Trading Classrooms for Campgrounds
Go Far, Girl: Episode 2 with Natalie Vereen-Davis
What if you could rewrite the rules entirely? Former English professor Natalie did just that—ditched the nine-to-five, pulled her kids from traditional school, and set off to explore the U.S. through national parks, campgrounds, and hands-on lessons that come with dirt under your fingernails and ranger badges in your pocket.
Her story? It’s the kind of “what if” that turns into a “why not?”
From the Classroom to the Campsite
Before roadschooling and RV miles were her norm, Natalie spent over a decade teaching writing and literature in Charleston. Her calendar was planned down to the quarter, and life followed a predictable pattern. But deep down, she wanted more than the rinse-and-repeat routine.
When the pandemic flipped everything upside down, her family—like many—was suddenly working, learning, and surviving from home. That chaotic season also sparked clarity: they didn’t have to keep living life on autopilot.
“Are we living to work—or working to live?” she asked.
And just like that, the seed was planted.
A Leap into the Unknown
They sold their home in Mount Pleasant, left the rising costs and crowded streets behind, and moved 90 miles into the South Carolina countryside. With a dramatically lower cost of living, Natalie could step away from her career to homeschool full-time and start saying yes to the kind of life they actually wanted.
Yes to slow mornings and history hikes.
Yes to math in the camper before a long drive.
Yes to learning through travel, together.
It wasn’t easy, and it definitely wasn’t conventional—but it was theirs.
Homeschooling on the Road
Natalie isn’t the unschooling type. She still loves a good worksheet and a solid curriculum plan—but she also knows how much more powerful learning becomes when it’s tied to something tangible.
The family’s roadschool rhythm includes a mix of core subjects—math, reading, grammar—followed by immersive, location-based learning. That might mean geology lessons from a ranger in the Rockies, learning about the Trail of Tears while standing at Little Bighorn, or discussing early European colonization after visiting both Jamestown and St. Augustine.
“The traveling informs the learning, and the learning informs the travel,” she says.
Real Learning, Real Memories
The most powerful moments? They’re the ones that stick. Like watching her daughter—with ADHD and a huge heart for socializing—light up during a ranger-led hike. Or seeing her son dive into a science book about geysers, then rattle off facts to the whole family.
One especially moving moment came in Jamestown, Virginia. While exploring the historic site, they stumbled upon a team of archaeologists who had just unearthed a 17th-century firearm. The discovery made everything Natalie had taught in their history unit come to life, right there in the dirt.
“This is real,” her kids said. And they meant it.
Not Every Day Is Easy
Of course, not every moment is Instagram-worthy.
Some days are hard. The kids miss their dad when he can’t come along for the whole trip. There’s self-doubt, exhaustion, and the mental gymnastics of mapping out a six-week itinerary while parenting on the go.
But there are also moments of absolute triumph—like the sunset at Lake Brantley State Park in New Mexico, when Natalie had driven thousands of miles solo and realized, “I did it. I actually did it.”
For the Moms Who Dream of More
If you’ve ever stared out your office window and wondered what if, Natalie has a message:
“You are braver and stronger than you think. The decision never gets easier—but you can do it.”
And she’s living proof. Her next adventure? A five-week road trip up the East Coast with her kids, revisiting childhood memories and showing them the world through fresh eyes.
Because that’s the magic of it all—you don’t have to wait until retirement. You don’t have to follow anyone else’s script. You just have to start.
Want to follow along with Natalie’s adventures?
Check out her blog at CampingKiddos.com and follow her on Instagram at @campingkiddos.
Check out the full episode
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