Feature Family

Meet the Walters Family

Life in the Walters household is full of energy and laughter. With two sets of twins, four lively girls in total, plus Mom, Dad, and their faithful pup Copper, there’s never a quiet moment. Married for 17 years, the Walters are now sending their older twins into fourth grade while their younger pair start kindergarten. Much of the family’s joy is found outdoors. Fishing, swimming, gardening, and tending animals on their small hobby farm are part of their rhythm, though theatre and soccer have recently made their way into the mix. 

The Walters’ home-education journey began during the pandemic, when school closures led them to try something they hadn’t considered before. What started as a short-term solution soon became a way of life. When the Walters moved to Minnesota, Amanda discovered Venture Upward through an online homeschool group. She was drawn to the balance of structure and freedom it offered, and today the family is happily enrolled in VIBE/Venture Upward. Their Teacher of Record, Molly Miltimore, has been an anchor for both parents and kids, and the family is grateful for the sense of community their instructors provide. Amanda even stepped into the role of Site Coordinator for Albert Lea, eager to help other families feel the same support. 

“I like that I don’t have to be away from my little sisters. I would miss them too much if we were apart all day,” said Madi, who also loves projects and her time at Venture School with friends. Their days follow a loose rhythm with heavier lessons early in the week, Venture School in Albert Lea on Wednesdays, and a lighter wrap-up as the week closes. Fridays are often reserved for chasing curiosity, whether through an impromptu study of Ancient Egypt or simply lying in the grass and noticing that no two blades are the same shade of green.

For the Walters, the greatest gift of home education has been the chance to watch their daughters flourish. From the joy of seeing a child read her first words to the delight of uncovering new passions, every milestone has been shared together. “It’s given us a slower, more connected way of living,” Amanda explained. “The kids aren’t as exhausted as they were in a traditional setting, and that leaves more room for them to just be kids.”