TESTIMONIALS
TESTIMONIALS
GEA at sea:
LEARNING + CRUISING FOR EDUCATORS!
spring break 2025
GEA
AT SEA!
​
HAPPINESS
CRUISE for
educators
Join us for the first GEA at SEA: Learning + Cruising for Educators! You'll be part of the inaugural group diving into the GEA Happiness Framework. You get to join the conversation and work alongside our leadership team to expand on the formula for happiness in our learning spaces.
​
GEA and the Happy Classrooms Initiative have embarked on a world-wide journey to find happy learning environments and find answers about happiness and happy learning spaces.
​
With our decade of visiting diverse schools and classrooms we are thrilled about the privilege of highlighting the many 'happy strengths' we find in classrooms around the world.
​
Our relational happiness framework rests at the intersection of the concepts of belonging, empowerment, tranquility, and something we call ‘verve’. This framework seeks to highlight the interplay of these ideas and position them at the center of power and peace, the individual and the collective. We propose that happiness is to be found at the intersection of these ideas.
While we're cruising, there's plenty of downtime for you! Enjoy the sea breeze, beaches, and the camaraderie of fellow educators, while also indulging in some much-needed self-reflection, relaxation, and perhaps even a bit of yoga or mindfulness. It's all about finding that balance – for you and for your classroom.
GEA is also offering an immersive culture experience on Cozumel, Mexico for those interested, as well as a snorkeling tour. Our Bahamas day will take place on CocoCay "Perfect Day" Island!
DETAILS
DATES:​Spring Break 2025 - Stay tuned!
port: Miami
DESTINATIONS: Miami - Cococay, Bahamas - Cozumel, Mexico - Miami (see schedule below)
cruise ship: Independence of the Seas by Royal Caribbean
CONFERENCE PRICING: $400, $150 if attending welcome and farewell celebrations and one keynote, $0 for friends and family who are NOT attending the conference, but are traveling with you)
PAYMENT SCHEDULE: $500 upon acceptance, the remainder 3 months before cruise dates.
Who CAN ATTEND: All interested educators and leaders are welcome to apply. Attendees are welcome to bring friends or family! Adult guests of educators who would like to participate in the conference may do so if they also pay the conference fee. Other friends or family are welcome to travel with you and enjoy the cruise during conference sessions.
CONTINUING ED CREDITS/UNITS:GEA is happy to award each participant who attends all workshops, a 10 hour continuing education credits/units certificate. Additionally, we will award you with a 6 hour cultural credit certificate for those who participate in our cultural immersion day in Mexico.
​
CABIN PRICING
SCHEDULE
Our cruising + learning conference offers 4-5 hours of sessions on two days at sea, with a welcome dinner and party upon embarkation and farewell party on our final night. You will have plenty of time to enjoy the plentiful offerings on the ship and the company of other educators. Our two days on land will give you time to relax on the beaches of the Bahamas and Mexico, with an option to go snorkeling and/or go on a cultural tour in Cozumel.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $100 OFF YOUR CONFERENCE COST
IF YOU BOOK BY APRIL 15TH and pay your deposit of $350!
NO COUPON NECESSARY!
BRING A FRIEND, GET ANOTHER $50 OFF
​
We have amazing sessions lined up where you can share and learn from your fellow teachers. From choice sessions to round table talks, there's something for everyone. You'll have opportunities to lean in and learn from fellow colleagues on best practices in education around our country and discuss pressing issues that we (teachers) and school systems are facing today.
We'd love for you to present, too – your experience and insights are invaluable!
Come aboard and let's make a difference together!
