Living in a new country and caring for children can be exciting, rewarding and busy — sometimes all at once. This experience gives you a chance to step away from your everyday routine, enjoy time for yourself and explore simple ways to feel more balanced and refreshed.

As you travel, you’ll use mindfulness, photography and the experience of being somewhere new to become more present, notice the world around you and reconnect with yourself. Along the way, you’ll also share the experience with other au pairs who understand many of the same challenges and adventures of life in the United States.

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.

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. Our live Zoom session is an important part of the course and gives everyone a chance to meet, connect and share ideas before the in-person experience. Cameras should be on and we ask everyone to participate in the conversation.

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.

Before registering, please take a moment to check the dates, class times and time zone for your course. Be sure the schedule works with your responsibilities to your host family.

Because some courses fill quickly, we recommend registering and waiting for your enrollment confirmation before making nonrefundable travel arrangements.

As the course gets closer, we’ll also invite you to a private WhatsApp group. It’s a convenient way for us to share updates and for students to connect with one another about travel plans and the upcoming experience.

Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll earn 6 credits / 72  credit hours.

If you have questions about how those hours apply to your individual au pair education requirement, we recommend checking with your au pair organization.

You’ll have up to three weeks after the course to complete and submit your post-course assignment.

Once your course requirements have been successfully completed, your certificate of completion will be issued by Towson University, typically within 10 days. And there’s no need to wait the full three weeks — the sooner you submit your assignment, the sooner we can begin processing your certificate.

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.

We understand that plans sometimes change. Your refund or course-credit options depend on how far in advance you cancel.

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

To cancel, simply email Learning Across America directly. Please send the request from the student who is enrolled and use Attention: Cancellation of Course as the subject line.

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