The recent Southwestern Raptor Club Spring Break trip was indeed a success. The club is headed up by Frances Carter who is a science teacher at Southwestern High School and co-sponsored by James Cox and Amal Clor, who are also science teachers. Over the course of this school year the Raptor club has been raising money with the goal of funding a Spring Break Trip. But it wasn't until the week of March 22nd through March 27th that our goal was officially met. Over a six day period club members were able to experience at least 15 different attractions in a total of seven different states.

On March 22nd at 7:00am we departed from the Southwestern parking lot on a chartered bus as our spring break trip began. On board were 29 club members, 3 sponsors, 8 parent chaperones, our tour guides, Louise Craig and her husband, Johnny, and our bus driver, Virgil Carr. As we drove to our first destination, we were all filled with the anticipation of a week full of fun and excitement.

We began our trip by traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee, where we enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Shoney's. Next we traveled to Sevierville Where we paid a visit to the American Eagle Foundation at Dollywood. Here we were able to see many rare and exotic birds including both Bald and Golden Eagles. Next we traveled to the nearby Rain Forest Adventures, where we were able to view a variety of snakes, lizards, and other reptiles and amphibians. We were also able to watch a presentation about many of these animals and how they live. After this we traveled to Gatlinburg, where we ate dinner at the Hard Rock Café. We later visited the Ripley's Aquarium and spent the night there in the shark tunnel. But I think I can speak for the rest of my fellow club members when I say that sleep is kindly scarce when you're watching sharks swim over you.

The following morning of March 23rd was a sleepy one as we boarded the bus and traveled to Oak Ridge where we visited the Clinch River Raptor Center another school sponsored raptor club. We later traveled to the Oak Ridge Atomic Museum where we saw many interesting science exhibits. Next we traveled to Nashville where we visited the Bass Pro shop at Opry Mills and later spent the night.

On March 24th the Raptor Club began the day by touring the Stone River National Battlefield and Courthouse. After this we traveled to Camden, Tennessee, Where we visited The Pearl Farm located at the Birdsong Resort and Marina on the Kentucky Lake. There we learned how pearls are cultivated. The Pearl Farm is the only  freshwater pearl farms located in the United States. Then we traveled to Jackson, Tennessee, where we ate at the Casey Jones Restaurant and spent the night.

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