Johns Creek HS Students Help Build Braille Nature Trail

As part of Global Youth Service Day, a group of students from Johns Creek High School gathered at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center on Saturday, April 27, to help design a Braille Nature Trail for the visually impaired.

A Braille Nature Trail is an outdoor nature trail with special features that enable the trail to be utilized by the visually impaired. The trails have guide ropes and posts so visitors can run their hands along them to follow the trail, as well as informative signs about the trail in both Braille and English print, according to a recent press release.

Led by 15-year-old Evan Barnard, the students took turns wearing blindfolds and writing down comments as they tested proposed sites for Braille signage along the trail.

"Many of the students were surprised at how difficult it was to walk along the trail when they were blindfolded, but they also realized how the interesting trail features, such as touching bark from different trees and listening to birds, can be appreciated without seeing them," said Barnard. "They also realized how difficult it would be if they were visually impaired and wanted to go outside and enjoy nature. This is why we are building this trail - to increase access for the visually impaired to enjoy the outdoors."

Barnard's goal is to build these trails in communities all over Georgia, as well as raise awareness of the need to provide increased access to the outdoors to those with disabilities. 

Barnard first had the idea to create a Braille Nature Trail when he was volunteering for the Nature Conservancy in Rome, Georgia at the Marshall Forest's Big Pine Nature Trail, the state's only Braille nature trail. Unfortunately, the trail had been vandalized and its Braille signs stolen, so Barnard helped install new signs and repair the trail, said the release. Hoping it would serve more visually impaired in the Rome area, he began working with the Georgia Council of the Blind, and soon learned how much the visually impaired loved the opportunity to have a place where they could go outdoors and safely enjoy nature. Barnard became determined to create more Braille nature trails in Georgia to increase access to more people, and set out to find potential locations and find funding for the Braille signs.

For his project with Johns Creek High School, Barnard was recently awarded a $1,000 Disney Friends For Change Grant. YSA (Youth Service America) - in partnership with Disney - provided 50 grants directly to young people around the country who seek to improve their communities through service.

The grant program supports youth-led projects that highlight the creativity and commitment of young people. Each youth grantee participated in Global Youth Service Day (April 26-28, 2013) the largest service event in the world. The grant was open to youth ages 5-18, and grantees hail from all across the country.

"I am truly honored. This grant gives me an incredible opportunity to make a difference in our community," Barnard said. "I have been working with members of the Georgia Council of the Blind for several years, and it really means a lot for the visually-impaired to have a way to experience nature. Even though they cannot see the birds or the trees, they can listen to the birds’ songs, hug giant trees to feel their bark and circumference, and touch a variety of surfaces from soft moss to textured rocks."

The grants are part of Disney Friends For Change, a program created to inspire kids and families to join together and make a positive impact on their world. Offered in collaboration with YSA, an international leader in the youth service movement, Disney Friends For Change Grants also include project planning resources to support the young grantees in leading community change and maximize the community impact of each service initiative. Grants are offered by Disney and managed through YSA, who will select recipients based on pre-determined criteria.

"These amazing youth will be able to make significant change in their communities through this Disney Friends For Change Grant," said YSA President and CEO Steven A. Culbertson. "We have selected some incredible projects that will have sustainable and positive effects on the lives of many people for future generations."

For more information about YSA – including YSA Grants, visit www.YSA.org.