Developed by Laura Wheelock and Markus Naugle, Magic Carpet Rides is fueled by their passion to share the power of the global classroom.
Markus earned a degree in molecular biology from MIT and devoted eight years to health care, both as a management consultant for the Wilkerson Group in New York and London and as a product manager at Genentech in South San Francisco. He continues to share his medical knowledge as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician and firefighter on Orcas Island.
Markus’ curious mind and thirst for adventure led to an exploration of nearly 60 countries. He regenerated rainforest in Wainui Bay, New Zealand, meditated in an ashram in Bali, Indonesia and taught yoga to prison inmates in Watsonville, California.
Markus’ curious mind and thirst for adventure led to an exploration of nearly 60 countries. He regenerated rainforest in Wainui Bay, New Zealand, meditated in an ashram in Bali, Indonesia and taught yoga to prison inmates in Watsonville, California.
Markus and Laura lived together in Costa Rica, volunteering to protect leatherback turtles and helping with a local recycling initiative. They recently traveled together throughout Ethiopia and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Laura's magic carpet carried her to 16 countries by the age of ten. Her international education includes homestays and formal schooling in Holland, France and Guatemala with life experience broadened in Syria, Japan, and Nepal.
Volunteerism has been a focus for Laura since she attended the Sidwell Friends High School in Washington DC, where community service was a requirement. After graduating from Stanford, she developed a volunteer program for Oracle Corporation involving more than 1000 employees in community service, from serving food in soup kitchens to mentoring at-risk youth. In addition, she has provided strategic consulting for corporate giving and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Laura received a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. Back to Top
Volunteerism has been a focus for Laura since she attended the Sidwell Friends High School in Washington DC, where community service was a requirement. After graduating from Stanford, she developed a volunteer program for Oracle Corporation involving more than 1000 employees in community service, from serving food in soup kitchens to mentoring at-risk youth. In addition, she has provided strategic consulting for corporate giving and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Laura received a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. Back to Top