Pathways to Cuyahoga Valley National Park

To more intentionally connect the Old Trail campus to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, nearly five miles of trails have been constructed over the course of the last year, making outdoor exploration and education more accessible than ever. As a result, OTS students and faculty are now able to quickly and conveniently reach a network of more than 125 miles of trails in the national park.

The updated trail system takes students through mature hardwood forests, fields and hillsides, and to the edge of swamps, marshes and other interesting natural habitats. It also strategically leads students to particular points of interest in the park, such as the Beaver Marsh, Buckeye Trail, Indigo Lake and Howe Meadow; as well as on campus, such as the Challenge Course, learning farm, solar array, and Trail Tales. Consequently, students can more easily connect to the natural world and explore the Valley in unique and meaningful ways that complement and enhance instruction.

Since the opening of school, the trails have been utilized by faculty and students of diverse disciplines, including science, language arts, nature and physical education, and the impact has been far-reaching.

“When students cross a trail head, the expectations shift,” said Erin McNamara, director of experiential and nature-based learning. “When hiking, students are allowed to set their own pace and can investigate their own curiosities. They are more considerate to classmates who are more cautious and have learned and apply different etiquette, demonstrated by the way they interact with each other and the environment. On our trails, students reconnect with the sense of wonder that exists in the natural world and drives all of our curiosities to learn more.”

Added Ronald Teunissen van Manen, physical education teacher and athletic

director: “This has been such a gamechanger. During my Middle School hiking and orienteering classes, the new trails allow me to directly and safely access parts of CVNP that might have seemed out of reach previously.”

The realization of the new system represents the collective work of Joe Morris, Old Trail director of facilities, his staff, and select faculty and administrators, who helped choose the specific locations for connector trails. Once locations were identified, Mr. Morris and Robert Sambor Jr., the school’s maintenance technician, spent countless hours clearing, blazing and leveling dirt to form trails similar to those in the national park.