Taking the Classroom to the Trails
Published: April 13, 2021
Gilbert Chesterton once said, "An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." Chesterton's words help describe this year's spring break Health and Physical Recreation (HPR) 210 backpacking trip to Florida. Students looking for a chance to hike 39 miles in three days, cram into a vehicle with one dozen of his/her "closest friends" for a 16 hour drive, and explore the white sands of St. Augustine, FL, made the perfect adventurers for the trek.
Each Tuesday throughout the semester, HPR 210 instructors Dustin Fenton, Assistant Dean of Men , and Tim Ferret, Coordinator for Residence Education , taught students backpacking fundamentals and techniques. Students learned how to use specialized equipment, such as water purifiers and butterfly stoves, and participated in group team building exercises. Homework for HPR 210 included: a reflection paper of personal goals set by each student for the trip, an exercise log to reaffirm the importance of fit physical condition for backpacking, and a personal three-day wilderness hiking trip plan using the information learned during the semester. Then, students had the opportunity to put these techniques and knowledge to work with a first-hand backpacking experience.
Early Saturday morning, March 13, the team of 13 Greenville College students, loaded with gear, squeezed into a people mover for the 16 hour road trip to Ocala National Forest in Florida. The group set up camp to enjoy a starlit sleep along one of the park's side-roads before beginning the hikes the next day. The next morning, the crew divided into two smaller hiking teams and set off on their adventures. Teams trekked a total of 39 intense miles in only three days due to minimal quality drinking water along the trails.
The groups reunited and drove to St. Augustine beach to celebrate their accomplishments, camp and enjoy the bitter cold, white-capped waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Students explored the beach, basked in the sun, rode body boards and surfed, played frisbee, and flew kites to relax after the strenuous hikes.
To round out the week, the HPR 210 group drove to Ginnie Springs to enjoy two days of snorkeling in fresh water springs, sand volleyball and more camping. After a brisk canoe journey one afternoon, the group feasted on succulent BBQ hamburgers, hot dogs and bratwursts.
After one full week of adventures, the crew arrived back on campus safely. Despite obstacles and challenges, the HPR 210 group triumphed and when others may have given up, these students dug deeper. When each team member was asked if they would do it again, the resounding answer was, "In a heartbeat!"
For more information contact media@greenville.edu .
