Instead of heading to the beach for spring break, nine local teenagers traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, for the 41st annual Appalachian Studies Conference.

The trip to Cincinnati included a service learning trip to the historic Beecher Stowe House and an afternoon at the Cincinnati Art Museum. The students spent most of their time at the conference attending workshops, roundtable discussions, and informative panels about historical and current events, which have significance and impact towards the people living in Appalachia.

High Rocks Educational corporation staff and AmeriCorps volunteer accompanied the teens on the trip and made it possible for the journey to be no-cost for students. High Rocks was the designated Keynote presenter at the ASC, and the students created, and then presented the theme and message to an audience of more than 200 people. Overall, the students of High Rocks had an academic, and an eclectic experience with the art, people, and culture found in Cincinnati, and ultimately stitching seams in Appalachia. High Rocks would like to thank the ASC event committee and Naomi Cohen for financial support that made it possible to offer this free opportunity to teens in Southern West Virginia.

High Rocks Educational Corporation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, empower and inspire young people in West Virginia. High Rocks host year-round events for local teenagers in Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Nicholas counties including college trips, service learning overnights, educational summer camps and afterschool programs. For information about High Rocks Educational Corporation, visit our website at highrocks.org or find us on Facebook.