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Last week, compliments of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC), Springmont’s Middle School enjoyed a three-day, two-night Outdoor Science Education Field Trip to the Len Foote Hike Inn in North Georgia! One of the cornerstones of the GATC’s extensive outreach programs is fully funded trips to the Hike Inn. A portion of the fees collected from the sales and renewals of the GA Appalachian Trail specialty license plates goes to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), which accepts grant proposals that benefit the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the people of Georgia.  The GATC is fortunate to receive tag grant funding yearly, making the Middle School trip the Hike Inn trip fully funded for Springmont’s Middle School.

Students and teachers arrived at the Amicalola Falls State Park Visitor’s Center on Tuesday morning. After viewing a 30-minute presentation about the Appalachian Trail, students, teachers, and three volunteers from the GATC hiked the five miles to the Hike Inn, observing the area’s biodiversity and ecological cycles along the way. At the inn, they toured the eco-friendly facility and participated in an evening educational program. Wednesday morning began with an optional sunrise observation, followed by either an eight-mile round trip hike to the Appalachian Trail terminus at Springer Mountain or service work at the Hike Inn and on the approach trail to the AT. Students and teachers followed the same trail back to Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge on Thursday morning, returning to campus tired but extraordinarily happy with the whole adventure!