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 Students Enjoy Picnic  Laurelbrook staff members, academy students, elementary students, some Laurelbrook Nursing Home residents, and at least one parent went to Falls Creek Falls State Park, the largest of the Tennessee state parks located about an hour west of Laurelbrook. The park is noted for two large waterfalls – Cane Creek Falls and Falls Creek Falls, which gives its name to the park itself.The vocational training program went on as usual until about 10:00 in the morning. At that point, most of the academy students went to their dorms or homes to change into picnic attire. About 10:30, they boarded vans for the ride to the park; the elementary students had their own van. About 12:00 noon, everyone started arriving at a picnic pavilion near park headquarters traditionally used by Laurelbrook.
As soon as cups could be obtained (somehow they were left off the picnic list), staff members, parents, and academy students ate lunch. Elementary students and some nursing home residents joined them for the meal. After lunch, students talked or played games until 2:00 p.m. (Eastern time). The nursing home residents left to return to the Laurelbrook Nursing Home.
At 2:00 Richard Schoonard collected the academy students and older elementary students, parents, and staff members who wished to go on the afternoon hike. After a few instructions and prayer, the group began the hike. Richard Schoonard led them on the traditional route – down the entrance road, across a campground, and across a swinging bridge to the park’s nature center (of course, some of the girls were not too sure about that bridge). After visiting the nearby facilities, the group viewed Cane Creek Falls and went to the nature center for a short video.
Then it was back across that special bridge and up the steep stairs to the trail to Falls Creek Falls. At the overlook, some rested while a hardy few descended down to the bottom of the falls. Everyone walked back to the picnic pavilion, played volleyball and basketball for an hour, ate supper, cleaned up, and listened to an extremely long talk by teacher James Brenneman (all of five minutes).
Academy and elementary students as well staff members and parents got back into their vehicles and returned to campus. It had been a clear but somewhat cold day. Everyone had – I think – a very good time.
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