Math and Science Academy (MSA) sophomores participated in a three-day biology field trip to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.

The excursion lasted from April 9 to 11, 2025, with 22 students partaking in the unique event. 

Molecular biology teachers Jeremy Schratwieser and David Bostic, and astronomy teacher Michelle Bailey-Hennessey served as sponsors for the trip.

Attending students paid $1,000 to cover the flights, food and other fees.

“I decided to attend because it seemed like a great chance to experience something new and expand my comfort zone,” sophomore Eyad Bedawi said.

First introduced by Schratwieser over 20 years ago, the outing became a yearly event he highly recommends students to participate in.

“Our first field trip we did 20-something years ago was to Big Pine Keys for sea camp. We then transitioned to the Teton Science School in Jackson, Wyo,” Schratwieser said. “And then, when airfare became ridiculously expensive, we switched to the Tremont Institute for the past 15 years.”

Past participants strongly advocate for rising sophomores to try the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

“Between getting the opportunity to go on a once-in-a-lifetime class trip with my friends, getting to know more about a topic I’m interested in and being able to do all of it while doing something I love, it was a no-brainer,” sophomore and trip attendee Vivian Chambers said.

At the National Park, students went on hikes, researched the local wildlife and ecosystem, bonded around a campfire, investigated the night sky and visited a waterfall.

“My favorite part of the trip was the hike to the [water]falls because the scenery was breathtaking throughout the hike,” Eyad said.

Students also expanded their knowledge of the history of the Smoky Mountains National Park by visiting the local houses and churches, with guided instruction led by the sponsors and guides.

“You will not have these experiences inside the classroom,” Schratwieser said. “I can describe the Smoky Mountain ecosystem, but it will never come close to first hand experience and observation and being able to immerse yourself in the studies of salamanders, the aquatic invertebrates, the geology and in the history.”