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Hundreds of Vermonters, including students from nearly 20 high schools and colleges, came to Burlington last weekend for the annual Committee On Temporary Shelter, or COTS, Walk.

The three-mile route follows the course a homeless person might take to get shelter and services.

Approximately 30 CVU teachers and students— many of them in the school’s Key Club, a community service group—walked on May 2.

In May, students from nearly 20 high schools and colleges will join hundreds of other Vermonters in the annual Committee On Temporary Shelter, or COTS, Walk in Burlington.

“It’s just heartwarming and amazing to see so many teens participate,” said Lesli Blount, COTS Board chairwoman. “Every year they participate in great numbers.”

Blount said Rice High School normally has the largest attendance. Between 130 and 140 Rice students will participate this year, said Sarah Smith Conroy, who organizes the school’s participation.

At 9:45 a.m. Friday, Essex High School went dark.

Students and teachers in nearly every classroom joined in the school’s “Flick Off” event, switching off their lights for an hour to draw attention to climate change.

The event, organized by the school’s Environmental Club was about “making little everyday changes that can really impact the future,” said junior Shannon Murtha.

Burlington is a small city with wide diversity. It is home to families, college students, and professionals – as well as a large homeless population.

Champlain College allows its students and faculty to find out for themselves what it's like to be a part of the homeless population through a program called Tent City.

For the project, students give up all technology and luxuries for four nights and five days, sleeping outside for some or all of the week. Almost no one stays outside the entire time, George said.