Why did the dinosaurs cross Spur Drive?

Motorists along Spur Drive were treated to an unusual sight on Thursday, Oct. 2, as a group of inflatable dinosaurs paraded down the street, drawing honks, laughter, and plenty of cell phone videos.

The “dino gang,” as participants call themselves, is part of The Pursuit, a Christian homeschool co-op that meets weekly at Hope of the Nazarene Church in Marshfield. The high school group’s fall tradition of suiting up as dinosaurs and heading to McDonald’s for chicken nuggets began last year, and has become an instant favorite for students and the community alike.

Katie Hankins, an 18-year-old senior in the co-op, explained that while her costume zipper broke this year, she helped organize the return event and documented it on video. Hankins has spent all four years of high school in the co-cop, and has been homeschooled on and off since 1st grade.

“This event was just a fun way for our high schoolers to coordinate and do something together,” Hankins said. “Last year, not everyone was included, so we wanted to bring more people in this time. And honestly, why not?”

This year’s dinosaur cast included Audie, Jewel, Olivia, Nochie, and Lily, while Connor served as the group’s “Wrangler,” guiding the prehistoric parade safely along their destination.

For the students, the moment was about more than costumes, but they added a special flair to the Spur and the spectacle quickly caught the attention of passersby.

“We got stopped like ten times,” Hankins laughed. “People were rolling down their windows and videoing us. Even the McDonald’s employees recognized us from last year and got so excited, they came out and took photos with us.”

“If we weren’t part of the co-op, then we wouldn’t be able to do group events such as this together,” Olivia added. “So I think it’s special that we have a group of like-minded people to learn with, but to do fun stuff like this around Halloween, and throughout the rest of the year.”

The Tyrannosaurus Rexes explained that The Pursuit co-op has been running for the last seven years and brings together homeschooling families from across Webster County and beyond, including Springfield, Lebanon, Portland, and Seymour. The program provides faith-based curriculum for all ages, from infants through seniors in high school. Students meet once a week for instruction, homework planning, and activities, with parents serving as teachers.

“We like to say it’s public school once a week... We focus on Christian studies, but also real-world skills,” Hankins said. “We’ve recently learned things like how to write different letters, how to fill out job applications, and learning our rights under the Constitution.”

For Hankins and her classmates, the annual dinosaur tradition is just one more way to mix learning, friendship, and fun. And for Marshfield drivers on Thursday, it was an unforgettable reminder that sometimes the best school memories, and the best laughs, happen outside the classroom.