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Old School, San Juan 2027

Back by popular demand, the San Juan Old School program will be running in September and October 2027.

The concept is simple: turn the towns of San Juan and San Pedro into a campus where children learn craftsmanship and skills from local families and mom-and-pop shops.

A four-week program rich in culture, language, immersion, adventure and learning.

Electives include: Welding, farming, shoe-making, woodworking, beading, cooking, and traditional weaving, with three formal Spanish lesson blocks a week.

Culture Chalk Staff

Our San Juan location offers direct access into the community: 3 minute walking distance from the market, dock, art galleries and coffee shops.

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This is a community based project that asks guests to come with a "give as much as you take" mindset. We want to foster an attitude of service to the community we are all coming to learn from! 

Carpentry in Oldschool

What is included:

Delicious breakfasts every morning: fresh cut fruit, waffles, boiled eggs, coffee, bread.

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A beautiful common outdoor covered kitchen to use with plenty of your own fridge space.

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East facing lake-view rooms overlooking Atitlan

 

Biweekly boat tours to different villages

 

Spanish Lessons with local tutors

 

English speaking host and leader that will be available to the group for the duration of your stay.

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Soccer program with several pitch time-slots booked every week!

 

"Family Pairing" with a local family with children of similar ages or interests to yours.

 

Shuttles to and from the Airport on start and finish dates.

 

Arts and crafts room stocked with supplies, Lego, games, books and scheduled childcare with daily activities.

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"Old School" age appropriate apprenticeships

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Guided biweekly tried and tested sustainable community service activities.

 

1 Monthly guided hike or tour: coffee demonstrations, cacao, hikes to hidden viewpoints, volcanoes, trails.​

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Bottomless fresh Guatemalan coffee every day.

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What is not included:

Flights

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Personal Travel Insurance (Required)

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Gratuity for guides/hotel staff

 

Lunches and Suppers

Minimum Stay: 4 weeks
September 1-28, 2027
October 1-28, 2027

Weekly Schedule

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Monday

6am

Sun is up, coffee is on.

7am - 9am 

Breakfast served

9am - 10:30am

Spanish School

10:30 - 1:30pm

Personal curriculum. Mornings are booked off for families to work privately or in groups on their homeschool curriculum. 

Smaller kids have craft time with local teacher.

12-1:30pm

Lunch hours. A lunch buffet is available for parents that want an easy option for 4$ per person.

1:45 -3:00pm

Soccer or Swimming

Tuesday

Day of Craftsmanship

6am

Sun is up, coffee is on.

7am - 9am 

Breakfast served

9am - 10:30am

Skills elective

10:30 - 1:30pm

Personal curriculum. Mornings are booked off for families to work privately or in groups on their homeschool curriculum. 

Smaller kids go on field trip to cotton dying workshops, organic farming, etc.

12-1:30pm

Lunch hours. A lunch buffet is available for parents that want an easy option for 4$ per person.

1:45 -3:00pm

Skills elective

6:00pm

Soccer for kids 10 and up

Oldschool carpentry class, San Pedro Guatemala
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Wednesday

Phys-ed Day

6am

Sun is up, coffee is on.

7am - 9am 

Breakfast served

9am - 10:30am

Spanish School

10:30 - 1:30pm

Personal curriculum. Mornings are booked off for families to work privately or in groups on their homeschool curriculum. 

Smaller kids go on field trip to cotton dying workshops, organic farming, etc.

12-1:30pm

Lunch hours. A lunch buffet is available for parents that want an easy option for 4$ per person.

2 -4pm

Sports elective

6:00pm

Special event: smores/live music/local guest speakers/story telling

Thursday

Craftsmanship Day

6am

Sun is up, coffee is on.

7am - 9am 

Breakfast served

9am - 10:30am

Skills elective

10:30 - 1:30pm

Personal curriculum. Mornings are booked off for families to work privately or in groups on their homeschool curriculum. 

Smaller kids go on field trip to cotton dying workshops, organic farming, etc.

11-1pm

Lunch hours. A lunch buffet is available for parents that want an easy option for 4$ per person.

1:45 -3:00pm

Skills elective

6:00pm

Soccer

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Friday

Day of Language and Etiquette

6am

Sun is up, coffee is on.

7am - 9am 

Breakfast served

9am - 10:30am

Spanish School

10:45-11:45

Ethics and Etiquette class

12:00 - 2:00pm

Personal curriculum. Mornings are booked off for families to work privately or in groups on their homeschool curriculum. 

Smaller kids go on field trip to cotton dying workshops, organic farming, etc.

12-1:30pm

Lunch hours. A lunch buffet is available for parents that want an easy option for 4$ per person.

