Breaking Down Walls and Building Bridges: City College of New York Students Experience the Adirondacks
Experiencing nature can mean something different for everyone — and this spring, five students from City College of New York had the opportunity to see a whole new side of the world around them. Leaving the city behind, they traveled by public transportation to the heart of the Adirondacks — a first for many of the participants. For several students, it was their first time experiencing life outside of New York City, surrounded by forests, mountains, and wide-open skies.
One student captured the excitement of stepping into the unknown:
“I have never participated in something like this. So I was eager to try something completely new to me, experience living on a farm, and work on a project in nature that would benefit the community.”
Their journey itself was special. This was the first Volunteer Vacation where students relied entirely on public transit to reach their destination — a true testament to their dedication and commitment to giving back to public lands.
Throughout the week, the students rolled up their sleeves and took on meaningful trail work projects. One highlight of the experience was building a wooden bridge alongside professional trail crew leaders. As one volunteer reflected:
“Definitely building a wooden bridge. The trails crew explained the process step-by-step and we were able to see the final structure slowly take shape. I like imagining how many future hikers will walk over the stream using the bridge we built. It was also symbolic, building bridges connecting NYC to Upstate NY.”
Beyond the trail work, the students built strong connections with each other, finding meaning not only in the project but in the friendships and teamwork that grew over the course of the week. As one student put it beautifully:
“Well, the whole thing was quite meaningful. It’s pretty cool that we were able to literally tear down a wall and build a bridge.”
By the end of the trip, these five students had left a real, lasting mark — on the land, on the trail, and on one another. Their experience shows that sometimes the most powerful journeys start when you step a little outside of your comfort zone — and end with building bridges in more ways than one.
To learn more about Alternative Breaks and how your college or youth group can participate, learn more here!
AHS also offers Volunteer Vacations, which is a great way for individuals of all ages to combine their passion for travel with meaningful service work. These trips provide a unique opportunity to make a positive impact while exploring new destinations and cultures. Check out our trips here!
Finally, if you’d like to participate in National Trails Day events organized by AHS, where volunteers come together to celebrate and improve trails across the country, learn more here.
