HOLA students travel each and every year. We just returned from a trip to Nicaragua on June 2, 2011. 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 and everyone came back with a few less pounds to carry around. We hiked from Lukla on the Everest base camp trail all the way to Dingboche. Our guides provided the students, teachers, and guests a tremendous experience. 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 2011 graduating senior, Denis Rivette. Denis started at HOLA in the 6th grade and he is currently planning to join the Coast Guard. 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 learned about local music history and culture through our collaboration with the Blues in the School program that is offered by the House of Blues. HOLA students are also learning to play the blues harmonica this year with local blues master, Sonny Boy Terry. HOLA students definitely put on a display of their blues harp chops at the 2011 HOLA Silent Auction by performing with Sonny Boy Terry at Georgia's Farm to Market. The students performed "Amazing Grace" and a song they co-wrote with Sonny Boy entitled, "Mac and Cheese".

HOLA had a great afternoon of food and fun at the 2011 Sixth Annual HOLA Silent Auction. Houston Outdoor Learning Academy is a non-traditional, experiential school for grades 6-12. The Spring 2011 Silent Auction raised funds for this year's spring trip to Nicaragua. HOLA students have traveled all over the world including Nepal, Peru, Ecuador, Kenya, Guatemala, China, and Costa Rica.

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. Also big thanks to Minola and all the employees of Georgia's Market for making the event a success.

HOLA depends on the generosity of many people who give of their time and resources to make our program a success. This includes those individuals who purchased a raffle ticket this year. The 2011 1st prize iPad touch raffle winner was:

1st Prize: Rick Bost

Come out and support HOLA students in our 2012 Silent Auction next school year. For more information on Houston Outdoor Learning Academy or our upcoming Silent Auction, please call 713-224-4652.