Kayla Hammond loves walking among nature.
The Columbia High School junior recently completed a project that will help others in the area who enjoy the outdoors: an interactive trail at the Columbia Water Park.
“I got the idea for the trail because as a child growing up we did a lot of camping and I always enjoyed walking the nature trails,” Hammond, the daughter of Doug and Angie Hammond of Columbia and granddaughter of Doyle and Anne Robbins and the late Harold and Phyllis Hammond, all of Columbia, said. “So I put the idea of repurposing items together and came up with an interactive trail. I know the children will learn about nature with hands-on learning. There is a reading circle at the end of the trail that would allow a group to sit down and discuss what they enjoyed on the trail and what they may have noticed.”
District 2 Supervisor Terry Broome, whose beat includes the park, said the quarter-mile trail is a welcome addition.
“We’ve wanted to get that area cleaned up,” he said. “She put a lot of effort into it and did a great job. It’s an excellent place for walking. I think when people get to know about it, it will be well used. Kids from school classes can come out and learn. I’m really proud of her efforts. We want people to know about it and then come out and use it.”
For Hammond, the project is one that is part of her working to earn the Gold Award, the highest available. Kayla has been a Girl Scout since she was in K5. She has already received the Bronze and Silver awards. The Gold Award project is to identify at least two parts of the Girl Scout Law and Promise, it is to target the community, and be sustainable for future generations.
“One way that I have put a part of the Girl Scout Law to work in my project is that I used my resources wisely,” Hammond said. “The name of the trail is ‘Think Outside.’ I’ve made stations for children to interact while walking the trail. I purchased very little material for these stations. I’ve repurposed at least 90 percent out of my dad’s junk pile. He says he doesn’t like to throw anything away because it can be used again one day.”
Included on the trail are a wind chime made out of an old trampoline frame, birdhouses made from old barn wood and even a part of an old hay rake that is used to hang a windmill form a tree. The benches have been have been made from slabs of cedar and other items of made of pecan wood. An old boat and four-wheeler tires can also be found along the way. Along with the interactive play stations are also informative markers, including a snake chart, bird chart, leaf chart and several tree markers.
“My favorite spots of the trail are the river overlook and the tunnel, which are trees that are naturally woven together,” Hammond said. “Every school has something on the trail in their school colors so children can look for that and there are even a few trees with faces that they can look hard to find.”
The trail is roughly a quarter-mile long from the nature trail sign and back to the sign.
“It’s a beautiful trail for walking,” Hammond said. “It starts at the first bridge in the Water Park. You go straight down the trail on the left and it will circle back around and put you at the same bridge where you began.”
Hammond is also busy aside from the Girl Scouts and her project. She is a member of First Baptist Church and is active in the youth group and Acteens, and was chosen for the Mississippi Baptist All-State Youth Choir. At CHS, she is involved in archery, has been in two musicals, is a member of the Diamond Girls, Dustys, Key Club, Beta Club, Tri-M, class representative, Crown Club, color guard, and choir, where they performed at Carnegie Hall this past spring.
Hammond said that with the help of her parents and many others the trail was ready to enjoy. She sent thanks to all of those involved and mentioned several companies and individuals that helped her including All Phase Dirt Work & Services, L&W Glass, Relevant Design Advertising, employees of the Columbia Post Office, Doyle Robbins, Coy Bell and Brandon Bell, Christian McCance, photographer, Elizabeth Knight and anonymous donations.
“I’ll be sending out information packets to all of the schools in the county so they will be aware of this trail and maybe they will use it for a mini field trip one day,” Hammond said. “The Columbia Water Park is beautiful and has a lot to offer. I hope that some will take advantage of one of Columbia’s best-kept secrets and get out and ‘Think Outside.’”
Pictured Above: Kayla Hammond poses for a photo at the beginning of the “Think Outside” trail she developed at the Columbia Water Park as part of a Girl Scout project. | Photo by Christian McCance
