Collegian Online Edition

Students to experience peaks, valleys of Smokys
by Diana De Leon, Feature Editor

Traveling to U.S. parks may sound like a vacation, but students who take a mini course trip this May also can earn eight hours of credit.

This year Geology 2462 will take students to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina.

"It is a wilderness experience that teaches," Jim Black, South geology instructor and one of two instructors leading the trip, said.

Weldon Reed of the South Campus English department is the other instructor leading the students on this camping trip.

Students receive three hours of credit in world literature, four hours in geology and one hour in P.E. for a total of eight credit hours.

A required orientation is scheduled for April 2 for the Smoky Mountain trip.

Students will meet in class once a week for the month before the trip, which leaves May 9 and returns May 24, Black said.

"Students must be in good physical condition," he said. "It is physically challenging."

Last year the trip to the Grand Canyon filled up on the first day of registration, Black said.

There are two trips every year, and Black has been on them for the last nine years.

The trip to the Smoky Mountains falls at the end of the spring semester and the start of summer one.

The summer two session trip is scheduled for the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.

Students must first go through an interview process before registering for these courses.

The first covers the structured part of the course, and the second part covers what the student is getting into.

"It is a lot tougher than students envision," he said.

"Students need to be in good physical shape," he said. "It can be challenging physically and mentally."

The cost is $500 plus tuition for eight hours of credit, approximately $300.

Students must supply a sleeping bag and a backpack, but tents and camp food are provided.

Students take turns cooking the meals and cleaning after, but all students are responsible for their own utensils and plates.

"You cannot be a picky eater," Black said. "Camp food is easy to cook, like hot dogs, burritos and spaghetti."

Students can take footballs, Frisbees and whatever they want to pass down time, Black said.

The trip is made by van, and every night is a camp night including the time it takes to get there.

The trip includes an extended six-day hike when students stay in the mountain and live off their backpacks.

"It is a physical challenge and a mental challenge for some students," he said.

Geology is studied all along the trail and in the camp sites. English is covered in the five selected paperback books students must read, Black said.

"Most students get the reading part out of the way before we leave on the trip," he said.

Physical education is covered everyday by the hikes and the very nature of camping.

"We have had some interesting situations," Black said about past trips. "We have had some bumps and bruises, but nothing major."

Although physically challenging, the trip is relatively safe and great fun, Black said.

Students can take their own tent, but the tents provided are two-person tents, and boys and girls are separated.

"We are cautious and safe," Black said. "Students must love the outdoors as well as be in good physical shape."

For more information or to schedule an interview, students can call Jim Black at 817-515-6065.