After a long and stressful day of classes, my classmates and I decided we needed a break from campus. We headed to Kenna Cartwright Park, hoping the fresh air and quiet trails would help us relax. At first, the walk was exactly what we needed—the trees, the open space, and the peaceful atmosphere helped clear our minds.

But after a while, we realized we had wandered off the main trail. Nothing around us looked familiar, and every turn seemed to lead us deeper into the park. Instead of panicking, we tried to stay calm and practical. We began taking photos of the spots we passed so we could track our steps, and we used our phones to search the trails online. Comparing our pictures to trail maps and images from other hikers helped us slowly understand where we were.

Piece by piece, we figured out our location and even spotted shortcuts that led us back to the entrance. The moment we recognized our starting point, we all felt relieved—and a little proud of ourselves.

By the end of the hike, we realized we didn’t need to be scared. There are so many online tools available—maps, photos, and guides—that make navigating the trails much easier than we expected. That experience made us more confident and excited to explore more of the park, especially now that we know how helpful a simple guide map can be.