Paige Severance said she would never get in an RV and travel across the country. Severance also said she would never homeschool.
In August, the Knoxville mom of five will be doing both.
Paige and her husband Chip, realized early in the quarantine that schools were unlikely to open in the fall. So they considered alternatives. The one that rose to the top of the list was a cross country adventure and taking over the education of their children.
Chip Severance has a degree in mechanical engineering and was focused on finding something reliable.
His search ended with “Big Blue Betty.. A 40 foot, Foretravel RV, built on a Greyhound chassey.
The pandemic quarantine allows Chip, who owns an IT firm, to work remotely. This week they plan to hit the road heading west with the first stop in Montana, then on to Oregon and Northern California before heading south when the weather turns colder.
While traveling, the family hopes to spend most of their time outdoors — homeschooling their five kids along the way. Paige says she’s looking for a nature-based curriculum for homeschool.
But the Severance’s believe the primary curriculum will be experience. Growing up a military brat prepared Paige for downsizing. She said, “You learn that if you can get it once, you can get it again. Experiences are more important than things. My husband and I have been surprised, it’s a freeing experience.”