School

Homeschooling on the road requires a healthy dose of flexibility. We really only have two constants: math everyday (often on weekends, too), and everything else changes.

Each of the kids has a tablet/Chromebook/phone that they use to access their online math program and write for their blog page.  This affords us quite a bit of flexibility in location: laundromats, visitor centers, the van, hammocks, picnic tables, and camper bunks.

I am a firm believer that we learn best through interaction with things and people.  Books are a close second.  We've tried to take advantage of the great resources around us.  The National Park junior ranger program is one of these.  The kids engaged with the park and the rangers.

i always have the kids read the information signs.  Sometimes they groan, but usually the response is, "Huh, interesting," and we have a conversation about it.

They use the monocular to find our relative location and estimate distance.  The views are a nice reward to a long rock scramble.

A little hands-on geology and rock-hunting.

We are currently camped by the Salton Sea, CA.  We're experiencing first-hand the consequences of poor environmental stewardship.  Read the story of the Salton Sea here.  

We tried to play at the beach, but the "sand" is literally made of fish bones. 

 It was a very sobering lesson, and the kids keep bringing it up in conversation.  It looks like a beautiful place, but appearances are a small part of the whole story.

 It is a daunting task to raise little people love God, love others, and care for the world we have been given.  I pray this season of travel teaches our kids to love the differences in place and people.