It's a unique chance to be able to share the experience with others who come from all over. Pine Mountain Settlement School is really its own small community, with many of the staff living on the school grounds, and all of your basic necessities taken care of. It is a bit removed from towns and things that many people have access to everyday, but that is what makes it special. As an intern, it's a great chance to focus on yourself, and to take advantage of a chance to learn, and to simplify your life for a while. School groups stay for up to 5 days, learning all about the area and its inhabitants - both plants and animals of the region as well as the humans who have called southern Appalachia home.
All classes are hands-on and require a lot of class participation.
Through such activites, students are able to learn first-hand about their natural surroundings and what it took to settle the area. Other responsibilities include assisting with Appalachian folk dancing, leading night hikes and craft sessions, and the caretaking of the classroom reptiles. Interns also have access to the campus' facilities, including the many hiking trails, the grand piano in the Chapel, and the weaving looms. No prior knowledge of the subject matter is required, as interns are trained on-site to teach all classes. The most enjoyable part of Pine Mountain in my eyes are the people.