St. Benedict’s Preparatory School: A 50-Year Appalachian Trail Tradition of Resilience and Brotherhood

Published August 7, 2026 01:05 PM

The hours had stretched into an eternity, and the uncharacteristic May heat seemed to amplify the internal monologue of 15-year-old Lilliana Galo. Her mind, a battlefield of fatigue and frustration, echoed with a single, desperate plea: "Fudgggge!" It was 2025, and Galo, alongside seven of her classmates, found themselves three nights into a grueling five-day trek along the Appalachian Trail, a journey that would traverse a significant portion of New Jersey. Their progress that day had been a mere nine miles, with another one or two standing between them and the scant comfort of camp. Every fiber of her being ached, from the raw, pulverized soles of her feet to the throbbing collarbone she’d fractured mere days before embarking on this ambitious undertaking.

Yet, a flicker of resolve ignited within her. "Discipline," she whispered to herself, a mantra against the encroaching exhaustion. "You got this." Her focus narrowed to the simple, rhythmic act of placing one foot in front of the other, deliberately avoiding any hint of a drag. With a deep, deliberate breath, she navigated the undulating terrain of the Kittatinny Mountain ridge, a series of small, relentless knobs that offered brief respites before plunging into equally demanding descents. A collective cheer erupted from the group ahead. Galo, trailing at the rear, lifted her gaze. Her friends, a tableau of shared hardship, sported a motley assortment of hand-me-down boots and worn packs, their appearance reminiscent of a forgotten advertisement from an early 2000s REI garage sale. Arms entwined, they giggled and swayed, a testament to their mutual reliance as they carefully navigated the downhill slope.

"None of us had done anything like this before, so we were absolutely dying," Galo recounted later, her voice still tinged with the memory of that arduous journey. "But instead of giving in and quitting, we’d chosen to literally and figuratively lean on one another for strength." In that moment, the profound lessons imparted by teachers, upperclassmen, and alumni throughout the year coalesced into a palpable reality for Galo. She offered a cascade of praise and encouragement to her companions. "I realized these girls had become like sisters to me, and I felt so much pride," she confessed. "Up to then, I wasn’t sure if we had it in us to finish the hike. But I realized that we’d been building up to this moment where it became crystal clear that, working together, we could accomplish whatever we set our minds out to achieve."

This transformative 55-mile trek served as the capstone to a mandatory rite of passage for first-year students at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School. For over half a century, rising sophomores at the private Newark, New Jersey, academy have embarked on this self-guided leadership and team-building expedition along the Appalachian Trail during the late spring. The program, a cornerstone of the St. Benedict’s experience, is meticulously designed to foster character development, resilience, and an unwavering sense of community.

Each year, the incoming classes, typically comprising around 190 students, are divided into smaller cohorts. These groups then embark on staggered expeditions along designated sections of the AT, navigating and camping independently. Within these teams, students are assigned crucial roles—navigator, cook, medic, captain—each demanding a high degree of responsibility and interdependence. The absence of electronic devices is a strict rule, compelling students to engage fully with their surroundings and each other. While two faculty members, administrators, or senior students accompany each group, their presence is strictly for emergency oversight; they offer no direct assistance with decision-making or logistical support, reinforcing the students’ autonomy and problem-solving capabilities. A significant aspect of the program’s design is that the vast majority of students enter with little to no prior backpacking experience, many having had minimal exposure to the natural world beyond urban parks.

Glenn Cassidy, the current program director and a proud alumnus of the Class of 1990, elucidates the program’s core philosophy. He explains that the experience is intentionally crafted to extricate students from their urban comfort zones, immerse them in the profound and enduring benefits of nature, and present them with an immersive challenge that can only be overcome through collective effort. The ultimate objectives are to cultivate resilience, bolster self-confidence, and instill a deep appreciation for the power of a cohesive team working in unison. Moreover, the AT hike functions as a formal initiation into the broader St. Benedict’s community, a shared crucible that binds generations of students. "When you cross that finish line, you’re following in the footsteps of every St. Benedict’s man and woman that’s come before you," Galo articulated, her voice resonating with the weight of tradition. "The entire year has built to this point where you’ve proven to yourself and everyone else that you belong here and have what it takes to continue that lineage of success."

50 Years on the Appalachian Trail: A Legacy Forged in Nature

Cassidy proudly asserts that the full-class AT program is unparalleled in the nation. Its genesis in 1973, he notes, was remarkably serendipitous. St. Benedict’s predecessor institution, established in 1868, had long served a working-class community predominantly composed of German, Irish, and Italian Catholic immigrants. However, decades of demographic shifts, including white flight and the turbulent aftermath of the Newark race riots of 1967, led to the closure of the predominantly Caucasian school in 1972. A dedicated group of monks, undeterred, reconstituted and reopened a more modest iteration of the school a year later.

