Global Education Allies

Last days are always so bittersweet - our last day in Antarctica was perfect for one last landing to hike around Ronge Island, George’s Point and a final zodiac cruise at Guepratte Island, Fournier Bay.

We saw more whales and penguins and seals. And so many of the strangers who boarded this boat with us ‘last year’ have become friends - GEA is special this way as we come together from all over the world with a passion for education and leave as family.

🥂 to yet another incredible GEA adventure.

New Years Day was surreal - it’s something straight out of a magazine or movie…

We were hurried out of our cabins in the morning by a Captains all call “good morning passengers, we have a pod of Orcas swimming around port side” — and there was a calf!

Our afternoon expedition was a switchback hike on Danco Island, crossing penguin highways and it really showed us how warm our Parkas were, followed by paddling around in kayaks — the views were breathtaking.

To ring in the new year properly, we plunged right into the frigid waters of Horne Harbour and in proper Finnish (GEA’s roots) fashion ran right to the sauna!

On New Years Eve we found ourselves sailing through the Neumayer Channel with glaciers surrounding us as far as our eyes could see - who knew icebergs could be so beautiful?

In the afternoon we enjoyed a nice hike at Damoy Point where we got to see not only penguin chicks but lots of nesting penguins and their eggs. We also stepped back in time and checked out the Damoy Hut learning more about life and studies in Antarctica.

And yes, believe it or not we danced ourselves right into 2026! 💃🏽 🪩

Our second day in Antarctica had us touching the actual continent — less than .02% of people globally get this opportunity! We spent our morning cruising around Recess Cove with our Gentoo Team in a zodiac watching the first of many whales swim and play around us. It was our return to the mudroom this morning that prompted how the GEA crew would be remembered — dancing everywhere, all the time! In the afternoon we got to hike around Portal Point, watching hundreds of Gentoo penguins and spotting our first Weddell Seal. Then we danced some more. Big shoutout to Arturo for always having the best music cued up for our return and hot tea waiting for us in the mudroom.

We are still at a loss for words to describe our experience in Antarctica (and this is our second time going!). While our travelling teachers begin to get back into the swing of teaching this calendar year enjoy our adventure through photos! Our first landing introduced us to the Chinstrap Penguins — there is just something about a penguin waddle!

A few final stops on our Antarctic Expedition with Atlas Ocean Voyages. We took a hike around Ronge Island, George’s Point for our final landing and cruised around Guepratte Island, Fournier Bay in the zodiac one last time!

We saw more penguins, seals, whales and birds and are ‘properly’ preparing for our return passage through the Drake - here’s to hoping we all avoid the Drake Shake this round!

Antártica continues to amaze us!

Kicking off the new year with our polar plunge at Horne Harbour was not the only excitement on the 1st of January! We also had a landing on Danco Island with a bit of a hike and got to paddle around the Island.

Pictures do not begin to showcase the vast awe that we are feeling - we are feeling like we are in a magazine!

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Oh, why hello 2026!
Wishing all our GEA family a wonderful new year. Atlas Ocean Voyages

Plunging right into the New Year! Tami Leavitt Anderson, Lisa Reece, Alan Babcock, Callie Smith, Kristal Funk #PolarPlunge #GlobalEdAllies #NewYearTraditions #travelingteachers

Our current travelers have officially stepped on the continent of Antarctica — becoming part of just .002% of the global population!

They woke up to a pod of Orcas (with calves) saw colonies of penguin (with eggs and chicks) and got to see it snowing, which is such a special moment in the desert ❄️

We proudly waved adiós to 2025 from the end of the world - only about 0.0001% of people get to say goodbye to a year here.

🌍❄️ Greetings from Antarctica 🌍❄️

What a day! We finally made it through the Drake Passage early this morning (it was ‘shakey’ and not too ‘lakey’), spotted our FIRST massive iceberg at 8:00am and shortly after had our first landing at Half Moon Island.

We observed playful penguins waddling on snow, a few whales breaching the surface, and seals lounging like kings of the sea.

These incredible sights have us reflecting on why we believe deeply global education and happy classrooms—every child (and teacher) deserves to explore and dream big, no matter where they are!

Stay tuned for more from the frozen frontier. Who's ready to learn with us? 🐧🐋