From the Trails to College: Theresa Copenhaver Transitions from Mountain Alliance to NC State

Members of Mountain Alliance visit Savannah, Georgia to learn more about the environment and spend valuable time outside. From left to right, top row Evelyn Whitmore, Anneliese Daugherty, Thang Pham, Samuel Cheves, bottom row Olive Malay, Zadie Meier, Eleanor Connell, Theresa Copenhaver, Maddox Gerrish, and William Lynn. Photo creds: Theresa Copenhaver

Carrie Bradbury, Review Desk Lead

In the age of social media, video games, and other technology-driven activities, younger generations have lost sight of what makes the environment special and worth protecting. Many teenagers have forgotten the value of simply spending time outdoors, but not all. Navigating school work, sports, and social life often leaves students feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from their environment, but Watauga High School offers an outlet. 

Senior Theresa Copenhaver and her fellow Mountain Alliance members have chosen to take a different approach to their teenage years. Turning away from their phones and computers, these high school students aim to spend as much time outside as possible, even going as far as taking trips into outdoor places for long periods of time, leaving their phones at home. Copenhaver is far from the first to find this club special, but she has formed a deep connection to it during her time at the high school.

“I had siblings who were involved in it. I heard about it through them, so that sparked my interest. Once I was actually in it I realized that the people in this group are amazing and they do stuff for amazing causes,” said Copenhaver. “They really help kids go out of their shells and help them evolve into the people that they become, and I just fell in love with it.”

Personal growth and evolution are the main focus of Mountain Alliance, as the club assists each student in learning about different aspects of the environment through trips and service projects. Service trips require students to take a break from technology, dedicate themselves to worthwhile work, and put others before themselves, enhancing their understanding of both community and the environment.

“There are certain trips that they do that are with service. I know they help out with the Hospitality House a lot. On certain trips, like overnights, they go to different places and do things like pantry service or clean-ups,” said Copenhaver. “And then they have one big service day a year, it's called Youth Service Day, and it's a day where there’s a bunch of different groups that are out helping around Watauga County, and they help clean up.”

Spending this intentional time to dedicate oneself to serving others, especially with activities connected to the environment, helps these students see different perspectives and meet different people, ultimately strengthening their understanding of themselves. 

“I’ve seen so many people grow and even just from one trip or one instant where they see where they’re going and see what changes need to be made to become themselves,” said Copenhaver.

For Copenhaver, watching the growth within others and identifying it in herself is one of her favorite parts of Mountain Alliance. By being a member of the club, she has witnessed firsthand the impact that people have on the environment, even from the smallest actions. 

“Specifically, over break this year, we were in the Everglades, and we were going snorkeling, and they were like you have to wear mineral sunscreen because it is one of the last living coral reefs,” said Copenhaver. “It was really eye-opening to see that so many of these places that we go to are damaged. How can such little things that we think about ruin them, like sunscreen?”

Asking ourselves these questions helps everyone to gain a greater understanding of humans' role within the environment, especially as it relates to climate change. It can at times feel overwhelming when thinking about climate change and what the future holds for the environment, but taking small steps to be more conscious of one's day-to-day actions can make the future feel less daunting. 

”I think living by that leave no trace ideal and rule just helps you become more connected to nature, and care about it more,” said Copenhaver. “I also just think it's a good rule of thumb to go by.”

Mountain Alliance is the perfect bridge between high school and college. While Copenhaver is continuing her passion for the environment through her school studies in paper science and chemical engineering, she is also taking with her the lessons learned about other people, the community, and the greater environment. 

“Right now I am going to NC State, and I am a chemical engineering focus, but I am probably going to dual major in paper science and chemical engineering because they have a program where you can do that,” said Copenhaver. “That can help with coming up with sustainable ways to make paper.” 

There is no doubt that education is an incredibly important step in order to better understand what is happening in the environment, what the role of people is in that shift, and what can be done to make those concerns less severe. However, equally important is transitioning the ideals learned in school into real life.

“The environment itself is so sensitive to so many things that people don’t realize on a daily basis,” said Copenhaver. “Learning about certain little things that are in the environment that control it, such as a food web or just how that environment works, shows that not having a good green footprint can really change how that environment works and how it is harmed by humans.”