The enduring mission to educate underserved populations remained, but the socio-economic landscape had drastically transformed. Newark had become a focal point of urban poverty, with nearly 60 percent of its residents residing in federally designated low-income areas by 1980. The relaunched school welcomed a student body that was overwhelmingly Black and brown, with the new administration implementing robust scholarship and financial aid programs to ensure accessibility. Cassidy emphasizes that the founders recognized the critical role of deep educational engagement in breaking the cycle of systemic poverty. Experiential learning became a central tenet of the curriculum. Consequently, administrators launched an annual spring project where students, divided into specialized groups, delved into subjects aligned with their professional interests, exploring fields such as architecture, photography, art, and medicine.

It was in 1973 that the founding headmaster, Edwin Leahy, conceived of an innovative and daring plan: to lead students on a multi-day backpacking expedition along the Appalachian Trail. He envisioned a prolonged immersion in nature as a pathway to cultivating quietude and fostering nature-based self-regulation. The rigorous challenge of a 50-plus-mile adventure, he believed, would indelibly impress values such as discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. Furthermore, the extended time in the wilderness would provide a unique forum for candid discussions on a wide range of topics, from emotional regulation and personal challenges to aspirations and future career paths.

"Problem was, Father Ed had never been backpacking," Cassidy recalls with a wry smile. "Not only that, there was no gear or any discretionary funds to purchase it—and even if they’d had the money, no one would have known what to buy." Undeterred by these logistical hurdles, Leahy was convinced of the trek’s potential to profoundly alter the trajectories of these young men’s lives. (St. Benedict’s transitioned to a coeducational institution in 2017 following a merger with a neighboring school.) He meticulously acquired maps and instructional books, and instituted a comprehensive training regimen. Students engaged in rigorous physical conditioning, including walking the school grounds with weighted backpacks and collaboratively navigating a simulated obstacle course while blindfolded. This was followed by a preparatory hike to a neighboring town.

The initial practice expedition saw the group donning their sneakers, filling school backpacks with snacks and water jugs, and setting off on a challenging 20-mile road walk. "They were so inexperienced that it took forever," Cassidy remarks. "Then they arrive after dark and realize: ‘How the heck are we gonna get back?’ Father Ed had to knock on the door of a monastery and ask to use their phone to call a ride." The inaugural AT trip was equally characterized by unforeseen challenges and a steep learning curve. One student infamously arrived with his mother’s rolling luggage, while another had ingeniously (or perhaps disastrously) secured a set of cast-iron pans to his shoulder straps. Footwear was entirely inappropriate, diets were restricted to a monotonous rotation of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and tents were sourced from mass-market retailers. Without any support team and with cell phones still decades away from ubiquity, the hike was an unforgiving test of their mettle.

One particularly memorable incident involved a student who, halfway through the trek, simply sat down in the middle of the trail and refused to continue. Leahy, in a display of tough love, informed him that they would see him next year, implying that his survival until then was a matter of doubt. While this remark served as a potent motivator, propelling the student back to his feet, Cassidy later learned from Leahy that it was nothing short of a miracle that the entire group had completed the journey safely. Despite these early misadventures, the program demonstrated undeniable promise. The shared hardships of the quest forged a powerful bond between the boys and their headmaster, and they returned to the school as triumphant heroes. The mutual respect and camaraderie cultivated on the trail significantly aided their integration into the St. Benedict’s community, and a marked decrease in behavioral issues followed.

The Program Evolves: From Serendipity to Structured Transformation

The undeniable success of the initial endeavor inspired Leahy to formalize the annual trip. This mission received a significant boost two years later when a new teacher, Mark Payne, a passionate outdoorsman and seasoned Scoutmaster with extensive backpacking expertise, volunteered to lead the nascent program. Payne recognized the transformative potential of the AT trek, not only for the students but for the school as a whole. He believed that the program’s efficacy hinged on its scope and structure.

The subsequent overhaul of the program drew inspiration from a confluence of Boy Scout protocols, conservation principles, and the deeply ingrained school values, famously encapsulated in mottos like, "Whatever hurts my brother, hurts me." Payne expanded the initiative to encompass all first-year students and integrated it into a comprehensive, year-long curriculum designed to cultivate a profound sense of school identity and belonging. "When you sign up to go to Benedict’s, you know about the hike," Galo explains, her older siblings having regaled her with legendary tales of their own backpacking experiences. "But you also understand it’s not this standalone thing, but more like a test that you slowly build up the confidence to know you can pass."