1:45 -3:00pm

Local immersion: time with your paired local families to explore, use your Spanish and learn about daily life in Guatemala

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Saturday

Day of rest 1

8:00-9:30am  

Breakfast served

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Free day

Activity menu provided for families to explore the area with their families or with other guests attending​​​​​​​

Sunday

Day of rest 2

8:30am  

Breakfast

9am

Scheduled room cleans 

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Day open for family time

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​​​*Monthly Hike or Boat Tour

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Where you'll be staying while in San Juan, La Laguna, Guatemala:

The rooms in this package have two double beds and a beautiful east-facing view, so that you can enjoy daily sunrises at Lake Atitlán.
Beautiful views, local decor.
Double Bedroom Monthly Rate
(all-inclusive: including kids' tuition)
4 Person Max
$4200.00
FIVE LEFT


 Bungalow suite with private kitchen, deck, 3 double beds
6 person Max
$5100.00
ONE Available

Want to save?

Private rooms with 3 double beds and shared bathroom
(2 bedrooms share 2 common bathrooms on the main floor)
5 person Max

$3500.00
TWO LEFT

All prices in USD
Extra child 5 and up $400 to cover breakfasts and activities

 

Kids being kids

Affordable and Practical Education by Design

Come for the experience. Stay long enough to belong.

We've designed our Culture Chalk programs to make meaningful travel, hands-on education, and community living affordable and accessible to families.

Think of your stay as a trial run of community living. A chance to settle into a neighbourhood, build friendships, establish routines, and become part of something rather than simply passing through.

With accommodations, daily buffet breakfasts, professional Spanish lessons three times a week, hands-on electives, organized activities, and transportation included, families can enjoy an extraordinary experience without the constant expense and planning that often comes with long-term travel.

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A Community That Feels Like Home

Some of the best experiences happen outside the scheduled programming.

We encourage families to organize potluck dinners, gather around campfires in the garden, enjoy reading circles, and spend time together in our shared spaces.

Children have access to board games, LEGO, cards, toys, and creative spaces where friendships can grow naturally.

There's room for spontaneous adventures, quiet afternoons, and the simple pleasure of having other families nearby who share your enthusiasm for learning and exploring the world.

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Designed for Working Parents, Too

We know that many worldschooling families are balancing education, travel, and remote work.

That's why we offer Starlink WiFi and private workspaces for parents who need to take video calls or stay connected to their work.

You don't have to choose between earning a living and giving your children an extraordinary education.

Our program is designed for families with children ages 6 and up.

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Feel Good About Your Involvement!

Your participation makes a difference in the community that welcomes you.

Culture Chalk is more than a travel program. Revenue from our educational and cultural experiences helps fund ongoing community initiatives in the neighbourhoods where we live and work.

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Your participation supports:

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Casa Nueva Esperanza

Our local community centre provides a welcoming space for neighbourhood children and families, with educational activities, creative workshops, and opportunities to learn, play, and connect.

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Women's and Children's Health Support in Pacucha

We help local women and families access essential health resources through the distribution of vitamins and medicines, financial assistance for dental care, and nutritional support for children.

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Homes for Single Mothers, Widows, and Families in Need

Over the past two and a half years, Culture Chalk has built or renovated five homes for families facing difficult circumstances, using revenue generated through our programs.

We're currently working on our sixth housing project, a home for a local widow.

These are tangible, lasting improvements made possible through the continued support of families who choose to experience Guatemala with us.

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Learn Together. Live Together. Give Back Together.

Your family gets an affordable, enriching educational experience, meaningful friendships, and the opportunity to become part of a local community.

Your participation helps us continue investing in the people and neighbourhoods that make these experiences possible.

Want to see more? Here's our promo video that tells our story in under 5 minutes.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

​Join us for an incredible one to three month stay of work hard - play hard fun! We are so proud to offer this experience! Once registered, you will be invited to the Old School WhatsApp group party-line where registered guests are posting ideas, preparation tips and general info.

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Lake Atitlan remains extremely traditional and conservative in nature. Please remember that we are guests and as such we should dress and behave respectfully towards our hosts. Please dress modestly during your time here.

Bringing some small gifts is 100% recommended to give to some of the families we support that we will be pairing you with from our community. (Quality socks, non-lingual games (like UNO, a quality deck of playing cards, Blockus), children's art supplies, toys or a quality kitchen utensil/gadget.) 

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As our name Culture Chalk implies, we specialize in Cultural Education. We truly want you to experience the best of Guatemalan culture while representing your own culture with class, sensitivity and objectivity. And trust us, we know it's not always easy when experiencing new things, as good as they may be, they are still different and different can be challenging. We encourage visitors to come with an attitude of loving Guatemala for what it is and not judging it for what it is not.

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Guatemala is a vibrant place and roosters crowing, dogs barking, music playing and fireworks being set off at all times of the day is considered normal. Come ready to laugh, dance, sing, and see yourself in a brand new light.

 

Also... Please bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper! ;)

 

Our goal as your hosts is for you to leave our place BETTER, in so many ways.

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Cultural Immersion Retreats

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