HOLA students travel each and every year. Our last trip was to Nicaragua. The students did service projects with Casa-Nica in Masaya, Nicaragua and spent time in Indio-Maiz Rainforest Preserve in southern Nicaragua. You can learn about our friends in Nicaragua at CASA-NICA. Casa-Nica founder, Josh Allsup is a former teacher at HOLA. HOLA students traveled to Nepal in 2010. We hiked from Lukla on the Everest base camp trail all the way to Dingboche. Our head guide was Pasang Sherpa and our fantastic trekking company, "Friends In High Places", took great care of everyone. HOLA trekked to bottom of the Grand Canyon in the fall of 2010.

Congratulations to our 2013 graduating seniors, Josh Snow and Chris Hunt. HOLA also heard from one of our 2008 graduates who is currently attending St. Thomas University. She wrote, "...I think that I would like to have my own school one day. You and Dan are my inspiration for this idea. I think that I can do it one day...I just mean that HOLA was one of the best things that ever happened to me and I want to create that experience for future generations..." We are happy to have inspired students to continue our educational mission long into the future.

HOLA students learn about local music history and culture through our collaboration with local blues master, Sonny Boy Terry. HOLA students are learning to play the guitar this year with Sonny Boy. HOLA students definitely put on a display of their blues harp chops at the last HOLA Silent Auction by performing with Sonny Boy Terry. The students performed "Amazing Grace" and a song they co-wrote with Sonny Boy entitled, "Mac and Cheese".

HOLA will have a great afternoon of food and fun at the 2013 Eighth Annual HOLA Silent Auction. Houston Outdoor Learning Academy is a non-traditional, experiential school for grades 6-12. The Spring 2013 Silent Auction will raise funds for this year's spring trip to Argentina. Our silent auction this year is scheduled for May 4, 2013 at Emerson Unitarian Church.

For more information on the 2009 Guatemala/Belize trip, the 2010 Nepal trek, and this year's trip to Nicaragua go to our trip blog at Guatemala 2009, Nepal 2010, and Nicaragua 2011!

Our trip in 2008 was to Vietnam.

Thanks: Thank you to Sonny Boy Terry for his work with the HOLA students on the blues harmonica and guitar.

HOLA depends on the generosity of many people who give of their time and resources to make our program a success. The 2013 raffle prize is a four-day stay at a Surfside beach house and Nikon L810 Camera Package.

Please purchase a ticket or make a donation to help our students raise the money for their cross-cultural travel experience to Argentina. Click below on the Just Give icon below to make an on-line donation.

Come out and support HOLA students in our 2013 Silent Auction. For more information on Houston Outdoor Learning Academy or our upcoming Silent Auction, please call 713-224-4652.