By the time Cassidy and his classmate Herb Brooks embarked on their AT hike in the late 1980s, the program had evolved into a highly refined and efficient operation. It commenced with monthly, three-hour seminars held from February through April. These sessions provided students with essential trail skills, including basic first aid, tick identification and removal, tent setup, outdoor cooking techniques, water management, and map reading. A dedicated leadership class utilized case studies and reflective exercises to hone critical skills such as communication, team motivation, and effective decision-making.

Physical training began a month prior to Labor Day. The regimen started with fundamental exercises like pushups, sit-ups, and extended jogs, gradually progressing to more complex activities. One such exercise involved traversing a field with a pair of oversized skis, requiring half the team to face forward and the other half backward, with some members blindfolded. Competitions, such as obstacle course relay races, challenged platoons to strategically position teammates based on their individual strengths and weaknesses. This was followed by an overnight trial hike in Stokes State Forest, where groups practiced navigation by locating a series of checkpoints manned by upper-division students, guiding them to their campsite. A comprehensive review of the experience, highlighting both successes and areas for improvement, took place the following week, often including supplemental training for identified problem areas.

"After all of that, whatever anxiety I had about the trail had pretty much vanished," recalls Brooks, now 53. "I looked forward to it as a grand adventure and felt incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to do something that, at that time in my life, I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise."

Hiking into the Future: Enduring Impact and Renewed Purpose

Both Brooks and Cassidy attest to the life-altering impact of their St. Benedict’s backpacking experiences. For Cassidy, witnessing his teammates overcome profound self-doubt and collaboratively achieve a goal that many initially deemed impossible was a deeply moving experience. He continued his involvement with the program as an upperclassman and even assisted while pursuing his college studies. These transformative treks profoundly influenced his career path, inspiring him to accept a position as an athletics director and assistant to Payne in 1994. "There’s something magical that happens out there," reflects Cassidy, now 54. Having assumed the role of program director in 2007, he has since guided approximately 7,000 students. "The experience teaches kids important lessons about who they are, the world, their place in it, and the value of friendship." For many of these students, hailing from urban environments, the opportunity to gaze at the stars from a mountain summit represents a profound departure from their everyday lives. Helping young people access these transformative experiences has become a deeply fulfilling calling.

Brooks’s career trajectory followed a similarly inspired, albeit more circuitous, path. The AT trek instilled in him a lifelong passion for nature, wild spaces, and the profound sense of calm that envelops one during a forest walk. These hikes provided a vital counterbalance to the stresses of demanding jobs with major New York City television networks and media companies. As 2020 approached, Brooks found himself increasingly drawn to his formative experiences at St. Benedict’s. "I realized I wanted to reshape my life around being outside and helping kids in urban areas access outdoor recreation opportunities," he states. His volunteer work with organizations like Outdoor Afro led to advanced training certifications and a position as an adventure and course facilitator with the New York City Outward Bound Schools. "It’s such a full-circle thing for me to be doing," Brooks shares. "But I can tell you, I’ve never gone to bed at night feeling so content—and I almost certainly wouldn’t have gotten here without St. Benedict’s."

Galo, now a second-year student, harbors equally powerful sentiments about her hiking experience. Her background as a dedicated volleyball player and athlete had instilled a sense of confidence regarding the physical demands of the trek. She had envisioned herself as the strong one, the pillar of support, ready to carry the burdens of her exhausted classmates. However, her broken collarbone shattered these expectations. She was relegated to carrying a minimal pack and found herself unable to perform basic tasks like tying her boots or setting up her tent. It was then that her friends stepped in, their collective effort compensating for her physical limitations. "At first, I felt useless and struggled with what my role should be," Galo admits. "Then I realized that I needed to learn how to accept help and felt so much gratitude that my sisters were so gracious about giving it to me. It dawned on me that, while I couldn’t pitch in physically, I could pick them up mentally."

In response, Galo embraced the role of chief cheerleader for her team. She walked alongside friends whose spirits had begun to wane, reminding them of their progress and their burgeoning strength. She orchestrated impromptu pep talks during breaks and encouraged the group to pause and appreciate the simple beauties of their surroundings, from the gentle murmur of a creek to the breathtaking expanse of a 2,000-foot vista. Galo’s experience was so overwhelmingly positive that she has since become a mentor for incoming first-year students and has volunteered to assist with this year’s hike. Furthermore, she participated in a summer outdoor learning program at Grand Teton National Park, further solidifying her connection with the natural world. "Being on the trail showed me there was more to life than being in a city, and how to see past all the busyness and noise," Galo reflects. While her future plans remain fluid, one certainty has emerged: she intends to dedicate ample time to embracing nature, exploring mountains, and indulging her newfound passion for backpacking.