Coast to Country

Animas Mountain

Our Durango days started with a little challenge, hiking Animas Mountain Trail right in town. The climb was worth it for those sweeping views of Durango from above, and the trail had its own surprises. At one point we were convinced we heard a mountain lion chirping, yes, they actually do that! Along the way we collected blue and turquoise rocks, the perfect little treasures to remember the hike. On the way back to town we spotted a deer strolling down the road like it owned the place

Junior Ranger

Later that afternoon, we dove into the educational magic of the Durango Parks & Recreation Junior Ranger Program, complete with a downloadable booklet to take on the go. My son worked through the packet, learning about the area, its history, and nature, and proudly earned his official Junior Ranger patch and even a frisbee. Watching him connect the dots between the trail we hiked, the wildlife we saw, and the lessons in the packet felt like homeschooling on the road in the best way.

As a homeschooling mom, I love when learning happens naturally in the middle of an adventure. The hike became our science class: identifying animals, noticing habitats, and even talking about geology as we picked up those turquoise rocks. The Junior Ranger program added history and conservation lessons, showing how communities preserve and protect their outdoor spaces. It was a full day of school without ever opening a textbook.

That’s the beauty of travel as a family, it becomes a classroom with no walls. Durango made it so easy to balance adventure and education, and this mix of hiking and the Junior Ranger program was the perfect example of how road trips can double as homeschool field trips.

Homeschool Travel Tip 🌎✏️

Download the Durango Junior Ranger booklet from the city’s Parks & Recreation page, grab a pen and a backpack, and turn your next outdoor stop into a mini field trip. Then top it off with a patch, and you’ve got a keepsake, and a lesson, built right into your adventure.