Members of the Clarke Central High School Wild Women Outdoors club pose around a campfire during the 2025-26 fall semester camping trip at Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area in Lakemont, Ga. on Oct. 11, 2025. WWO has attended three camping trips since its formation in September 2024, with their fourth camping trip coming up at LRBRA from April 4-6, which was planned by co-sponsors CCHS English department teacher Meg Vanderbilt and Mental Health Counselor Zadie James-Driskell. “I want, first and foremost, (for) people to understand that the outdoors is there for you and (that) you belong,” Vanderbilt said. “As much exposure as people can get to the outdoors, (the better). Feeling safe and confident (outdoors) is super special.” Photo courtesy of Meg Vanderbilt
From April 4-6, 15 CCHS Wild Women Outdoors club members will attend their spring camping trip, organized by co-sponsor and CCHS English department teacher Meg Vanderbilt.
In hopes of making female Clarke Central High School students more comfortable outdoors, Wild Women Outdoors club co-sponsor and English department teacher Meg Vanderbilt will take 15 club members on their spring camping trip to Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area from April 4-6.
WWO began in September 2024, and the club has attended three camping expeditions since. To plan every trip, Vanderbilt created a Google form to indicate interest, and from there, determined materials and itinerary. The trip will include hiking, swimming in a lake and a team scavenger hunt where groups of three will be assigned at random to carry out tasks like cooking, cleaning and gathering firewood.
“In the past, we’ve had bigger groups, so it’s (been) hard for everybody to mix together, but we (only) have 15 girls going this time. So, we’re going to do a group competition,” Vanderbilt said. “Planning (the competition), since (it’s) a new thing, has been fun and time consuming. Now that (we’re on) our fourth camping trip, (it’s) gotten a lot easier and a lot less stressful because (we) know what to expect.”
“I think it is important for WWO to host camping trips because it’s a way to connect with new people and a great way to explore new interests and hobbies.”
— Faye Skelton,
CCHS WWO member and sophomore
WWO member Faye Skelton, a sophomore, joined the club during the fall semester of the 2025-26 school year and decided to attend the upcoming trip after hearing of previous ones.
“I decided to go on this (camping trip) because Mrs. Vanderbilt always (talks) about how much fun they are. I am looking forward to camping with my best friend, (CCHS sophomore Evan Mojock), and meeting new people,” Skelton said. “I think it is important for WWO to host camping trips because it’s a way to connect with new people and a great way to explore new interests and hobbies.”
This camping trip will be WWO co-sponsor and CCHS Mental Health Counselor Zadie James-Driskell’s second with the club, and she is hoping participating students gain more experience with camping in a safe environment.
“(I’m hoping the students gain a) greater connection with each other, especially in an environment that’s not school, (and feel) comfortable in an outdoor setting. People learn to fear what they don’t know, and I don’t think we should be afraid of (the) outdoors,” James-Driskell said.
