SCCC Students Volunteer to “Rock-up” Appalachian Trail

NEWTON, NJ – November 5, 2013 – Students from Sussex County Community College’s Foundations for Success course have been “rocking-up” a muddy 20-foot stretch of the Appalachian Trail in Wantage. The students create a rock crib that’s designed to keep hikers’ feet dry while preventing widening and erosion of the Trail. The volunteer program was created by Adjunct Professor George Lightcap and is loosely modeled on the self-discovery goals of the Roadtrip Nation program that airs on PBS.

According to Lightcap, “By working to improve the Appalachian Trail students are moved outside their comfort zone through an environmentally focused community service project. It’s a part of our Foundations for Success course that is designed to ease the transition to college life, in this case by forming a sense of teamwork and accomplishment. Despite the fact that most of the students are from Sussex County, few have actually set foot on the Trail until this experience.”

The length of the Appalachian Trail changes over time as trails are added or modified and is presently estimated to be 2175 miles, 79 of which pass through New Jersey. While designated a National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian Trail is entirely maintained through volunteer efforts.

To learn more about SCCC visit: sussex.edu. For information on admissions contact the SCCC admissions department by phone at (973) 300-2223 or visit: sussex.edu/admissions.

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