Palmetto Trail

Class XXIX had a very successful project in terms of funds raised, media coverage, and magnitude of the project. They created a multisensory trail for the visually impaired at the Houston Arboretum. The Palmetto Trail gives the vision-impaired a rare opportunity to do what the sighted take for granted: experience and learn about nature in solitude. The trail is also a great educational tool for fully-sighted participants to learn about our natural environment and how to better utilize senses other than sight. The Palmetto Multi-Sensory Trail is the first of its kind in the southern United States, which has the largest visually impaired population at an estimated 10.2 million people. The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center encourages school and family groups to use the trail to educate young and old people alike about nature, the environment, visual impairment and overcoming physical challenges using the other senses. The class set a Leadership Houston record by raising $67,000 for the construction and future maintenance of the trail.