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Urban Teens Conquer Appalachian Trail
6 Jun
Summary
- Freshmen at Newark's St. Benedict's Prep hike 53 miles.
- Students train and rely on each other for survival.
- The challenging trek is a mandatory rite of passage.
St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, has a 53-year tradition of sending its freshmen on a demanding five-day, 53-mile trek along the Appalachian Trail. This unique program requires students, many of whom have limited outdoor experience, to step far outside their urban environment.
The freshmen undergo rigorous training in early spring, focusing on exercise and team-building. They are divided into units, each with assigned roles like captain, navigator, cook, and medic. While each student learns a specialty, the program emphasizes their interdependence, teaching them they must rely on one another to complete the journey.
This challenging hike is a mandatory rite of passage, designed to foster resilience. The school administration views the difficult conditions, even preferring rain, as preparation for life's inevitable struggles. Upon completing the trek, the students officially become sophomores, changed by the experience, which was the true destination.
