Every year, the Cherokee Nation Co-Partner Program Youth Leadership Institute takes high school students on a two-week trip to learn about their history in East Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. The students receive intense historical training during the months before they leave for the trip and for the first two days of the trip.

While traveling, lessons in the Cherokee language, history and leadership are conducted by Institute teachers at stops along the way. The students then learn even more by taking tours of significant sites as they travel.

Janelle Adair, who was on her first trip with the Institute, said it was a lot for the students to take in. But, she said, touring the actual sites they were learning about made the history come alive.

“It means something to them because this really is their history,” she said.

The Youth Leadership Institute has been bringing students to sites in Monroe County for several years now. Each year, different students take the trip although some can return as interns. This year, in addition to 42 students, the group contained seven interns and 26 adults.

Adair said she enjoyed her time in Vonore and on the trip in general.

“Everyone has been really nice and accommodating,” she said. “We’ve had a really good time.”

melissa.kinton@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101