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.

All too often, people think wellness travel is limited to visiting expensive spas and retreats, yet it’s really so much more. It’s a path to relaxation and rejuvenation, a proactive approach we can take to find balance in our fast-paced and often demanding lives; a way to tune-in, reset, and break free from your daily responsibilities; an opportunity to learn new things and grow as a person.

As you experience the magic city of Miami with your teacher, you’ll have the opportunity to practice some of the strategies you’ll learn in the classroom as you explore the city – and the Everglades National Park – with wellness in mind.

Miami is the ideal location to energize your body and relax your mind. Come CHILL OUT in Miami Beach!

What’s the class schedule?
January 26 - February 9, 2025 course
Self-paced online portion
- Beginning in mid-December 2024, you will gain access to the self-paced online portion of the course, which will take about 12 hours to complete.
Online (Zoom) class
- Sunday, January 26, 2025: Online class begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.
In-person city experience
- Thursday, February 6, 2025: In-person city experience begins at 4 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m.
- Friday, February 7, 2025: In-person city experience begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.
- Saturday, February 8, 2025: In-person city experience begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.
- Sunday, February 9, 2025: In-person city experience begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.
Please note:
- All class dates listed above are mandatory
- All times reflect Eastern Time

Important: Students will gain access to the online course work for this class in December. This course begins as self-paced, online and includes individual activities and assignments to be completed and shared with the instructor and your classmates. In addition, there will be a post-assignment to be completed following your in-person experience in Miami where you will be able to demonstrate your mastery of the Wellness Travel and Mindful Photography skills you have learned and practiced while in this class.

Please also note that as the start of classes 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, accommodations and more.

What are the highlights of the in-person experience?
The highlights of the in-person experience include the following: Wynwood Walls, Bayside Marketplace, Bayfront Park, South Beach, Everglades National Park and Miami Beach Botanical Garden. A yoga session will take place on Sunday morning (weather permitting).

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.

What should I know about accommodations?
Accommodations are not included in the course price of $669. You may choose where you would like to stay. We have, however, secured a limited number of single beds at Generator Miami hotel and they will be available on a first-come basis. Generator Miami is located at 3120 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.

Please click here for Generator Miami hotel pricing information.

(FYI…Generator Miami hotel is our meeting spot each morning while you are in Miami.)

How much is tuition and what does it include?
The tuition price is $669. You may also take advantage of the accommodations we’ve arranged at Generator Miami for three nights for an additional $189.

Tuition includes the following:
- half-day trip to Everglades National Park for an air boat ride and nature walk*
- yoga session on the beach*
- a welcome dinner
- $25 cash contribution toward weekend food allowance
- admission to Wynwood Museum
- public transportation, as needed, while you're with your teacher
- all costs associated with the class (there are no additional material or activity fees!)
* weather permitting

Please note that the cost of airfare to/from Miami is not included.

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 air travel and accommodations.

What is the online (Zoom) class like?
Because our online (Zoom) class is live and interactive, your teacher requires your camera to be on at all times to create a more connected and engaging learning environment. Towson University also requires students to be in a quiet place without distractions to ensure a productive learning experience for everyone. Please note that these sessions are not recorded for later playback.

What is the attendance policy?
Since each Learning Across America course consists of a limited number of class sessions, 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.

What else should I know about the course before I enroll?
Before enrolling in any course, please double-check the class times for both online (Zoom) and in-person sessions, as well as the time zone in which the class will be taught. Ensure that these times do not conflict with your work commitments to your host family. If there is a conflict, it's best to find another course.

How many credit hours will I earn?
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.

How soon will I receive my educational certificate?
Students will be given 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 us to get your certificate to you sooner.

What is the cancellation policy?
If you wish to cancel this course…
- If you cancel 22 or more days before the start of the online (Zoom) class, you will receive a full refund.
- If you cancel 21 to 11 days before the start of the online (Zoom) class, you will receive a full refund, minus a $50 cancellation fee.
- If you cancel 10 days or less before the start of the online (Zoom) class, you will not receive a refund.  Instead, you will receive a voucher that can be applied toward the tuition price of any Learning Across America course.  The voucher will be in the amount of the tuition you paid, minus a $75 cancellation fee.  The voucher is valid for one year and is transferable.
- Once the class begins, no refunds or vouchers will be issued.

If you wish to cancel your Generator Miami hotel reservation…
If you choose to stay at Generator Miami in one of the single beds we’ve reserved and now wish to cancel your stay, you must cancel on or before Saturday, December 28, 2024 to receive a full refund. To cancel you must send an email to Learning Across America. There will be no refunds in connection with Generator Miami after December 28.