Meet Allison Burch | Local Outdoor Mom Found on Instagram

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allison Burch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allison, what do you want your legacy to be?
When I think of my legacy, I think of my family.

I think about how my husband and I are raising our kids, what kind of humans they’re being molded into, and what they’re going to become when set free into the community. We’re raising our kids to be kind and generous and thoughtful, but also to develop themselves from within. I want to be an influence in their lives, but I also want them to be able to look inward and trust what their gut is telling them. I want them to turn 18 and be so sure of who they are and what motivates them, that the world can’t make them second-guess themselves.

The biggest way I’m doing that, is by taking them outside. I’m encouraging them to take risks, but only if they want to, I’m not pushing them beyond their comfort and desires. I’m encouraging them to play hard and get dirty, but only if they want to. I’m encouraging them to explore the world around them and find their own interests. And, I’m right next to them if they need help. If they want to scramble up a mountain, but aren’t sure they can do it on their own, I’ll happily spot them. If they want to jump in puddles but are worried about sitting in soggy clothes, I always have a change of clothes in the car. If they decide they’re passionate about hummingbirds, I will take them to the library for all the books we can carry and for as many nature walks as they want, with the hope of encountering some in the wild.

The outdoors offers many ways to test abilities and discover interests. Even though we participate in traditional schooling, I truly believe that nature is their most educational classroom. They’re learning so much about themselves, but also about the world around them. As they continue to grow and be exposed, I believe their inner-naturalists will come out, as well as their desire to protect nature and serve their communities in that way as they age.

All that to say, I absolutely see my legacy as the good that my kids will do in the world – both within the people they encounter everyday and the mark they’ll leave on our planet.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My background is in Parks & Rec. I started working with a local city back in Southern California when I was in my early 20s and moved up little by little over nearly a decade. My very first role with them was working at a local teen center. My afternoons were spent setting up arts & crafts, building out obstacle courses, helping with homework, and creating relationships.

Eventually I moved up to City Hall and really learned the ins and outs of how the department worked, and how it relied on the rest of the city to function properly. I ended my career as the department’s Executive Assistant, working closely with the director on everything from budgets, to commission meetings, to staff reports, to programming, to park maintenance. It was there that my love of parks was born.

I loved my job, but I always planned to walk away after we had two kids. We ended up moving to Colorado when I was about halfway through my second pregnancy, so it was a natural finishing point.

Even though I left my career in public service, the passions that I developed never left me. Purple Mountain Mama was born of my passion for serving others and getting outside with my kids. When we visit local parks, I post about it. When we discover kid-friendly hiking trails, I post about it. When we play along a new creek, I post about it. I want to encourage and empower families to get outside and I try to make it easy by offering up ideas that we’ve already tested out. I’m happy to do the research and present it to others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many wonderful things to experience near Denver, but my focus would be on the outdoor fun.

You can’t go wrong with Rocky Mountain National Park and Garden of the Gods, but I would also recommend Castlewood Canyon State Park and Roxborough State Park for hiking (especially with kids). If hiking is a bit too much with the elevation, perhaps a mellow nature walk through the Audubon Nature Trail or SUP session at Chatfield State Park.

For general outdoor play, Bluffs Nature Center and Westminster Station Nature Play in Denver, Hudson Gardens in Littleton, the Bee Hugger Farm in Longmont and any event at the Backcountry Wilderness Area in Highlands Ranch would be high on my list.

Basically all our dinning out involves kids, so I would stick to the best kid-friendly options like Denver Beer Co in Lowry that has a patio overlooking an amazing playground, or Acreage in Lafayette that has a similar set up. Prost in Highlands Ranch and the Cherry Cricket in Littleton both have great food with spacious patios that are also great for families.

If we were looking for something a little more low-key, I’d pack a picnic and venture out to a fantastic playground for some mellow food and fun. Consider Clement Park in Littleton, Big Dry Creek Park in Highlands Ranch, Cherry Park in Centennial, Central Park in Denver, Wheatlands Park in Aurora, Westlands Park in Greenwood Village, Morse Park in Lakewood or Butterfield Crossing Park in Castle Rock.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Special shoutout to my husband who is always in my corner ready to support me. He’s never once questioned my ideas or dreams, he’s always the first one to encourage me to run wild and free with anything that’s burned in my heart.

Website: https://www.purplemountainmama.com

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

Image Credits
First image: Kait Christmas
Last photo: Becki Bee Photography