Sophomore Trip to Chattanooga

This week, Weber sophomores traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for their grade-level trip. While Weber students are no strangers to traditional class-related excursions, grade-level overnight trips allow students to explore cultural and historical sites while instilling values of community building, personal responsibility, and collaboration.

 

The trip began with an early morning departure from Weber, leading the group to their first stop: a clean-up activity at South Chickamauga Creek in Ringgold, Georgia. Partnering with Limestone Valley RC&D, the students showcased their commitment to environmental stewardship. Sixty-nine Weber students and 8 Weber chaperones enthusiastically contributed their time and energy to remove debris and litter from two critical sections of the creek. Their impact went beyond the visible. Each student's volunteered time equated to a nationally averaged rate of $29.95 per hour. This rate gets factored into a local clean water grant, offsetting costs for initiatives like addressing failing septic systems, which adversely impact water quality. Supported by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Act section 319(h), the students' efforts had a dual benefit - physically cleaning the creek and financially bolstering water quality improvement projects.

 

After the hard work, the group traveled on to Chattanooga, enjoying dinner and evening activities, including bowling and laser tag, allowing students to unwind and bond over some light-hearted competition. The next day, students headed to Rock City, a Chattanooga staple known for its ancient rock formations and panoramic views. While at Rock City, students visited the famed "See Seven States" viewpoint and explored geological phenomena and a series of art installations along the trails. 

 

The trip to Chattanooga was a resounding success, marked by our students' dedicated community service and insightful hands-on learning. Thank you to Michelle Geppert, Director of Student Programming and Leadership, for organizing and leading the trip and to the following chaperones who made this experience possible: Elizabeth Behar-Powell, Chris Chapman, Jordan Crawford, Rebecca McCullough, Charlie McQuade, Rachel Miller, and Herschel Revzin.