A Newmarket family that travelled the world following a near-death cancer scare is back home.
On July 2, 2024, Joe Crone, his wife Delaina and their 10-year-old son, Julian, set off on an epic “world schooling” adventure, returning back to Newmarket on June 24.
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The idea for the trip came after Crone was diagnosed with cancer six years ago.
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He spent 10 months in palliative care, scared he was going to die.
The experience left the family determined to live life to the fullest.
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After sharing the first half of the family’s adventures in November, Crone is now recounting the second half of the trip.
They volunteered at a school in Nepal for children with autism, worked with elephants in Jaipur, India, stayed on a houseboat in Kashmir, trekked in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas and worked at an organic farm in northern Thailand.
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A highlight was volunteering at a turtle sanctuary in Nusa Penida, Indonesia, where they worked with critically endangered Hawksbill and endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.
It’s where Julian celebrated his 11th birthday.
Crone, a retired music teacher, Delaina, a Bradford teacher, and Julian, in French immersion at Poplar Bank Public School, spent hours feeding and tending to the turtles and scrubbing turtle pools on their hands and knees because no chemicals can be used.
“On the two Fridays that we were there, we released 10 (to) 12 turtles into the ocean,” said Crone, adding Julian researched seven types of sea turtles.
“The two weeks on the island were a perfect combination of research, hands-on learning and purpose.”
The survival rate of turtle hatchlings in the wild is about 1 per cent, Crone said.
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“These tiny, fragile creatures are easy prey for crabs, dogs and birds as they scramble from their nests to the ocean,” he said.
“Because of the work of the hatchery, there has been a very noticeable increase of turtles in the area. Now, that’s a pretty cool and meaningful learning experience.”
Travelling around the world is an adventure the family will never forget.
“We learned about the art, the religious traditions, the history, the culture, the cuisine and the natural beauty of each country we went to. We saw and touched history. We were face to face with artistic and engineering masterpieces,” Crone said.
“We often had amazing encounters with magnificent animals, particularly in Tanzania, Nepal and Indonesia.”
Learn more about the family’s trip on their YouTube channel, “Julian’s Travels, World Schooling with the Crones.”
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