How Grandparent Adventures Sparked a Lifelong Love of Learning
- Road Scholar’s Grandparent Adventures give kids unique opportunities to learn through travel, blending cultural immersion, intergenerational bonding and hands-on discovery.
- Childhood experiences abroad shaped McKenzie’s lifelong curiosity, empathy and worldview.
- These programs emphasize learning through context and connection — from biodiversity in Costa Rica to Indigenous traditions in Peru and art restoration in Italy.
- Grandparent Adventures treat children as explorers, not just passengers, planting seeds of curiosity and lifelong learning.
“I thought every kid’s vacation came with lectures on local plants and culture. Turns out, that’s just Road Scholar.”
When McKenzie L. tells people she spent her childhood traveling the world with her grandparents, they often picture her as a lucky tagalong. But McKenzie wasn’t just along for the ride — she was a participant in Road Scholar’s Grandparent Adventures, intergenerational learning programs that combine discovery, bonding and a big dose of perspective.
Between the ages of 10 and 15, McKenzie took five Road Scholar programs with her grandparents — to Kenya, Costa Rica, Peru, Italy and Wyoming. Now, at 25, she’s come full circle, working as a Group Leader Resources Coordinator at Road Scholar, helping create the kinds of experiences that once shaped her own view of the world.
Perspective That Sticks
“You can tell a kid to be grateful. But it’s different when you go to a school in Africa where kids are sharing one piece of paper.”
For McKenzie, those early programs opened her eyes — not just to the world, but to how different life could be from the one she knew. While other family vacations might offer sightseeing and souvenirs, Road Scholar’s programs prioritized connection and context.
On a program to Kenya, McKenzie visited a local school. “We were told to bring small gifts — tennis balls, mint candies — and the kids were so excited. I was used to iPads and computers. They had chalkboards and desks. And still, they were so eager to connect.”
That experience, and others like it, offered something many kids don’t get — a chance to see beyond their bubble and to do it through meaningful, personal interactions.
“We visited the Maasai, which was incredible, but people also make assumptions — that’s all they picture when they think of Kenya. But we also spent time in Nairobi, a developed, urban city. Understanding that kind of nuance matters.”
Learning Without a Test
“I never really loved school. But I love to learn.”
McKenzie is passionate about Road Scholar’s approach to education. Rather than grades or competition, it’s interest-based. It’s about feeding curiosity.
“I remember learning about geographical markers in Costa Rica, or the different ecosystems in Peru — the Amazon, the mountains, the desert. It wasn’t just ‘go ziplining’ or ‘see Machu Picchu.’ We had experts with us. It was about context. Culture. Understanding how people live and why.”
In Peru, McKenzie met Indigenous Peoples communities and learned how the Inca legacy lives on in language, agriculture and spirituality. In Costa Rica, she explored biodiversity firsthand, spotting macaws, monkeys and tarantulas in the rainforest. And in Italy, she walked through the Vatican with an art restorer who had worked on its frescoes. “[The art restorer] pointed to parts of the ceiling and columns and said, ‘I did that.’ I’ll never forget it.”
More than a way to spend a summer, McKenzie’s Grandparent Adventure experiences were formative experiences that helped her develop empathy, humility and a deeper sense of curiosity — all before she could drive.
The Science of Self-Discovery
“The people I was trying to become were telling me, ‘Don’t do this to yourself.’ That was the red flag.”
McKenzie didn’t plan to work in educational travel. She majored in neuroscience, with minors in biology and psychology, and spent three years at a Harvard lab studying autism spectrum disorder in genetic mouse models. But when the time came to commit to the Ph.D. path, she hesitated.
“It just wasn’t for me. The work-life balance wasn’t there, and honestly, I missed people. I kept thinking back to Road Scholar and how it made me feel — connected, challenged, awake.”
So, she pivoted. McKenzie applied for a position at Road Scholar because the mission aligned with who she’d become.
“Road Scholar shaped my worldview. I wanted to be part of helping shape that for others.”
Joining the Mission
“These programs treat kids as explorers, not just passengers.”
Now, as a Group Leader Resources Coordinator, McKenzie helps support the very people who once supported her. And she’s passionate about growing the Grandparent Adventures program, knowing firsthand how powerful those shared experiences can be.
“I think we often focus on how Road Scholar programs help older adults keep learning, and that’s incredible. But kids? They’re so malleable. So open. These programs plant seeds that keep growing.”
What’s Next for McKenzie?
“I’m saving up all my Road Scholar bucks — I’m going to Australia.”
Her travel wish list is long — Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania. Maybe even shark cage diving in Cape Town. But no matter where she goes, she brings with her the mindset Road Scholar helped shape — curiosity, openness and an eagerness to understand the world rather than judge it.
Want to give your grandchild the world — and the perspective to understand it?
Explore our collection of Grandparent Adventures — learn together. Grow together. Make memories that matter.