At Maine High School, Students Facing Detention Can Hike Instead

For most students, after school detention is like being trapped in a zoo. One where the animals are bored teenagers and the keeper is a teacher who’s hardly thrilled to be there. 

Leslie Trundy may have found a better way to deal with kids who talk back, skip class, or are often tardy. Trundy takes them on hikes. The Maine high school counselor and avid hiker has offered students this option for a year. And it may be making a difference.

The evidence is anecdotal. But studies have shown that spending time in nature is good for people. Meanwhile, evidence that supports traditional after-school detention is mixed. Some research has even shown that it doesn’t improve student behavior or academic performance.

“Students don’t benefit from more time indoors, and I wanted to offer them a mindset shift through walking outside,” Trundy said in a Maine Department of Education news release. “I wanted to give them my attention and ear if they want it," Trundy said. She explained she wanted to be a trusted adult kids could talk to.

Trundy got the idea from her hiking the whole Appalachian Trail herself. She also got the idea from going to a conference on the benefits of leading teens into the outdoors. Trudy works at Morse High School. It's in Bath. School leaders there approved her hiking proposal. Some parents disapproved. They didn't think the hikes were appropriate punishment. But many students have found the hikes helpful. 

Wyatt Wells is a repeat offender for playing video games in class. He has been on at least six detention hikes this year. But he didn't go on his latest hike because he got into trouble. He tagged along because he wanted to. "I haven't gotten detention in three months now," he told Maine Public Radio. 

Thought Question: Think about a time when a different approach helped you make better choices or change your behavior. What was it, and how did it make a difference for you?

Photo of a people hiking in Acadia National Park from Unsplash courtesy of Isaac Quick.