Devela World School Mexico
Discreet, focused, and intense educational events throughout the year for students over 5 years
What Is Devela World School?
Devela Worldschool is a worldschool school in Mexico for students over the age of 5 years. We offer discreet, focused, and intense educational events throughout the year.
The Devela World School was created to bring kids together to work collaboratively and creatively for the community where we live.
Always included with our focused, educational intensives for the kids are emotionally detoxifying evening events for parents and guardians. These emotional detox events include the native Mexican temazcal ceremony, native sacred medicines, drum circles, and discussion and support groups for traveling parents.
About Our Founders
The Devela World School was created by Jennifer Shipp and Lydian Shipp, a mother-daughter team who traveled to more than 50 countries of the world once-upon-a-time as worldschoolers before the word "worldschool" had any meaning or acceptance.
Jennifer has a master's in family psychology while Lydian has studied nutrition and healing diets in various world cultures. Together they have certifications in women's health and healing, grief studies, sexuality, trauma-informed therapies (including EMDR, brain entrainment and neurofeedback), music therapy, nutrition and orthomolecular medicine, hypnotherapy, tai chi and qi gong, and biomagnetic therapy.
Both traveled the world to find and experience a variety of models of medicine that can be used to cure disease and overcome major stress and trauma.
Our Location in Mexico
The Devela World School is located in central Mexico, about 90 minutes from the AIFA airport in Mexico City in a small community nestled high in the mountains. This location provides easy access for international families while offering an authentic Mexican mountain community experience.
Villa del Carbón, Mexico
90 minutes from Mexico City
Our Educational Philosophy
We believe that true education happens when families heal together and children are free to follow their natural curiosity
Worldschooling
Learning happens everywhere. We use the rich cultural landscape of Mexico as our classroom, fostering global awareness and cultural sensitivity through authentic experiences.
Trauma-Informed Healing
We recognize that parent healing directly impacts children's capacity to learn. Our programs integrate sacred medicines, ceremony, and therapeutic practices for deep family transformation.
Student-Led Education
Children are natural learners. We create environments where their curiosity guides the journey, developing critical thinking, creativity, and authentic self-expression.
Our Core Values
Being true to ourselves and honoring each family's unique journey
Building deep relationships with ourselves, each other, and the world
Embracing transformation and continuous learning for all ages
Honoring indigenous wisdom and sacred healing traditions
Year-Round World School Pop-Ups
Short, intensive world school pop-ups throughout the year for traveling families. Each pop-up involves a themed project and some type of presentation-experience.
Pop-Up Burmese Restaurant
August 18th - August 31st, 2025
Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM daily
Final Presentation - Evening: August 29th, 30th, 31st
Learn and create a culinary experience for the public, do food service and make innovative culinary creations while immersively learning Spanish.
The Big Halloween Event
October 16th - October 31st, 2025
Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM daily
Final Presentation: October 29, 30, 31st
A themed project involving cultural exploration and creative presentation.
A Mexican Thanksgiving / Día de Gracías
November 24th - 28th, 2025
Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM daily
Final Presentation - Afternoon: November 27th
Cultural celebration combining Mexican and traditional thanksgiving elements.
Technology & AI Display
January 19th - February 1st, 2026
Monday - Friday 9:30 - 12:30 AM daily
Final Presentation: January 30, 31st, and February 1st
Technology, Electronics, Pneumatics, Animatronics, and AI Display (also includes VR, AR, Music, Theatrical Set Design, Costuming, Food Prep, and More).
What to Expect Daily
Morning Circle (9:00-9:30)
Intention setting, cultural learning, and day planning together
Project Time (9:30-12:00)
Student-chosen deep dives into interests with mentor support
Cultural Immersion (12:00-2:00)
Local experiences, Spanish practice, community connections
Creative Expression (2:00-3:30)
Arts, music, movement, and collaborative projects
Reflection Circle (3:30-4:00)
Sharing discoveries, gratitude, and tomorrow's interests
Emotional Detox for Worldschool Families
While students are working on their projects during the day, worldschooling parents are invited to join us for special healing events that are native to Mexican culture to release stress, emotionally detoxify, and even overcome major trauma.
What's Involved in Emotional Detox Ceremonies?
Lydian and Jennifer studied for years under a curandera in Mexico to learn how to build and then administer temazcal sweat lodge ceremonies that involve healing topical oils and plants, teas, and medicinal steam along with heat and then a short cold shower-bath at the end.
Prior to each temazcal, we offer sacred medicines like Sapito, Kambo, Sananga, Hápe / Rápeh, and Ambil. These medicines are totally optional to participants.
We do drum circles and shamanic chanting or journeying as we build the fire. Parents are invited to join us as early as 4:00 PM in the afternoon if they wish to work with the sacred medicines, journeying, drumming, or chanting.
