Mike Smith:
One summer, the Clemmers, a homeschooling family from Pennsylvania, traveled west. Each night, they camped out at a national park. Each day, surrounded by America’s stunning natural beauty, they studied God’s creation at such places as Arches National Park, Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and the Grand Tetons.

While science may be the most challenging subject to teach in your homeschool, planning a summer vacation around science is surprisingly easy.

Begin by investigating America’s park system. From Shenandoah National Park to the Grand Canyon, our national parks offer plenty of educational activities for the whole family. Take advantage of our outdoor adventures such as canoeing, fishing, and hiking to deepen your knowledge of wildlife, botany, and the water cycle.

On rainy days, visit a science museum. At the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, you can discover why airplanes don’t fall out of the sky, and how a spacecraft stays in orbit. View a giant scale model of the universe, which compares the size of our earth with the sun. If you’re visiting the west coast, try San Francisco’s Exploratorium, an interactive museum.

Finally, view animals in their habitats by visiting a zoo or aquarium. Zoos often have children’s programs or special exhibits where kids can touch the animals, feed them, and participate in interactive learning. Aquariums introduce kids to the wonders of underwater life. They’ll see sharks, dolphins, and stingrays at the Seattle Aquarium or at Baltimore’s National Aquarium.

And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.