Georgia Teacher Plans First Overnight Trip for 31 Students

Wes Massey watched his special education students miss out on the experiences other kids took for granted. No team jerseys, no overnight field trips, no cheerleading uniforms. So the Georgia teacher decided to change that reality for 31 students in his program.

Massey organized something most of his students had never experienced: their first overnight trip away from home. The destination was Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, Georgia, and families didn't pay a penny.

Through volunteer support and donations, Massey covered everything. Transportation, meals, lodging, and resort activities were fully funded. Multiple buses and support vehicles accommodated students with complex medical needs, including those requiring oxygen and feeding tubes.

The surprises started at check-in. Each student received gift cards to spend however they wanted, giving them the rare chance to make independent choices like buying their own lunch.

For many families, the activities were firsts. Students played putt-putt golf together, built stuffed animals at Build-A-Bear, and explored interactive games at the resort. Parents watched their children experience joys they'd worried might never happen.

The county sheriff personally escorted the buses during travel. The gesture showed how deeply the community supported these students and their families.

Sunny's Take

Massey's students are in Georgia's alternate assessment program, which serves children with significant cognitive disabilities. These kids rarely see their names on team rosters or get invited to sleepovers. Field trips, when they happen, usually mean day trips with heavy modifications.

What Massey created wasn't just a vacation. It was recognition. Every detail, from medical accommodations to gift cards for personal choices, sent the same message: you deserve this.

The trip required months of planning and coordination that most teachers would never attempt. But Massey saw families who needed someone to fight for their kids' joy.

Massey's words to families captured everything. "I know life has been hard and there have been challenges. But we are going to do everything we can to make sure you're included, you're important, and that you matter."

One teacher proved that inclusion isn't about lowering expectations. It's about raising the bar for what every child deserves to experience.