How Educational Travel Letters Spark Curiosity in Kids: Exploring the Himalayas

Do you remember Steve Irwin?

if you're an animal or nature lover like me, you probably do. And you've probably got a soft spot in your heart for anyone who loves the planet that hard -- enough to build a whole career out of it.

When I was a kid, one of my favourite things to do was fantasize about what it would be like to have a life like that -- to travel the world, learn about new animals, and (just maybe!) help other people take care of nature, and the rest of the planet. 

I wanted to be like Steve! Or Jungle Jack Hanna. Or Jeff Corwin! Or Chris and Martin Kratt!

(It hasn't escaped me that the majority of on-screen animal conservation heroes are mostly men! More on that later!)

We didn't have a lot of money when I was little, but it was a home that was full of open eyes and opportunities. My parents did their best to keep their reading-and-nature-obsessed kid occupied, and one of the ways they did that was trips to the thrift store -- particularly to the book section. 

It might not seem like a magical place to some, but the thrift store is actually how the idea for Wild Wonder Mail started to germinate in my mind, decades ago!

My mom knew how much I wanted to travel the world and meet new creatures, but she also knew that a ticket around the world was off the table. (Because, let's be real, who could actually afford that?!) 

Instead, we found a little bundle of blank postcards at the thrift store. 

I still remember them. They were tattered at the edges, and the images on the front were ever-so-slightly yellowed. Like they'd been sitting in the sun on some old history professor's desk for decades. Each of them was from a different country, and most of them had notable landscapes or animals on the front. 

They were just postcards -- but they were also not just postcards to me. 

To me, they were windows to the outside world. The world far beyond our little town, and far beyond the confines of whatever I was experiencing as a nerdy ten year old who wanted to explore the world.

So, I started writing using those postcards as inspiration.

I would meticulously research each location based on the image on the front, and learn about the animals, ecosystems, and science of the area. There was no internet back then, so most of this work meant digging through encyclopedias, or asking my favourite librarian (Mrs. Ohlke!) for book recommendations on each region.

Then, I would write a little narrative based on my imagined journey, regaling them of all the amazing creatures and place I'd seen.

I couldn't quite visit each place in person, but something about correspondence from the place made the world feel that much closer to me. Looking back, it was a beautiful exercise in creative writing, STEM for kids, and art.

But at the time, it was just a heart-opening way to explore the places and creatures that called to me -- without leaving home or paying for airfare. (Which is very hard to do as a ten year old!)

It was a way to be who I wanted to be: an explorer, a zoologist, a writer... all in one. 

And it all started with a simple note. 

Which brings me to this blog post!

To wrap up the year, I knew I wanted to take readers somewhere snowy, vast, and mysterious. A place where magic seems just around the corner.

And I sure found the right spot:

The Himalayan region holds the highest mountains in the world, and its home to snow leopards, monals, ibex, golden eagles, and the most incredible alpine ecosystems imaginable.

It's pretty rare for people to be able to afford a trip to the Himalayas to see the ghost of the mountain in person (that's the snow leopard!), but what if it didn't have to be?

What if your kids could experience this remote part of the world—without leaving their homes?

Enter travel letters. No, not your typical postcard or email.

That's what Wild Wonder Mail is all about!

These are letters that bring the world’s wildest places to life, so you (and your young explorers) can learn about the magic of the planet, without paying out the nose for expensive flights or travel. Letters that inspire curiosity, spark conversation, and ignite a sense of wonder about our planet. 

Let’s talk about how something as simple as a letter in the mail can open a world of adventure, starting with a place that’s a paradise for curious minds: the Himalayas!

1. Travel Letters Make Learning Personal

Why is it that getting something in the mail just feels different than a screen or an app?

First of all, a letter is tangible. It’s something you can hold and keep. It holds the path of how it got to you in its pages.

I probably don't have to tell you that great mail makes you feel good. It makes you feel special, and seen, and (literally) addressed by someone who appreciates you.

And when kids receive a letter about snow leopards, puffins, or the majestic Himalayas, or anything else they're passionate about, it feels like a gift.

It’s a moment to engage with the world in a deeply personal way. This is actually why I make sure that we address each letter to your kid, if possible -- so they can feel like it's something special just for them.

Emails arrive with a ding and a notification. But real mail? It just hits different.

That physical piece of mail holds the key to unlocking worlds that were previously out of reach—worlds full of animals, landscapes, and cultures your kids may never get to visit in person, but can absolutely explore through a letter in the mail.

