'I Want These Kids To Enjoy What Other Kids Enjoy': Special Education Teacher Organizes First Overnight Trip

January 27, 2026

For many students in special education programs, school spirit and typical extracurricular experiences can look very different. There are no team jerseys, no cheerleading uniforms, and often fewer opportunities to take part in activities many students enjoy.

That reality stayed with Wes Massey, a special education teacher in Georgia — and he decided to do something about it.

Photos from their trip to Great Wolf Lodge

“A lot of our kids don’t get to participate in things like basketball or cheerleading,” Massey explained.

“I want these kids to enjoy what other kids would enjoy.”

With the help of volunteers and donations, Massey surprised 31 students in the state’s alternate assessment program — and their families — with something many had never experienced before: their first overnight trip.

The destination was Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, Georgia, and families didn’t have to pay a single dollar. Transportation, meals, lodging, and activities were all fully covered.

Planning the trip required extensive coordination. Multiple buses and support vehicles were arranged to accommodate students with complex medical needs, including those requiring oxygen or feeding tubes.

When families arrived, the surprises continued. Each student received gift cards at check-in, giving them the chance to make choices independently — including buying their own lunches. Students and families also enjoyed activities many were experiencing for the very first time, such as family putt-putt, Build-A-Bear, and interactive games at the resort.

Support for the trip extended beyond the school system. As the buses traveled, the county sheriff personally escorted them, highlighting just how much the community rallied behind the students.

For Massey, the message was simple but powerful.

“I know life has been hard and there have been challenges,” he said. “But we are going to do everything we can to make sure you’re included, you’re important, and that you matter.”

Watch the video below: