Nebraska National Forest

Returning to the house in Omaha after a week in the Nebraska National Forest in the north central region of the state, we are regrouping, touching base with friends, family and business before hitting the road by Wednesday, August 1^st.

The boys had a great time at the State 4H camp near Halsey and want to go back again next year. Kolton was voted by the counselors as “Most Likely to Return”, so he must have left an impression as someone who really enjoyed himself there.

While at camp the boys went tubing down the nearby Middle Loup River, which went right past our camp site. It looked so fun that Ken, Kalista and I rented some tubes and went down the river both Thursday and Friday. With temperatures in the upper 90’s it was especially refreshing to float on the cool river after hiking in the forest and touring the tree nursery there.

On our hike we went to the fire watch tower and climbed to the top where we could look for miles at the rugged beauty of the sand hills and the forest around us. Kalista was a trooper as we trekked across the sandy trail, watching lizards scamper on the path and drawing Ken and me to crouch with her to examine them more closely.

We picked up the boys on Friday afternoon, where they gave us a tour of their favorite features of camp. Kane liked the water slide and Karson enjoyed the zip line. Kolton’s favorite part of camp was “pranking the other cabins” – why am I not surprised?

In our desire to travel to national parks we are preparing to head up to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. From there we plan to go west to Glacier and Yellowstone in Montana and Wyoming.

Recently I have run into different friends who have asked me if I’m ready to send the kids back to school, which starts in Millard Public Schools on August 15^th. It is such a relief to not have that deadline hanging over our heads. It’s very liberating to know that we’re heading in the opposite direction of the rat race that goes along with school, sports and activities schedules when the summer ends. Ken and I are looking forward to spending this time with our children and sharing the experiences that will create lasting memories and forge stronger familial bonds.

Launching the Journey

We are about ready to go. We are on the cusp of our year long family of six immersion across the country in a 35 foot travel trailer. I have registered with the state to home school and we are taking that deep breath that goes before plunging into unknown waters. The boys have camps in north central Nebraska this week. Kane is doing an advanced robotics camp, and Kolton and Karson are going to Treasure Hunter camp in which they will be geocaching and scavenger hunting along the Dismal River (I hope their experiences aren't "dismal"!)

Ken, Kalista and I will be nearby in the RV while the boys are camping, and then we head north and west, with intentions of spending time in Yellowstone before it gets too cold and snowy up there (at this point, I would welcome some cold and snow, as we have been experiencing drought and 100*+ temperatures in Omaha for the past few weeks with no relief in sight.)

I have to admit that getting to this point has not been without some fear and major panic attacks. Detaching from routines and school were difficult for me. Trying to decide what to do with the house has been another struggle. (At this point we're keeping it, because the market is so bad). The idea of home schooling was very scary a few months ago. I cried on the last day of school, but now have completely embraced it, organizing curricula for the boys, and I have even begun teaching four year old Kalista to read - which is so fun and exciting! Looking back, I realize that we have actually been "home schooling" all along with the kids since our family began.

Whenever we tell people of our plans to go adventuring, the first thing they ask about is school and how we will educate the kids. My answer to that now has evolved to, "They're always learning. We just have to get out of their way, let them learn and provide some structure and guidance along the way."

So, here we go adventuring!

The Koubsky Family Adventure

I don't have a clue one what I'm doing. I have never blogged before. This is stepping into unfamiliar territory and to be honest I'm a little freaked out. Using Facebook doesn't seem as daunting as this new fangled (to me) blogging business. I don't know why I'm so intimidated, but I'm facing the fear and trying something new here, so bear with me.
As we gear up for more family adventures, I want to establish a place to reflect and share our experiences.
So here goes: The Koubsky Family Adventure
We have talked for years about detaching from many things material and taking our four children on the road to experience new people and places. Just letting go and following our interests and learning though the opportunities that present themselves.
In the two weeks after Christmas this winter, we took possession of a travel trailer, hitched it up behind our Suburban, which we affectionately call "Mambo", and drove from our midwest home in Omaha, Nebraska out west. While we planned to travel to Los Angeles to visit my two brothers, their wives and our new niece and cousin, our trip was less of a destination vacation and more of a journey of experiences along the way. That is our philosophy for the "K Family Adventure": To enjoy the journey, rather than focus on "getting there" - wherever "there" may be.
So we left Omaha on December 27th amid a very mild winter - in Nebraska terms, and headed south and west, following much of old Route 66. As we rolled out of the dealership with the RV, our 3 year old daughter Kalista named it "Big Baby", and she decreed that "Mambo and Big Baby got hitched."

We dealt with the difficulty of learning how to maneuver and use our travel trailer, running out of gas (yes!), me smashing the crap out of my thumb on my right hand and having a dislocated shoulder for most of the trip. I was in pain the entire time we were gone, but I wouldn't trade the experience for the world.
We went to Petrified Forest National Park and walked the Blue Mesa Trail and enjoyed the Painted Desert. We drove to Joshua Tree National Park, climbing the huge rocks and getting prickly choia stuck to our shoes and pantlegs - OUCH! We spent New Years Eve exhausted at my brother Dan's house, after a mildly damaging mishap to the RV. We enjoyed family, met precious baby Liv, watched the Huskers lose their bowl game - their first bowl as a member of the Big X. We watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, wearing shorts in January. The kids frolicked in the waves and sand, not wanting to leave the beach as the sun went down. We went to the LA Discovery Science Center and saw an exhibit on the technology and costumes of the Star Wars movies. We drove through Las Vegas, stayed at Lake Mead and toured the Hoover Dam. We took the kids to see the fountain show at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas, which was Kalista's favorite. But the most impressive place (as far as Ken and I were concerned) was the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
I had never seen the Grand Canyon before. As luck would have it, we enjoyed unseasonably mild weather throughout our trip, and we were able to enjoy the Grand Canyon at a time when there were very few tourists. We practically had the place to ourselves, and we walked and sat looking out over the scenic views, took pictures and listened to a ranger presentation on the canyon. We took our time and enjoyed the beauty for two days. We wanted to stay. There are few places I have ever been that took my breath away so completely, and left me feeling so serene. It is a magical place.

We were gone for twelve days. Getting our feet wet, you might say, as we tested the waters for more in depth adventures to come.