They look happier without teachers in the picture.....

The text below is from our press release about the trip.  Staff and students all had a great time.  We look forward to taking a longer trip with next year's seventh grade. 

The seventh graders from Mountain Discovery recently went on a one night camping trip to Wesser Bald.  The group left school just as the school day started and proceeded by bus to the Wesser Creek trailhead.  Mr. Killebrew led the more ambitious hikers up Wesser Creek and made camp at the camp site on the Appalachian Trail.  From there, they met the rest of the group at the fire tower on Wesser Bald where Ms. Jobe led the class in an orienteering exercise with topographic maps and compasses.  The group went back to camp where Mr. Killebrew led air quality studies involving lichen and snail populations in the woods around camp.  Journaling opportunities and lessons on minimum impact camping were woven throughout the trip.  "It is a real joy for me to watch teachers deliver curriculum in the wilderness, kids get out and succeed at things that they’ve never done before, and personally, it’s great to spend large blocks of time with our students in an outdoor setting," said MDCS co-director, Carter Petty.  For more information about the MDCS Outdoor Curriculum, visit www.mountaindiscovery.org/OutdoorEducation.htm.