News Detail
Steve Myers, BCD 5th grade teacher, heads mission to establish a Great Plains Trail
Everyone has hobbies. Some people golf, some people play tennis, some people knit. For the past several years, Steve Myers’ hobby has been to design a long distance trail through the Great Plains. “Think Appalachian Trail, but in grasslands instead of forests,” says Myers. The goal is a 1,700 mile trail that will run from the far northern edge of the US to the far south and will expose hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders to the qualities he sees in the Great Plains: “big open spaces, solitude, and spectacular scenery.”
Myers has been an educator for 20 years. He has worked as an outdoor science school instructor, an interpretive river guide, a teacher mentor and for the past 9 years has been a 5th grade teacher at Boulder Country Day School. Growing up in Minnesota, he learned to love the Great Plains during his many travels through them on the way to spend his summers in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. The idea to put a trail together, however, only surfaced in 1991 on another road trip he took with his wife, Steph. As he was passing through South Dakota and over the Missouri River, he was struck by just how “different” the landscape was. Since then, Myers has formed a nonprofit, recruited a board and been busy raising funds. He is the founder of the Great Plains Trail Alliance (GPTA) and the author of the Great Plains Trail Blog (greatplainstrail.wordpress.com).
The mission of the GPTA is to establish, develop, preserve and promote a long-distance, public, non-motorized trail running north/south through the Great Plains region of North America for the purposes of recreation, conservation, education, and inspiration. So, how exactly does a 1,700 mile trail get created? The plan is to first build support for the trail, then create trail sections by linking up with existing trails in public lands, and finally to connect the sections via trails on private lands (where possible) or by way of backroads (where necessary). No small task; but as of late, this ‘idea’ is becoming more and more of a reality. “By taking on this feat,” says John Suitor, Head of School at BCD, “Myers and his team have staked out their place among leaders and innovators like Benton MacKaye (forefather of the Appalachian Trail) and Clinton Clarke (forefather of the Pacific Crest Trail) who sought to better their communities by promoting the out-of-doors, a sense of adventure, and the wonder of the natural environment. He is also showing his students by example that having a vision and a dream can inspire excellence at any age.”
You can help facilitate the Great Plains Trail Alliance’s progress by donating, spreading the word and volunteering. For more information, go to www.greatplainstrail.org.
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Courtesy of the Rapid City Journal
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Mr. Myers with students on Earth Day
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Boulder Country Day School 4820 Nautilus Court North • Boulder, Colorado 80301 • Phone - 303.527.4931 • info@bouldercountryday.org
Boulder Country Day School is a leading private school serving students 2 ½ years old - 8th grade. In partnership with our outstanding faculty and committed families, we uphold the highest standard for our balanced educational experience. Through small class sizes and innovative engagement in a supportive environment, students at BCD learn to explore their strengths and apply them to the world. Guided by our values, we believe the empowered minds that graduate from BCD will be the ones to ignite global change.