HAPPY SESSIONS highlights
-
Storytelling for empowerment
-
Finding and celebrating our strengths
-
Somatic workouts
-
The power of trust and vulnerability
-
Cultural curiosity
-
Breath work
-
Lessons on nutritional wellness and happy hormones
-
Compassion and collaboration through hands on activities
-
Embodied mindfulness
-
The history of belonging
-
Self-expression through art
-
The role of empathy in building ourselves and others
COZUMEL, MEXICO
HIGHLIGHTS
​You have 3 options for this day: Free time, snorkeling trip or cultural excursion with a local GEA friend as a guide (you can do both tours)
​
Snorkeling tour (8am-11am) $80
​
Historical tour (11am - 4:30pm) $75
-
Ancient Mayan archeological temple zone
-
Landing site of Hernan Cortez
-
Possible university visit
-
Learn about the history of tequila and chocolate
-
Lunch at local seaside restaurant
-
Learn about Mayan history and traditions
-
Souvenir shopping
cOCOCAY, bAHAMAS "PERFECT DAY" HIGHLIGHTS
-
Included on this day: an expansive pool retreat, Splashaway Aqua Park, five included dining outposts. three beautiful beaches, umbrellas and beach chairs etc.
​
-
Accessible for extra: Hot air balloons, Thrill Waterpark (with tallest waterslide in North America), zip line, over water cabanas etc.
GEA Happiness Framework
VERVE
CONNECTION TO THE INNER CHILD
​
Including ideas like…
-
Movement
-
Arts
-
Humor
-
Engagement
​
GEA Programs that highlight these: Uganda, Sweden, Australia, Fiji etc.
BELONGING
CONNECTION TO OTHERS
​
Including ideas like…
-
Compassion
-
Collaboration
-
Cultural humility and curiosity
-
Trust
​
GEA Programs that highlight these: New Zealand, Cambodia, Santa Fe, Puerto Rico etc.
empowerment
CONNECTION TO THE POSSIBLE
Including ideas like…
-
Ownership
-
Intrinsic Motivation
-
Autonomy​
-
Innovation
​
GEA Programs that highlight these: Finland, Singapore, Estonia, Argentina & Antarctica etc.
TRANQUILITY
CONNECTION TO A HIGHER PURPOSE
​
Including ideas like…
-
Mindfulness
-
Meaning
-
Wellbeing
-
Nature/Outdoors
​
GEA Programs that highlight these: Rwanda, Cambodia, Finland, Puerto Rico, Santa Fe etc.
LEARNING OUTCOMES​
GEA leads teachers, administrators, and community leaders on learning+cruising conferences at sEA with these specific objectives in mind:
LEARNING OUTCOMES
#1 HAPPINNESS
Professional
-
Gain knowledge about happy learning environments and best practices.
-
Develop skills to create a reflective, rejuvenating, creative, and compassionate classroom environment.
-
Increase self-efficacy in fostering happiness for students.
Personal
-
Explore the components of happiness and cultivate similar practices in your own life.
-
Learn from local and global examples to enrich your personal well-being.
Varied and Differentiated Opportunities for learning
In addition to learning about our 4 pillars that hold up a happy learning environment and workshopping through those ideas for your classroom you will be invited to learn alongside of our leaders and fellow educators on topics such as: Storytelling through AI, Indigenizing Education, Building Thinking Classrooms, Teacher Language, Child Development, Responding to Misbehavior, Systematic Small Groups, Effective Mini lessons, the Power of Conferring, Coaching Partnerships, Becoming a Writer, Upping the Rigor, Academic Language in the Classroom, Better Bell Ringers, Using Data to Drive our Instruction, Multilingual Learning, Trauma Informed Supports for Students and Teachers, etc. The availability of these sessions will be catered to your interests.
Health and Safety
It is GEA’s goal to always navigate our programs safely and comfortably with our participants and partners in mind. We believe the benefits of travel outweigh the discomfort and possible uncertainty of travel, and also that they can often be appropriately managed. GEA will be doing everything to help our participants feel secure and comfortable. There are also many ways you can personally manage a safe and happy travel experience and GEA will help remind you along the way.
​
Funding Opportunities
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
-Melody Beattie
