Student Reflections from The Appalachian Trail

Under the supervision of Charles Aiken and other members from Georgia Appalachian Trail Club along with teacher Tim Rosser and volunteer Ivan Sumner, Towns County Middle School 6th graders in Mrs. Garrett's Agriculture classes hiked 6.4 miles on the Appalachian Trail this week. In addition to completing the distance challenge, students connected with nature. Upon return to the classroom, students wrote reflections about their experiences:

Stetson Hedden - "I learned how long a mile can be"

Stephany Hooper - "The tough part was your mind telling you that you can and your body telling you that you can't."

Madison Delong - "Nature is so peaceful"

McKenzi Moss - "I was really amazed at how people take care of the trail and not litter"

Taylor Vardeman - "I will remember most the rest area in the clearing surrounded by trees"

Andrea Coleman - "I learned it is not a very good thing to drink a soft drink…because it will use up all of your water supply to break down the soft drink."

Brett Barrett - "I am going to buy them walking sticks (that the leaders carried). They have compasses at the top so where you do not get lost. When I get older I am going to hike to Maine."

Duane Stamps - "I learned how to keep a steady pace walking and always stay together or hike with someone"

Lilly Suter - "I learned about pick up anything you see like trash." (leave no trace)

Alex King - "In the shelter we climbed the ladder to get to the 2nd and 3rd floors of the shelter"

Courtney Marshall - . "I learned that when you are thirsty on the trail you are already dehydrated." (drink before you are thirsty)

Stratton MacDougald - "I learned to follow the white marks on the trees." (blazes)

Justin Schmitz - "It (the hike) asked way too much of my body than my body could match."

Nick Santisi - "The part I will remember the most is the shelter and signing the paper in the journal."

Bradley Rogers - "It was awesomer than awesome."

Adam Cox - "I learned that you need to listen to the natural."

Kelsey Duckworth - "I didn't expect to see hikers going to Maine." (and I did!)

Zak Knapp - "If you want a challenge, then go to the trail." Lauren James - "I saw wood lilies, daises, nodding trillum" Brittany Collins - "The pain is worth the beauty." Cody Hamilton - "It was challenging but fun."

Andrew Turpin - "I will remember how much fun we had."

Heath Moss - "I learned about a flower that was called a rattlesnake"

Pictures taken by the students on the Appalachian Trail can be seen on the middle school website at www.towns.k12.ga.us.