[at-l] Georgia boys Start March 17

[lorac4491 at linkamerica.net (Coosa)]

Did I mail this one already?  -- Coosa


http://www.tiftongazette.com/articles/2004/02/29/news/news2.txt

Hikers peak students' curiosity

By Paula Stuhr paula.stuhr@gaflnews.com
CHULA -- "Are there Port-a-Potties along the trail?" "Will you bring a GameBoy?" "If it gets too hot, will you hike in your underwear?"

These are some of the many questions the fourth graders of Tiftarea Academy asked Travis Douce, who spoke to them about his upcoming hike of the Appalachian Trail.

Douce and his life-long friend Kip Walker will begin hiking the Trail March 27 to raise money for the American Heart Association in a fundraiser they have created called A Heart of a Hike.

The connection between the Appalachian Trail and the circulatory system were incentives for Beth Langston, a fourth-grade teacher at Tiftarea, to invite Douce to be a guest speaker for her class and the class of Debra Rodgers.

Langston said the class read about the Appalachian Trail in their social studies book, and although they usually don't go this deep into the study of the region, the timing was right this year.

"We're currently studying the heart and circulatory system in science and collecting money for Jump Rope for Heart, so it all ties together really well," said Langston.

Douce enjoys talking to elementary-aged students and wants to talk to as many classes as he can about the Trail before his departure. Tiftarea was the first school to participate in his "Classroom Trails" program. Douce has since talked to the fifth graders of J.T. Reddick.

"When I did outdoor education in Texas, I taught fifth through eighth graders and enjoyed it," Douce said. "The kids enjoyed doing stuff outside their current curriculum and I wanted to give kids in Tift County that chance."

Douce showed the students his pack and gear, which currently weighs-in at 41 pounds, that he will be carrying from Georgia to Maine. One student remarked that it was "the coolest book bag" he'd ever seen, while another student said he thought he could fit his mom inside. The top of the pack peaks above Douce's head and doesn't end until it reaches his waist.

Hands shot up when Douce asked what all he should take in his pack for his four-month journey. The students would bring a tent, sleeping bag and lots of food.

Douce stressed that the pack needs to be as light as possible.

"They say the first couple of miles of the Trail you could outfit yourself because people throw so much they'd packed away because of the excess weight," said Douce.

The students listened attentively to Douce's presentation and asked a myriad of questions which ranged from practical ("What if you get bitten by a poisonous snake?") to improbable ("What if you drop your car keys in a pond?").

Douce announced a contest he and Walker created for students participating in Classroom Trails. He said that sometimes you can meet and hike with people on the Trail for months and they will never know your real name, because thru-hikers (individuals hiking the entire Trail at one time) have "trail-names."

Douce and Walker are asking students to submit ideas for the nicknames they will be using on the Trail. They will pick their favorite nicknames a week before they head out on their hike. Upon hearing that the creator of the chosen trail-name will win free food from Longhorn Steakhouse, the students started writing ideas down on the spot.

Langston said some of the names the students have already thought of are "Tuxedo Dude" for Walker, who may hike in a tuxedo, and "Goatee Man" for Douce, who will not cut his goatee until they've finished the hike.

Once his presentation had concluded, several students asked Douce to autograph their arms, notebook paper and a Georgia travel guide.

"I thought it was wonderful, a real ego-booster when these kids were asking for autographs," he said. "It's great to see that these kids think what we're doing is cool."

Langston said the class has set out a jar to collect money for A Heart of a Hike and her students frequently visit the Web site, aheartofahike.org. The kids have already requested Douce return to their fifth grade classes in the fall once he has returned from the hike.

Douce asked the classes one question before the bell rang to end the school day: "Who wants to go to Maine?"

All the children raised their hands.

For more information on Classroom Trails or A Heart of a Hike, visit www.aheartofahike.org.