Fegely Middle School eighth grader Stephen Johnson, 14, said completing the 3 Dune Challenge at Indiana Dunes State Park was something new for him.
“This is a totally new experience for me. I thought it would be easy, but it’s not. It’s so steep sometimes.”
“It was fun for team building,” Johnson said Wednesday. “It was also a good social experience, and now we can enjoy the beach a little bit, eat some food and take pictures.”
Thanks to a grant from the National Park Trust, over 100 Fegely Middle School eighth graders took on the 3 Dune Challenge this week. The 1.5-mile challenge encompasses hiking up Mt. Jackson, Mt. Holden and Mt. Tom for a total of 552 vertical feet of hiking, according to the Indiana Dunes Tourism website.
Gym teacher Carrie Kietzman applied for the grant through the Kids to Parks Day School Grants Program.
Kietzman had been looking for ways to challenge her students this year. In a classroom survey she administered at the start of the school year, the students expressed an interest in participating in activities other than running every day.
“I felt like it was the students’ help and their responses that helped us get the grant,” said Kietzman. “They have a part in this, too.”
Kietzman knew she would need to reach all of her students by presenting different and enjoyable opportunities to be physically active and fit. This is her first year teaching gym, previously having taught second grade, fourth grader, and math.
On Tuesday, eighth grade girls completed the challenge. On Wednesday, eighth grade boys did the same.
“I’ve been teaching for 13 years, and this is my favorite field trip ever,” Kietzman said. “All the kids have been so positive this entire day.”
“There were some kids struggling to climb the dunes, and they were all helping each other, and clapping and cheering each other on to get to the top,” said Kietzman.
“To see them encouraging each other, grabbing arms to get over the hills, without any prompting from me, that was awesome. On their own, they created an atmosphere where they were all going to finish together.”
Jesse Steier, 14, completed challenge along with his mother, Jesenia Jaffry, who was one of the chaperones for the field trip.
“This is a first time for us,” said Steier. “I didn’t realize how much we had to climb.”
“I thought we were an athletic family until we started this hike,” joked Jaffry. “I was struggling a bit but he (my son) was telling me I could do it and I was able to finish all three.”
Kietzman pointed out that some of the students, despite living 10 minutes away, had never been to the dunes. “The kids were very impressed with the beauty of this place, and I am so glad that they were able to experience all of it, the nature, the dunes, the water, the hike.”
“I really hope this is something I can continue to do every year,” said Kietzman.
Deena Lawley-Dixon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
