From Josh P. (15 years old from Asheville, NC):

We were very anxious about our next guide who we had heard little about.  As we pulled up to Birmingham Civil Rights Institute there was a very tall black man who was dressed in a stylish green polyester suit. This was Mr. Colonel Stone Johnson our much-anticipated new guide. Although quiet with his low voice at times, he was like a civil rights history that was overflowing with lore.  It just seemed amazing to me that the actual ground we were standing on was where all these historical protests and bombings occurred just 40 years ago.  It was as if we were walking in the same footsteps as the civil rights activists through the words of the Colonel.

We took a walk around a park dedicated to the lives lost to the struggle for civil rights, it was known as the Freedom Walk.  There were many thought provoking and frightening statues placed all around.  It really had an impact on me and made me think about the lives lost and tears shed through the civil rights era.

After a 2-hour history lesson by our awesome Colonel, we headed to the Mellow Mushroom to grab something to eat. Everyone seemed to love the environment of the free spirited pizza restaurant. It was very good and filled us all up very nicely.

Later we went back to the hotel where the love grew even more through activities. All the guys took a Frisbee outside and chilled.  Who knows what the girls did. We ended the day with a debriefing where we all shared a little something about the day and how we felt the trip is going so far.  It was a good note to end on.

One last note is that the love in this group is just great!  It is as if we have been together for at least a month by now based on how we act. I feel grateful to be part of such a close family and I can already tell that this is going to be an awesome summer.