Starting in 2024, students at Emory and Henry College in Virginia will be able to earn credits for hiking the Appalachian Trail. The college’s Semester-A-Trail program is taking the average school’s outdoors or hiking club to the next level.
Students who enroll in the program can choose between hiking 470 miles on the southern end on the trail from Springer Mountain to Damscus or commit to hiking the full trail, which would require additional summer enrollment.
Only 10 students are accepted into the program, and it isn’t open to freshman applicants. While the program has actually been around for a few years, it was put on pause for 2023 as the school updated the curriculum and recruited a new professor. After a short hiatus, students are excited to once again have the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-kind challenge.
Students are expected to prepare mentally and physically for the trek while also keeping up with their regular coursework. Participants will need to take 12-15 credit hours for the semester, which can either be completed before the trip through an intensive 7-week schedule or they can submit final projects upon their return. In addition, they take classes in long-distance backpacking, nature writing, and “Stories of Memory, Place, and Justice,” which will help them stay safe and get the most out of the experience.
To help students fund their trip, tuition will money will go toward all new backpacking equipment, skills and first-aid training, and ongoing support from staff during the hike. In addition, student hikers are given a stipend for on-trail costs.
If you want to learn more about the program, visit the program’s FAQ site and keep in mind that the quick-approaching application deadline is August 1, 2023, so be sure to get your application in if this is something a nature lover like you might be interested in.