Enrichment Outside of Silverton: Why Getting Out Matters

One of the most important things about raising kids in a small town is getting out. Perspective matters. Experience matters. Getting outside our box matters.

While many of us chose life in a tiny community for its simplicity and lack of flash, kids need more. They need to see, do, and feel things beyond dirt streets and multigenerational hockey games.

It’s a Commitment + Investment

Like many families here, we’ve searched for opportunities “over the hill.” Dance, soccer, karate, silks—each has given our kids something Silverton alone can’t. Thanks to a dedicated dad, we’ve even had middle school basketball here, partnering with Ouray schools to make a team possible. Other options are few: cross country, track, climbing team, ski team. Good programs, but limited. Our family rule has always been: try everything once. There’s value in teams, in discipline, in showing up.

And when our kids want more? We make it happen. Phen skis with Durango Winter Sports Club. Alida loves silks, so we trek to Ouray once a week. It’s the trade-off.

Camp = Enrichment

Summer camp has been another essential layer. I’ve worked in the camping industry for 20 years and believe deeply in its impact. When we were camp directors, our kids spent every summer at camp—suddenly surrounded by more peers in a climbing class than they’d ever have in a classroom. Even after leaving full-time camp life, we prioritized it. Each child chose what they wanted: cowboy camp for Hawkins, all-girls camp for Alida, ski-focused camp for Phen. These out-of-Silverton experiences shape them in ways our small town can’t.

Family Travel Time

And then there’s family travel. From Thanksgiving in the desert to cross-country drives (26 of them!), we’ve seen California, Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, and beyond. Time in the car is family time—messy and beautiful.

I know not everyone has access to these opportunities. We’re not wealthy; I’ve relied on scholarships, camping instead of hotels, and packing food for the road. Scrappiness is part of the deal. But the payoff is huge: perspective, resilience, connection.

Raising kids in Silverton is a gift. And so is giving them the chance to step outside it.