Taking our kids out of school to travel?

[@gettingoutwiththekids]

*reading the comment section here just shows you are doing the right thing. Glad to see you back on your home soil just in time for your summer, its getting very dark, cold and wet in the UK now*

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea we got to go with no regrets aye. These experiences are going to be really awesome for our kids and I'm sure even though sometimes caravan life will be hard, they will look back on these times with some great memories. Yea Wet, cold and Dark going to be an interesting winter for us in the Caravan, but Summers only just begining.

[@brianna56ism]

Wow in my home town. Pleased to see you enjoyed your time here. Enjoy the east coast. Brian and Anna from Kawerau.

[@leopardsgowild]

Oh Wish we knew, I think you did mention, we might even have some other followers from Kawerau... If you didn't know we are reguarly updating our and posting on facebook and instagram on Leopardsgowild so that will show you where we are more up to date.

[@nickjeffries4975]

Yay for more great rock throwing for Toby!

[@leopardsgowild]

Toby was in his happy place for sure... I think the girls were even keen on throwing some rocks... Also want to point out this spot wasn't coastal lol...

[@CHillAdventures]

hey Leopards!!! this is great for ur kids brother!! they will be able to use these experiences and coming to the U.S. for the rest of their lives... i started Vanlife at 34 and the life lessons, people ive met and things ive seen as a result r priceless.... glad soph is healing up!!! that lake looks epic.... man if i hit the lottery im coming to NZ and never leaving!!! see yah in the next 1!!!!

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea they are going to totally appreciate it later on... I think it's the thought the grass is always greener on the otherside of the fence, meaning life is always better in the place I'm not... get used to it kids.

[@CHillAdventures]

@@leopardsgowild u guys have some pretty green grass lol cheers bro!

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Great story telling as usual. It will be interesting to see how the kids settle in to full time travel, hopefully they’ll love it. Wow your channel is growing fast, well done. We’re currently sitting at 996. Only 4 more to get that milestone!

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea I think once we find a Rhythm aye. The interuptions of visiting family and friends will make it hard again once we leave each time, but such is life... Me and Soph noticed you guys were close to your 1000 when we were watching the other night... WHoop whoop well done. I'm sure by the next video you will be there aye!

[@craignelson-swiftyenzed7578]

The Kiwi outdoors is a great classroom. (Hello from Windsor, UK 🇬🇧)

[@leopardsgowild]

Hello from the UK... Hows the weather over there... The great outdoors sure is amazing... I feel like these kids have spent a lot of time in the caravan... Bring on the East Cape

[@craignelson-swiftyenzed7578]

@@leopardsgowild Pretty similar actually - bit changeable but around 17-18°.

[@shelleymartin1775]

Yay welcome home whanau. So good to see you up Soph x

[@leopardsgowild]

SHELLY... Sophs getting better by the day, she was even throwing the rugby ball with the kids last night... so good to be home.

[@gallichantrucklifenz]

Cool video 🙂 glad Soph is doing good 💜

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea Shes feeling a bit better about it too. She still can't wait till she can get out on a decent long walk.

[@ajjuney]

You guys are great. 👏🏻👍🏼

[@leopardsgowild]

Awww cheers team. Thanks gor taking the time to comment... big adventure ahead

[@RichardvanDijk]

Seems a very real issue as kids get older. We have asked our two and I think they would struggle initially too. But you’ll always regret the things you didn’t do and a year of travelling NZ seems pretty awesome to me.

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea, They might not appreciate it till they are older, but I imagine it will be the stories they talk about for years... 1 day dropping back into school isn't easy as well, I imagine friends were extra keen to catch up which would have made it even harder to leave again... I think this will def build some character in them for the future for sure... Our house is rented out for 18 months so we aren't going home any time soon...

[@RadRoadAdventures]

It will be like all 5 of you are at school on the road, will learn a lot from your destinations and writing about experiences. Lots of cool stops ahead of you around the cape

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea lots to learn and share with Ya'll for sure... When your a kids time goes slow aye so the thought of being away from your friends for a long time is rough especially when there isn't a steady amount of other kids to play with... Hopefully we bump into plenty of other families on the road.

[@LittleCamperNZ]

I'm sure you are doing a great thing for the kids. They will be able to experience so much and to be able to have this time with family is so valuable.

[@leopardsgowild]

yea, I'm sure hopefully this is great memories for the kids and for us... I'm sure it's going to give us stories to talk about for the rest of our lives... How are you guys getting on? Back in Auckland now.

