St. Benedict's Prep

The Trek: Every Freshman at This High School Has To Hike 55 Miles on the Appalachian Trail.

Dr. Glenn Cassidy '90 talks to The Trek about the 53-year tradition that's taking the nation by storm.

Every Freshman at This High School Has To Hike 55 Miles on the Appalachian Trail - The Trek Catholic prep school in New Jersey has an unusual program for its freshman class: a mandatory 5-day, 55-mile backpacking trip from High Point State Park in New Jersey to the Delaware Water Gap on the Appalachian Trail, supported by adults but guided by the students themselves. Saint Benedict’s Pre...

For 53 years, first-year students have hiked a 55-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail over the course of 5 days in order earn full membership in the Benedict’s community.

Students become captains, navigators, safety specialists, cooks, medics, camping specialists.

Every step is taken together from High Point to the Delaware Water Gap.

This is The Trail.

A tradition like no other, featured again by CBS today on Sunday Morning. Thank you to CBS for helping share our story.