Bridgeport Introduced Students to the Tennessee River and its History

A total of 295 students from Bridgeport Middle School participated in a day of kayaking safety and paddling instruction, lessons on Native American use of the river, Bridgeport’s role in the U.S. Civil War and more courtesy of a 2023 DEI Community Impact Grant from the Tennessee RiverLine. The event enhanced student understanding of the history, culture, recreational value and economic importance of the area. Image courtesy Tennessee RiverLine.

Bridgeport Middle School Students Learned the Importance of the Tennessee River to Their Community and Experienced it by Kayak

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Bridgeport, Alabama, was the recipient of a 2023 DEI Community Impact Grant from Tennessee RiverLine to support an event held on May 11, 2023. The event celebrated the area’s rich history and introduced Bridgeport Middle School students to outdoor recreation through paddling, advocacy and historical interpretation. It was a partnership between Russell Cave National Monument, the Tennessee Valley Civil War Roundtable, the City of Bridgeport and members of the South Pittsburg and Muscle Shoals Tennessee RiverLine Local Leadership Teams.

At Bridgeport Middle School, 73% of the student body participates in the National School Lunch Program and many of those students do not have access to river recreation. While middle school students in Bridgeport face a high degree of poverty, the May 11 event, made possible through grant funds, ensured socio-economic status was not a determining factor for a child’s engagement with their community’s cultural and historical assets.

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