Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Marlinton was filled with sixth grade students last Wednesday who were on a hunt – a treasure hunt. The treasure hunt was part of the Nature’s Mountain Classroom Pocahontas Explores overnight adventures.
The students prepared for the treasure hunt by reading the book “River Rocks, A West Virginia Adventure Novel,” by Steve Kittner.
The book follows two friends who discover a map to missing gold and they embark on an adventure to seek the treasure.
Inspired by the book, the treasure hunt in Marlinton had groups of students go on their own adventure that took them from the Discovery Junction to the Pocahontas County Courthouse, mini-park, McClintic Library, Marlinton Town Office and more.
At the mini-park, the students were greeted by Kittner himself, who came in from Central Florida to participate in the adventure.
Kittner, originally from Elkview, said he was excited to work with the students and be part of the adventure that was inspired by his book.
When NMC director Tracey Valach reached out to order books for the students, she and Kittner began a conversation that led to his involvement in the program.
“It took a while for [Valach] to put things together for me to come up here, but she’s persistent,” he said. “She asked if I’d like to speak to the students and I said, ‘I could use a trip home,” and so here we are.”
Kittner and his son made the 14 hour drive the day before and were looking forward to being a stop on the big adventure.
As he spoke to the students, Kittner admitted that he wasn’t a big reader when he was younger, that is, until he was introduced to a book by a friend that changed his life.
“The book was ‘Where the Red Fern Grows,’” he said. “This was late middle school, maybe high school. I just didn’t take the time to read books, but that was the one for me. I couldn’t put it down. I recall reading it on the school bus and walking around with it. It was just one of those books.”
From that moment on, Kittner became an avid reader and really enjoyed adventure themed books.
Like he does with other hobbies, Kittner had a thought that maybe he, too, could become a writer.
“I’ve done that with a lot of hobbies,” he said. “I’m a big race fan, so I said, ‘I’d like to do that.’ I went to work on a race team for a few years. That’s me. I just want to go all in on this stuff.”
Kittner said he had a story idea and after eight years of fleshing it out, he released “River Rocks,” the first in a series of West Virginia based adventure and mystery books. It only took him nine months to complete the second in the series.
“I was on fire after I released the first one,” he said. “Now I’m five books in and I have all these ideas for future books.”
During the adventure, the students had to do research and follow clues to find their pieces of gold. At each station, if they got the clues right, they got their gold and moved on to the next station.
At the courthouse, the county clerk’s office helped them look through county records and at McClintic Library, they learned to peruse microfilm with libraries director Hallie Herold.
Outdoors, at the mini-park and down by the river, the students worked with Yew Mountain Center director Erica Marks and Kittner to learn about the flora and soil conditions of the environment, as well as discovering what their true passions are.
The students also learned about kitchen chemistry and Appalachian food from local chef A.J. Sharp; biking riding and trailside physics with Pocahontas Trails, the NICA team and SHARC; and about the Greenbrier Watershed and stream health from Amy Lovell, of the U.S. Forest Service.
Retired teacher Nancy Martin led the students in the craft of tying knots and making a monkey fist with paracord.
By the end of the day, the students had explored the history, environment and many activities they can experience right here in Pocahontas County. All with the help of a story about two boys seeking treasure in their West Virginia town.
