Asheville Middle School operates an afterschool program called “In Real Life,” which is free for all students. As part of this program, various organizations offer a “club” based on a topic or activity, and they meet with a group of 8-12 students one afternoon per week for eight weeks.

In winter and spring 2024, the WNC Sierra Club ICO, led by Ed Maggart, offered a club called “Trailblazers.” Eight students signed up for the club, whose goal was to have them enjoy time with their friends in natural spaces, learn about nature and hopefully want to return to those natural spaces with their friends and family.

The club visited several natural areas over the course of the eight-week program, including one which they revisited three times in order to allow the students to become familiar with that space. Each week of the program was based on one of the seven “Conscious Living Principles,” which are like “leave no trace” principles that also apply to daily life. The eighth week involved three reflection activities and a review of the principles. 

At the beginning of each session, the club would circle up and go over our contract for how we interacted with each other, the theme of which was “empathy.” The club then did activities for 45 minutes or so, which involved a chance to explore and discover things in that natural area along with some opportunities for learning and group interaction. We would finish each week in a circle with reflection on the day. 

Each student kept a journal, which they took with them at the end of the eight weeks. Feedback from the students and school was good, and several students expressed interest in doing Trailblazers again!

Below is a list of the Seven Principles and the activities that went with them on a given week. 

Nature Hike – Scavenger Hunt/See & Wonder (use the Seek app)
UNCA Botanical Gardens
Principle - Use appropriate technology

Nature Art/Cyanotype
Richmond Hill Park
Principle - Reduce, reuse, recycle, relearn

Geocaching and Wildlife encounter
WNC Arboretum
Principle - Follow nature’s lead

Tree Activity / Tree Study and Art Activity
Carrier Park
Principle - Live simply

Birdwatching
UNCA Botanical Gardens
Principle - Show respect and compassion for all forms of life

Fire-Building and Outdoor Cooking
Asheville School Outdoor Program Area
Principle - Follow the precautionary principle

Stream Study and Exploration Activity
Malvern Hills Park
Principle - Think globally and plan ahead

Closing Activity - Wildflowers/Reflection Activities/What's Next?
UNCA Botanical Gardens