It seems so simple -- but the very art of receiving a letter implies that someone thought to send it to you. And that message can mean the world to a kid who is still finding their place within it. 

2. Spark Curiosity, One Letter at a Time

When kids receive a letter, they’re not just reading words on paper—they’re becoming a part of the story. I've always loved snail mail for its romantic, almost quaint properties. Humans have been writing to each other for as long as the written word has existed, and it truly seems to be a form of communication that transcends time!

Curiosity is sparked in the most powerful way when kids pore over a letter, and start to wonder, “What else is out there?” or “How do those animals survive in such a strange environment?” or "I wonder what these animals are doing right now?" 

Curiosity. Empathy. Imagination. 

With each educational travel letter, kids can dive deeper into the wonders of the world, learning how animals like snow leopards adapt to high-altitude climates, how the Himalayan monal’s feathers sparkle in the sunlight, or why golden eagles are such talented hunters.

Here’s how it works:

1. A child reads about an unfamiliar place (the Himalayas, for example).

2. They learn something fascinating about an animal or a culture.

3.They place that new fact or concept in their world now, and broaden their depth of understanding. It's not 'out there' anymore -- it's right in their hands!

4. They keep pondering, and ask more questions, which keeps the cycle of curiosity going.

And that curiosity is the key to lifelong learning. Every time a kid asks, “Why?” or “How?”—they’re developing the critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout their entire life.

3. The Himalayas: A Case Study in Exploration

The Himalayas are a natural classroom that can teach kids about geography, ecology, conservation, and the value of preserving ecosystems.

Here are just a few of the fun tidbits from our letter about this beautiful and mysterious part of the world:

🐾 Snow leopards can leap six times their body length—an incredible 9 meters, which is roughly the length of a school bus!

🐾 The Himalayan monal (our national bird of Nepal) has feathers that almost look too beautiful to be real. They shimmer in iridescent blues, greens, and purples—just like a rainbow!

🐾 Ibex, one of the Himalayas resident ungulates, also live in the high altitudes of the mountains, blending perfectly with the snowy, rocky terrain.

This is the kind of detailed, engaging content that kids really absorb when it’s delivered in an exciting and hands-on way. 

Remember, to an adult, a fact might just be a cool thing to know. 

But to a kid, it can be a thing to hold onto -- something real and interesting that also kind of acts as a form of expression for them. (This is why so many kids are eager to tell you about their favourite animal facts: it's because these facts showcase what they love!)

I repeat -- facts are forms of expression to a little kid!

4. Travel Letters vs. Digital Learning

Don’t get me wrong, digital tools like educational apps and websites are great. I use the internet every day! (Speaking of, have you gotten on our Wild Wonder email list? We send awesome stuff every other week or so!)

But there’s something about receiving a letter in the mail that makes learning feel real—and it’s tangible.

Unlike a screen, a letter can’t be ignored or swiped away. 

It lasts. 

It’s something kids can keep, reread, and share with friends and family. It's a gift that can be folded up and tucked into pockets, between the pages of a beloved book, or shared with a best friend at recess.

It’s also a break from screens, helping kids engage in a different type of learning that’s refreshing and exciting, and a chance for kids to experience hands-on learning through tactile engagement with the mail—a far cry from the endless scroll of a screen.

This experience is more memorable, more engaging, and best of all, it’s fun!

5. Why Wild Wonder Mail?

STEM for kids meets your new favourite penpal!

Wild Wonder Mail is all about using traditional, tactile media to create curiosity-driven learning experiences about nature, animals, and the planet. I firmly believe that learning about the world doesn't just help the planet itself, but it helps us as people.

The Himalayas are just one of the many incredible places we explore. The whole planet is our classroom with Wild Wonder Mail!

You'll get a new letter designed to spark curiosity, engage kids in the world’s wild wonders, and, most importantly, have fun.

We cover a different destination every month, and learn about the science of animals and nature through the lens of a brave (female) explorer named Ellie Everett. (Because girls get to be scientists and explorers, too!)

And each month, your child will receive something new to spark questions, encourage discovery, and expand their understanding of the world. 

My hope is that it helps them not only see just how cool the world really is -- but also to help them find their own unique place within it, however that looks to them.

Sound fun? It is! 

Sign up for Wild Wonder Mail today and give your child the gift of adventure in their mailbox every month through travel letters from around the world. Because learning should feel like an exploration, not a chore.

I've got a 20% discount loaded just for you for all annual subscriptions. 

Happy reading and exploring!