Parents, students, and teachers from schools in Amherst, Pelham and Shutesbury walked 20 kilometers up and down waterlogged terrain, skirting overflowing rivers that encroached upon the Robert Frost Trail. The event usually draws larger crowds of 200-300 participants, and many volunteers attributed this year's low turnout to the rain.
Volunteers staffed checkpoints along the walk. They made sure no one lost the trail and offered apples, pastries, popcorn and water to the participants. "Throughout the walk event, I monitor checkpoints, walkers, and especially this year, make sure that the conditions of the walk route are safe for walkers," said walk coordinator Jayne Lovett.
This year's course was re-routed to end at the ABC house located at 74 North Prospect Street in order to encourage participants in the walk to meet the ABC students and tour the newly-renovated ABC House. Associate Dean of Admissions Michael Hawkins serves as the current president of the Amherst ABC chapter.
The ABC Walk took months of planning. Committees handled marketing strategies, distributed written materials to local schools and solicited food donations from businesses.
Professor of English and Russian Dale Peterson has been involved with the walk for many years. "My role in this event is rather unusual. For the last 15 years or so I have driven a College truck fully loaded with tables and chairs which get distributed all over town at the various checkpoints on the Walk trails," he said. This year, Peterson was joined by Associate Professor of Psychology and Dean of New Students Allen Hart who helped him with distribution.
Peterson and his wife, Lorna, have served on the board of Amherst ABC for 25 years. "There is nothing like a fair playing field in the funding for public education in the U.S. today and too many talented minority youngsters live in the districts which receive the least support. We can't do much to change the national picture, but we have changed a number of lives," he said.
Hart also has a longtime involvement with ABC. Since there was an ABC house in his native Williamstown, Hart is familiar with the program.
Before he became dean at the College, Hart presided over the board of Amherst's ABC chapter for four years. "To make this a strong program, we need scores of people: for daily maintenance, tutors, people to fix the roof and host families," said Hart.
ABC is a highly competitive, national program that provides room and board for eight male students, ages 15-18, at the ABC house. They receive a quality education at Amherst High School, a Kaplan SAT prep course and a chance to bond with an assigned host family during their four-year stay.
College students tutor and mentor the ABC students Sunday through Thursday during the school year.