Discipline in American high schools often brings up images of silent classrooms, missed recesses, and students serving detention by staring at the clock.
But at Morse High School in Bath, Maine, school counselor Leslie Trundy has flipped that narrative—literally taking it outdoors. In place of traditional detention, some students now find themselves lacing up their sneakers and heading into nature.
This novel idea was born after Trundy attended an outdoor education conference last fall. Inspired by the discussions about the mental and emotional benefits of time spent in nature, she returned to Morse High with a simple but innovative proposal: what if detention could be transformed from punitive isolation to restorative reflection—on a hike?
When students misbehave—whether it’s texting in class, skipping a lesson, or shouting at a teacher—they’re given a choice. Either take the traditional detention route or a trek through the scenic hills that surround their school. The result? Most opt for the hike.
During a recent outing joined by Maine Public Radio reporter Madi Smith, a group of freshmen and sophomores recounted why they were there. “Playing video games in class,” admitted Wyatt Wells. “Yelled at a teacher,” confessed Nicholas Tanguay. “Probably, like, skipping class,” said Elsie Nelson-Walling. These are common infractions, but their consequences at Morse are anything but typical.
Guided by Trundy, the students walk together along tree-lined paths and grassy trails, their punishment turned into an opportunity for fresh air, reflection, and even conversation.
This isn’t just about taking detention outside. According to the students, the hikes seem to bring a different energy—one that feels far from punitive. Nicholas Tanguay, who had lashed out at a teacher, found unexpected benefits in the exercise. He described the experience as focusing and calming, noting how the physical activity and sense of achievement helped clear his mind.
“Without admitting he felt his mental health improved,” Smith noted, “he believed it’s true that nature and walking can improve a person’s mentality.”
Even those not facing disciplinary action have joined the hikes. Sona Kipoy, a student whose family emigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, wasn’t there because of misbehavior. She simply wanted to “find herself.”
With poetic honesty, she said, “So you can just find yourself, yeah, I guess finding yourself in a forest is easier than in the city.”
While many students appreciate the approach, not all parents are on board. Some have withheld permission for their children to participate in the hikes, arguing that it doesn’t send a strong enough message about discipline. To them, detention should be unpleasant—a consequence that acts as a deterrent.
Trundy respects those concerns and doesn’t claim her hiking alternative is a proven cure-all. But she believes in its potential. She’s already looking ahead to next year, hopeful that this first group of participants will set a positive example for incoming students.
“I’m eager to start the program next year,” she said, “and see if any of her attendees this year prove to be role models for future freshmen.”
Whether this nature-based form of detention becomes a model for other schools remains to be seen. But in a world where youth mental health challenges are rising and school disciplinary systems are under scrutiny, Morse High’s experiment offers something refreshing—a way to walk off mistakes, both literally and figuratively.
In these quiet moments of movement and breath, students aren’t just being punished—they’re being given space to pause, reflect, and perhaps begin again.
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