St. Louis Park Family Takes Kids on 14-Country, Yearlong Adventure

Two St. Louis Park parents have pulled their children out of Peter Hobart Elementary for a yearlong educational adventure that will take them to five continents and 14 countries.

Since August, third-grader Jamie Kraft, first-grader Jason Kraft and their parents, Larry and Lauri, have traveled to Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Australia.

"It was something we had talked about wanting to do with them for a long time and the timing was just kind of right. The idea of taking them on the road so they can experience other cultures and learn about the environment," Lauri Kraft told KARE 11. "In some ways taking kids on a year long trip like this is a little daunting, but one of the things we've learned is really how adaptable kids can be."
All four Krafts are blogging about their experience and the two kids have given video presentations to their St. Louis Park classmates showcasing what they've learned. The Krafts are also collaborating with The Wilderness Classroom, an educational non-profit.

"A lot of times the biggest barriers are mental to doing something like this," Larry Kraft, who recently left his job as a marketing executive at Digi International, told KARE 11. "Our kids have surprised us. We had them traipsing through rainforest in pouring rain and getting absolutely soaked and they are loving it."