your own speed in about 12 total hours.

By completing the online portion before your trip, you'll have more free time to explore the places you’ve come to see!

6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. — “Know Before You Go” Zoom session with your teacher and fellow classmates.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. — This evening’s session begins at Hotel Rendale Miami Beach (3120 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach) and ends on Ocean Drive, located in the heart of South Beach.

6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Today’s session features a trip to Everglades National Park for an air boat ride and nature walk.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Today’s out and about session includes a visit to the Wynwood neighborhood and the Wynwood Walls.

Our ship, the MSC Seaside, departs the Port of Miami late this afternoon.

After completing all required land-based learning sessions, fully immerse yourself in a Wellness Travel experience by joining your teacher on a 3-day cruise. This voyage offers a unique opportunity to practice and reflect on the concepts learned in class.

Students will eat the evening meal together aboard ship, making plans for the evening and day ahead, all while building friendships to last a lifetime!

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Our ship will be docked in Nassau, The Bahamas.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Our ship will be docked at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, The Bahamas.

7 a.m. — Our ship arrives back at the Port of Miami. Enjoy breakfast, then it’s time to say farewell to the friends you’ve made!

Cruise guests begin disembarking the ship. As this process usually takes a few hours, MSC strongly suggests you do not book air/train travel that is scheduled to depart before 1:30 p.m.

All class sessions — whether online or in-person — are mandatory. The online class takes place live with your participation — and your camera on — as well as that of your teacher and fellow students.

Towson University requires you to attend — and actively participate in — each class and tour day from its start time to its end time.  If you fail to do so, you will not be eligible to receive a certificate of completion.  Towson University carefully monitors class attendance.

Once you successfully complete this course, you’ll earn 72 hours of credit.

If you have additional questions regarding credit hours, please contact your au pair organization.

Students will have 3 weeks to complete their post-assignment and turn it into their teacher. Once you submit your post-assignment, you will receive your certificate of completion directly from Towson University within 10 days, assuming you have satisfactorily completed all course work. Feel free to turn your assignment in as soon as you complete it, as this will allow Towson to provide you your certificate sooner.

It is the sole responsibility of each cruise passenger to identify and obtain all required travel documents for the entire cruise vacation and have them available when necessary. Guests without proper traveling documentation will be denied boarding. No refunds will be given to individuals who fail to bring proper documentation.

Here is a list of the countries whose citizens require a visa to enter The Bahamas.

While typically au pairs in their second year aren't permitted to travel internationally, there's a provision in federal regulations known as 'automatic revalidation' that allows for exceptions. Under this provision, second-year au pairs in their extension term may travel to certain destinations such as Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands like The Bahamas, provided the trip doesn't exceed 30 days and the au pair hasn't applied for another visa. While the Department of State permits such travel, final admission into the United States with an expired visa rests with the immigration office at the port of entry.

To determine if you're eligible for automatic revalidation, please contact your au pair agency.

If you wish to cancel this course…
— if you cancel on or before Monday, August 31, you will receive a full refund;
— if you cancel between Tuesday, September 1, and Tuesday, October 20, you’ll forfeit $405;
— if you cancel after Tuesday, October 20, there will be neither a refund nor credit.

In order to cancel your course you must send an email to Learning Across America. Your cancellation is not effective until you receive written confirmation from Learning Across America.

Due to the nature of this course, transfers are not permitted.

• Please keep in mind that plans are subject to change in light of factors such as the weather, time constraints, road closures and events taking place in the city during the time of your visit.

• Please also note that as the start of the course draws near, we will send each student a link to a WhatsApp group that will allow us to communicate with students and students to communicate with one another about their plans in regard to travel arrangements.

• To make sure the course you’ve chosen is not already full, first sign up for the course and receive the enrollment confirmation we’ll email you.  Once that’s done, you may then book your travel arrangements.