The Cape Hatteras Secondary School Class of 2026 hit the road last week for a long-awaited senior trip, capping three years of planning and fundraising with two days of adventure and hands-on learning in central North Carolina.
According to class sponsor and CHSS teacher Evan Ferguson, the idea for the excursion began when the students were in ninth grade.
“As Freshman, they decided to take it upon themselves to organize a Senior trip since they had not been on a field trip since 5th grade,” Ferguson said. “For the past three years, they have worked hard to fundraise to meet this goal.”
The group spent the first day at the North Carolina State Fair, where seniors toured agricultural and science exhibits and explored displays tied to the state’s cultural heritage.
Ferguson noted that the setting offered a first-time opportunity for most of the class.
“The North Carolina State Fair offers an array of educational experiences in agriculture, science, and the state’s cultural heritage. Most students in the class had yet to visit the NC State Fair and it was not only educational but enjoyable.”
On the second day, the trip continued at the Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park in Wake Forest, where students took part in aerial challenges designed to build confidence and teamwork.
“The GoApe Zipline and Adventure Park in Wake Forest offered a unique opportunity for our students to step outside their comfort zone and challenge themselves in an outdoor environment, all while bonding as a group,” Ferguson shared. “Coming from Hatteras Island, our students are often sheltered from experiences that expose them to diversity and challenges outside the norm. Adventure-based fitness encourages students to trust themselves and their abilities—lessons that will translate into everyday life and their future selves.”
The Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund provided support through a grant to help make the trip possible, noting that this class did not receive an eighth-grade field trip like many other groups.
Photos of the October 16-17 adventure are below.
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