11/06/2026
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At Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, every freshman must complete a five day, 55 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail before advancing to sophomore year. The tradition, which has been part of the school for more than five decades, begins with months of training in fitness, teamwork, navigation, and outdoor survival skills. Students are divided into teams and assigned specific roles such as navigator, medic, cook, or captain, forcing them to depend on one another throughout the challenging journey.
School leaders say the hike is about much more than covering miles. Many students have little experience with hiking or camping, yet they are expected to work together through rain, fatigue, and difficult terrain. By the time they reach the finish at the Delaware Water Gap, they have gained resilience, confidence, and a stronger sense of community. Administrators describe the trek as a life lesson in overcoming adversity, while former students often remember it as a transformative rite of passage that taught them perseverance and teamwork long after the hike was over.
