New Jersey School Requires Freshmen to Complete 55-Mile Appalachian Trail Hike

June 6, 2026

In a world where many teenagers spend their days connected to screens and surrounded by constant supervision, one New Jersey school has spent more than five decades sending students into the wilderness to discover something far more valuable: confidence, resilience, and the power of teamwork.

CBS News

At St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, every freshman is required to complete a challenging five-day trek along the Appalachian Trail before earning the title of sophomore.

For many of the students, the experience pushes them far beyond anything they've ever done before. Some have never gone hiking. Others have never camped outdoors. Yet each year, they lace up their boots and set out on a journey that has become one of the school's most cherished traditions.

The adventure begins long before students reach the trail. Throughout the spring, freshmen train together through physical conditioning and team-building exercises. They are then organized into small groups where every student takes on a specific role, including navigator, medic, cook, camp specialist, or captain.

While each participant learns a particular skill, no one student is taught everything needed to complete the journey successfully.

"The idea is that they have to rely on one another," school administrator Glenn Cassidy told CBS News. "The only way we can get through this is if we work together and make it there."

According to Cassidy, the teams spend much of the trek operating on their own with limited adult involvement, an approach that helps students develop leadership and trust in one another.

The annual hike has been a rite of passage at the school for 53 years. Rain or shine, the students head out into the mountains and face whatever conditions come their way. In fact, Cassidy says rainy weather can make the experience even more meaningful.

"When life gets difficult, it's something you can refer back to," Cassidy said. "You know, there's a lot of rainy days in life."

When this year's freshmen completed their journey in May, they crossed the finish line tired, sore, and carrying memories that will likely stay with them forever. Their shoes had taken a beating, and some students were covered in bumps and bruises.

But the greatest change wasn't visible on the outside.

The real destination was never simply the end of the trail. It was the growth that happened along the way.

For five days, these teenagers learned to depend on each other, push through challenges, and accomplish something they may have once thought was impossible. And that may be the lesson they'll carry far longer than any backpack.