[@LittleCamperNZ]

@@leopardsgowild Yes back in Auckland but found ourselves in a self imposed lockdown as we are having a reclading job on the house. But hope to be out on another adventure real soon in mid November.

[@owenpotter2459]

Rotoma really is beautiful. Toby seems to be on a one boy mission to back fill every stream and river on the planet!

[@leopardsgowild]

Oh man yea, he just loves throwing things, and breaking stuff, he must be very restrained in and around the caravan... I love it at Rotoma, looking forward to getting to some beautiful lakes down south.

[@owenpotter2459]

@@leopardsgowild absolutely. I don't suppose you caught up with Pimms in Opotiki?

[@leopardsgowild]

@@owenpotter2459 No we haven't caught up with them Owen.

[@NZCaravanLife]

Hi Mike, great video, certainly thought provoking for the children however I’m sure once your all into it and away from your home area they’ll adapt quite quickly and make memories and have experiences they’ll remember for life. Interesting to hear your using Te Kura for schooling will be good to see how you all get on 👍

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea The kids can't wait to get into school work. I think it will help set a bit more of a Rhythm as well... I think it was hard for them to go to school for a day. I imagine their friends gave them a lot of their time and energy and then they are pulled away again... I think this travelling is going to do them a world of good in the long run. I keep telling them all their friends would love to be doing what they are doing.

[@NZCaravanLife]

@@leopardsgowild you watch how much their written story telling improve’s through these experiences, they’d certainly never have that sitting in a classroom, have to be careful what I say there as my wife is a primary school teacher 😜

[@jasonyoung1230]

Your kids will learn more travelling than they will at school

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea unique education. Took them through molesworth Station today... great learning through there 👏 👍 👌 🙌 💪 😀

[@GoneOutExploring]

Living through you guys, my kids are not ready to leave school. And i know if we just did it they would be happy with the experiences road life would bring, I'm waiting another year, plus i still haven't organised the caravan build, I've enquired just scared to take that next leap, and a little unsure of how. But another excellent video - keep them coming. Hope your healing well Soph

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea I think having a date to pack up and move is really helpful. We had Camp America to give us that date, otherwise we may have just kept working a little longer... We talked about it with our kids for a couple of years before the time came... I think they were anxious about it, which is normal because we sure were.

[@GoneOutExploring]

@@leopardsgowild yeah I've talked about it for about 2 years, but they know I'm starting to put those building blocks together, and also know its at least another year away at least (can't believe how long a new build is nowadays) But that will mean my son will be starting high school on the road and i don't know if ill be much help lol )

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea high-school years will be hard in the caravan... I reckon get them to help pick locations, that get some buy in.

[@TheLollygirl69]

Can I ask how u qualified for The Kura or are you paying? Just asking as possibly looking at this down the track 😊. Just buying our first campervan on Sat, so we'll see 😊

[@leopardsgowild]

Hey there... We qualify, because we are considered Transient. That means we aren't in an area for very long... They asked for a rough Idea of your travel plans, to make sure we wouldn't be settled close by to any schools for a considerable amount of time. We gave a very very rough plan which has probably worked out much different to what we gave them now. It's been working out really well, very flexible with lots of opt in zoom classes if you want. Our kids are pretty school motivated.

[@TheLollygirl69]

@@leopardsgowild awesome thank you for reply 😊❤️. 2 neurodiverse kids who would benefit from homeschooling, but don't qualify currently. N didn't think would if travel either. So this is very helpful 🙂

[@leopardsgowild]

@@TheLollygirl69 So not sure what you have seen of our story, but we have been out of work in NZ since may travelling to the states for 4 months... We qualified for community services cards and hit the road with Te Kura. They actually pay, us a small amount for resources and towards internet costs. I think they should be pretty upfront if your going to travel so I'd just enquire with that as my story.

[@TomRigginsAandO]

Well done ! What were the cables across the river ?

[@brianna56ism]

For kayaking racing

[@TomRigginsAandO]

@@brianna56ism Oh yeah--remember seeing them in the US , Thanks

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea they just had nothing set up currently This is a pretty small town, so I imagine on the weekends things would be set up Kayaks.

[@brianna56ism]

They usually have big billboard on the way into town from Whakatane and it says when there is trials etc on. It’s awesome to watch

[@brianna56ism]

The cables are for canoeing racing

[@leopardsgowild]

Have you done any Kayaking in the river?

[@brianna56ism]

@@leopardsgowild no I am a bit old for that. But been in that cold water. There a few good swimming places along the river all the way to the golf course and a bridge to cross the back back to Firman lodge.

[@ricardoleak2864]

Get that knowledge

[@leopardsgowild]

Life skills Rico...