Greenville RAs Embark on First Urban WalkAbout in Kansas City
Published: July 16, 2025
Author: Dave Bell
Imagine that you and a group of coworkers have been challenged to spend five days walking the streets of a major Midwest city as a team-building activity. Would you do it?
Fifteen Greenville University resident assistants accepted the challenge and took to the streets of Kansas City the week after GU’s Commencement in May. Their willingness to try something new helped launch the University’s first Urban WalkAbout.
Although the exercise is modeled after the traditional WalkAbout events held in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in recent years, the new version offers an alternative to the original experience.
“For five days, we walked through the streets of Kansas City, Mo., experiencing the different neighborhoods and meeting the people who live there,” said Bre Burkle, GU’s Director of Student Development. “In that time, we covered 45 miles and saw both affluence and poverty. We found that it fostered meaningful conversations about the socio-economic situations faced by people in urban areas.”
Although each style of WalkAbout presents unique challenges and learning opportunities, several participants in this spring’s event preferred the urban version. For one, they stayed in churches or an Airbnb instead of a tent. Additionally, they had more interaction with residents while traveling through the city.
“As Janel Krabel and I planned the Urban WalkAbout, we made sure the route went through several different neighborhoods in the Kansas City area,” Burkle said. “Most people were curious about what we were doing, but the people in the poorest areas were the most generous – offering us food, water, and other assistance.”
On a typical day, WalkAbout participants woke up by 6:30 a.m. to complete their daily 8- to 10-mile route during the cooler morning hours. In the afternoons, they visited museums, art galleries, or other points of interest around Kansas City. The GU students were divided into two groups, one led by Burkle and the other by Micah Shuffett.
“We encouraged them to walk slowly and observe their surroundings,” Burkle said. “There’s a lot to be learned if you just keep your eyes open and watch what’s going on around you.”
They were also encouraged to take notes and engage in daily discussions about what they learned from the experience. These discussions centered on problem-solving, relationship building, crisis management, and leadership development.
Spiritual growth was also a priority. “WalkAbout is a time of intentionally drawing near to God,” according to an informational packet given to participants. “Through immersing yourself in this opportunity, we hope you will encounter God in new and refreshing ways.”
Burkle said she was impressed with the way the RAs embraced the experience.
“It was very refreshing to spend a week with our RAs and see them engage in the WalkAbout,” she said. “We hope this experience prepares them to lead and care for the students on their floor this fall.”
And for those who enjoy solitude and natural settings, a traditional WalkAbout is scheduled for August in the Tennessee hills – no extra charge for mosquitoes.