Ceremony Schedule
Temazcal: Weekly on Sundays starting at 4:00 PM
Duration: 2 to 3 hours depending on arrival time
Sacred Medicines: Available during all ceremony dates
Optional participation - no one is required to work with them
Note: You do not have to have students involved in our educational worldschool projects during the day to sign up for emotional detox with us in the evening.
Sacred Medicines & Healing Practices
Temazcal
$50 USDTraditional sweat lodge ceremony involving healing topical oils and plants, teas, and medicinal steam with heat followed by a cold shower-bath.
A 3-dimensional experience involving complete darkness, heat, steam, and medicinal agents. We do trance-inducing music throughout all 4 to 5 sets.
Sapito Ceremony
$100 USDMexican frog venom medicine that produces psychedelic effects and a very short, usually 15 minutes-or-less, trip.
This "trip" allows a person to talk to Inner Beings of Light, Guides, Angels, or even the Sapito frog itself to solve problems and release trauma.
Kambo Ceremony
$100 USDSouth American frog venom that produces a strong sympathetic effect followed by a strong parasympathetic effect that balances the immune system.
Known as the "jungle vaccine" - a powerful anti-addiction, mental-health-promoting medicine. Good medicine for travelers.
Hápe/Rápeh OR Ambil
$50 USDHápe/Rápeh: A powder that's blown into the nose by another person. Ambil: A black tobacco-based salt placed under the tongue until it dissolves.
Both promote peaceful, balanced communication among participants. Used like the peace-pipe from northern Native American ceremonies.
Sananga Eye Drops
$35 USDEye-drops for anger-release that causes intense stinging in the eyes for about 10 minutes.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, anger is stored in the liver and the eyes are directly connected to the liver. Causes the brain to rewire neural connections that deal with anger.
Benefits for Kids and Parents
Discover how our unique approach creates transformative experiences for every family member
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For Students
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Student-Led Learning: Follow your natural curiosity and interests while developing critical thinking skills
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Cultural Immersion: Experience authentic Mexican culture, language, and traditions firsthand
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Creative Expression: Engage in arts, music, and hands-on projects that spark imagination
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Collaborative Learning: Build relationships and learn alongside diverse peers from around the world
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For Parents
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Emotional Detox: Participate in healing ceremonies and trauma-informed therapy sessions
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Sacred Ceremonies: Experience Temazcal, sacred medicines, and traditional healing practices
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Community Support: Connect with like-minded families on similar journeys
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Personal Growth: Develop tools for conscious parenting and family harmony
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about joining our worldschooling community in Mexico
Worldschooling is education through travel and cultural immersion. Unlike traditional homeschooling that often replicates school at home, worldschooling uses the world as a classroom. Children learn through real experiences, cultural immersion, and practical application. Our programs specifically focus on student-led learning where children pursue their natural curiosities while developing global awareness and cultural sensitivity.
No prior Spanish knowledge is required! Our programs are conducted in English with Spanish immersion as part of the learning experience. We have bilingual facilitators and cultural interpreters. Learning Spanish naturally through immersion is actually part of our educational approach. Many families find that children pick up conversational Spanish quickly through play and real-world interactions.
We absolutely welcome neurodivergent children and believe our student-led approach often works beautifully for kids who don't thrive in traditional settings. Our small group sizes, flexible structure, and sensory-rich environment can be ideal for many neurodivergent learners. We work with families to ensure proper support and accommodations.
We provide guidance and recommendations but families arrange their own accommodation. Options include:
- • Vacation rentals: Airbnb houses perfect for families
- • Extended stay hotels: Family-friendly options with kitchenettes
- • Coliving spaces: Digital nomad-friendly accommodations
- • Local family stays: Immersive homestay experiences
We provide a curated list of vetted accommodations and can help connect families who want to share housing costs.
Children's safety is our absolute priority. Adult healing ceremonies happen when children are either in supervised activities or asleep. Sacred plant medicine ceremonies are adults-only and take place in separate, secure locations. Temazcal (sweat lodge) can include children in age-appropriate ways if families choose. All ceremonial leaders are experienced with family safety protocols.
Yes! We offer flexible payment plans allowing you to split payments over 3-6 months. We also have a limited number of partial scholarships available for families facing financial hardship. Additionally, we offer sibling discounts, early bird pricing (15% off for bookings 60+ days in advance), and work-exchange opportunities for families with relevant skills to contribute to our programs.
Contact Information
For more information about our programs or to learn about upcoming opportunities
Email Us
Send us an email for information about our programs or to ask any questions.
info@develaworldschool.com
Our Location
Located in central Mexico, about 90 minutes from the AIFA airport in Mexico City in a small community nestled high in the mountains.
How to Get Started
Send us an email
Contact info@develaworldschool.com with your questions or interest
Choose your programs
Select which events and ceremonies interest your family
Plan your visit
We'll help with accommodation and travel arrangements
Remember: You don't need to have students enrolled in our daytime events to participate in evening emotional detox ceremonies. Early enrollment receives 10% discount on programs.