A high school swaps classroom detention for a nature hike, and the results are surprising

A new detention alternative in Maine is reshaping the way educators approach student discipline, offering young people a chance to reflect, calm down, and reconnect with nature instead of spending hours in a classroom.

At Morse High School in Bath, this innovative idea is transforming the concept of detention and inspiring other schools to rethink traditional forms of punishment.

A detention alternative that promotes growth

At Morse High School, students who break the rules are now given a choice: spend three hours in traditional detention or join the school counselor on a 3.5-mile hike.

This unique outdoor program combines physical activity and emotional awareness to help students learn from their mistakes more positively.

The initiative was created by school counselor Leslie Trundy, who wanted to mix outdoor learning with mental wellness.

After attending a conference on education and outdoor-based programs, she began to wonder if nature could help students open up more easily about their experiences.

Trundy believed that getting out of the classroom could give students space to think clearly and process their emotions while still taking responsibility for their actions.

During each hike, she incorporates mindfulness exercises. She encourages conversations about how students can better handle stress or conflict in the future.

“It’s been so incredible for me personally, making connections with students I wouldn’t normally get to talk with,” she told CBS 13. “Being a listener to them, finding out what’s important to them, kind of what’s going on in their lives.”

Turning detention into a lesson outdoors

The hiking program is not meant to be an easy escape from discipline.

The trail stretches 3.5 miles and includes steep hills and uneven paths that require effort and focus. Many students are surprised by how challenging it can be.

Trundy explained that for some students, walking the trail actually feels harder than sitting in detention.

“Sometimes the hike feels really like a punishment for them, even though they’ve chosen it,” she said.

She added that even though students see it as a better option, it still forces them to work through physical and emotional discomfort.

One student, Nicholas Tanguay, who received detention for yelling at a teacher, shared that walking gave him time to think and reset.

“It makes me have to, like, walk. It makes it makes you breathe heavily, obviously, and it feels like an accomplishment, almost,” the student said. “I think that maybe it’s also good for people’s mental health. I mean, in general, nature and hikes are just really good for people’s mentality. So…maybe you’ve had a bad day, the option to do this after knowing you have a detention means you have to dread it less.”

For students like Nicholas, the outdoor program offers something detention never could—a sense of achievement, reflection, and peace.

How this detention alternative highlights the power of outdoor education

The success of Morse High’s detention alternative has caught the attention of educators and parents who believe that spending time outside can be just as educational as time in the classroom.

Trundy has seen firsthand how the hiking program helps students open up emotionally while also promoting healthier coping habits.

She often includes readings of nature poetry and invites students to join the school’s outdoor club once their detention is completed.

Some students, inspired by their experience, have chosen to participate voluntarily in future hikes.

Experts say programs like this demonstrate how education can evolve to prioritize both emotional health and academics.

Spending time in nature has been proven to lower stress, boost concentration, and improve overall mood—all of which support learning.

For many young people, especially those struggling with behavior or attention issues, walking in the woods and breathing fresh air can help them reset.

Instead of feeling punished, they leave the hike with a sense of calm and renewed focus.

A healthier path forward

While not everyone agrees with this new approach, many educators view the detention alternative as a much-needed change in how schools address behavioral issues.

Some parents initially questioned whether hiking was too light a consequence, but Trundy’s results are hard to ignore.

She has noticed that students who participate in the hikes are less likely to repeat negative behavior afterward.

The outdoor program also gives her valuable time to connect with students in ways that wouldn’t happen inside a classroom.

Through the conversations and the shared challenge of the hike, she’s helping young people reflect on their choices and discover better ways to cope.

Morse High School continues to monitor the program’s impact, and the feedback received so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

The experience is not only changing how students think about detention—it’s also teaching them lifelong lessons about responsibility, communication, and self-care.

As Trundy’s work shows, sometimes the best lessons don’t happen behind a desk. They happen under the open sky, with steady steps, fresh air, and someone who listens.

Watch the CBS 13 News feature to see how this inspiring detention alternative is transforming student discipline and emotional growth.