Blind Morristown Teen Rafts Through Grand Canyon

Andrew Chin achieved more in the month of June than most of his peers will complete during their entire high school career.

The Morristown teen spent 12 days in June taking part in the 2014 Global Explorers Leading the Way program to the Grand Canyon. Twenty teens nationwide were selected for the program; 13 with sight, and seven who are blind. Chin was one of the seven.

Chin and his 19 peers completed five conference calls where they discussed topics such as Grand Canyon history, leadership and service learning. The students also completed assignments in conjunction with the Natural Sounds Division of the Natural Park Service, according to the Leading the Way program.

The team then rafted the upper half o the Colorado River, conducted service on the canyon rim with Grand Canyon National Park Rangers, and hiked slot canyons accessible from the river.

Chin’s southwestern adventure capped a month where the Morristown High School graduating class presented the student with a check for $500 to help him accomplish an Eagle Scout project in which the teen would place Braille signage throughout the school’s building to help visually impaired classmates.

Chin will be a sophomore at Morristown High School in September.