Schools awarded grants to help students explore the great outdoors

Morganton, NC – Friday, May 2, 2025

Burke Middle College and Hallyburton Academy received the Go Outside NC Trailblazers grant for $10,000 to launch a Trailblazers Outdoor Club at each school to promote team building and outdoor education.

North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission provides grants to high schools for the creation of outdoor clubs including the Trailblazers Outdoor Club. The grant funds field trips, club activities, equipment and professional development with an emphasis on community engagement and mental and physical health. Each school was granted $10,000 to use next school year.

Tim Barnsback, teacher and advisor of the new BMC Trailblazer Club, has big plans for the club including kayaking on the Catawba River, hiking and foraging in Pisgah National Forest, and leadership adventures at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte. Barnsback said, “BMC Trailblazers will focus on the outdoors as more than a place, it is a path. A path to stronger bodies, healthier minds, deeper confidence, and the kind of skills that shape true leaders. Through shared adventures, our students will grow not just in strength, but in purpose.”

Carla Sain May, principal and advisor of Hallyburton Academy Trailblazer Club, and teacher Justin Hawn will use the grant to provide outdoor experiences for students who have never taken advantage of what Burke County has to offer. May said, “Our goal is to provide the training, equipment, and the opportunity for students to explore, engage, and fall in love with the area in which they live. These outdoor activities will also help supplement our classroom science and history instruction as we explore these outdoor experiences.” 

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Mike Swan said, “Burke County is known for the beautiful trails, parks and lakes from the east to the west. We’re excited for these students to take their learning outside the classroom and explore Nature’s Playground, as Burke County is nicknamed.”