Meet Zach & Carissa Hurt | Squatch & Learn Library Stewards

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zach & Carissa Hurt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach & Carissa, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
A book, or rather, a series, we tend to revisit throughout our lives is The Lord of the Rings. J. R. R. Tolkien exercises masterful world-building and his unassuming, barefoot heroes show us that anyone is capable of great things. This timeless tale makes us want to embark on our own adventure into the misty mountains of Colorado, meeting strange creatures, learning about the wonders of our world, and standing strong in the battle of good and evil. The courage and curiosity that comes from reading a book like The Fellowship of the Ring is an experience we hoped to bring to members of our neighborhood when we first became stewards for the Little Free Library organization. Our little “Squatch & Learn Library” in the front yard of our home is now filled with a rotating selection of books for all ages of literary adventurers. In the same way Tolkien inspired us to wander, dream, and be brave, we hope the books in our library can inspire our community and take them on unexpected journeys of their own.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Neither of us do this as a career—it’s philanthropic. What we do with our Little Free Library is considered a volunteer stewardship. In December 2020, with a small surplus of holiday money in hand, we decided to invest in our community by building a Little Free Library in our front yard. We bought a building kit and assembled an 18″ x 22″ book-sharing box. Embracing our mountain view home and one of Zach’s old nicknames, we called it the “Squatch & Learn Library” and finished off our woodsy book nook with vinyl cut-outs of mountain peaks and sasquatch silhouettes. Digging a post hole for the library through frozen ground in January wasn’t an easy feat, but it was worth it once the library was established and ready for readers! The library functions as a free “take a book, share a book” exchange on our well-traveled street, encouraging a sense of community and a love of reading and learning where we live. The library now sees visitors nearly every day with books coming and going constantly. As stewards, we manage the library’s Instagram account, inquiries and maintenance, and rotate in new book selections weekly from our overflowing back-stock. More than anything, we are so proud of our neighbors near and far who have welcomed this addition to our neck of the mountains and helped it become a neighborhood staple.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A trip to Colorado Springs would not be complete without experiencing the breathtaking highs and “lows” our area has to offer. First diving down with the “lows”, we’d head into the mountain town of Cripple Creek and descend 1,000 feet below ground for a tour of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, learning about the mining history of the region. For two wonders in one day, a drive east to Paint Mines Interpretive Park is in order, with a hike into an otherworldly canyon of brilliantly colored rock spires. We’d continue our colorful journey by taking a trip down The Rabbit Hole, an underground restaurant wonderland with local foodie delights and a literary twist. A great late night stop is another subterranean treat, The Archives, for basement-level craft cocktails to toast an amazing day. Next, exploring the highest heights of Colorado Springs begins with a trip to the summit of Pikes Peak for donuts and awe-inspiring views of Colorado at 14,000 feet. A peak moment in our life as well, since this is where we were married in October 2020! Breathless from the altitude, next we’d be breathless with laughter visiting Loonees Comedy Corner to take in some hilarious local comedy. COATI Uprise is a must for food hall-style dining downtown, then what better way to end a trip to Colorado Springs than with a Switchbacks soccer game at Weidner Field cheering on a local team and taking in views of the iconic Front Range.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We’d love to thank the Little Free Library organization and our friends, family, and neighbors who have donated funds and books to the Squatch & Learn Library. We are library number 118,272, which highlights just how many libraries the Little Free Library non-profit has succeeded in establishing in communities. They made it possible for us to get our library on the map so readers could find our location, as well as backing us with resources and a wonderful online forum of fellow library stewards. For Carissa’s birthday in early 2021, our amazing friends and family donated over $500 in a virtual fundraiser supporting the organization. We also can’t thank our neighbors enough, who are the underlying purpose for our library and who keep books flowing through its door.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squatchandlearnlibrary/

Other: Visit the library or mail book donations to: Squatch & Learn Library 1254 Mount Estes Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Image Credits
Andrew Ingram (ONLY for Personal Photo)