Hike brings out the best in Countryside third-grader

One student, 8-year-old Conrad French, raised the bar of courage and leadership this summer with his discipline and determination.

Each year, the school takes a group of campers to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for its Camp Free Spirit. There, campers learn about the core values of Countryside, such as respect, honesty, caring, environmental awareness and sportsmanship.

The trip features whitewater rafting and storytelling and is capped off by a challenging hike to a waterfall.

"It is a good 4 miles in and 4 miles back," said Mustang athletic director Nick Nichols. "The first 2 miles are pretty flat, but the next mile is a steep incline. If that third mile is steep, the last mile is straight up. You are literally hanging onto trees to pull yourself up. It is grueling and demanding."

Nichols said it is so demanding, if it has recently rained, they do not even attempt the hike.

Conrad, a rising third-grader, was attending his fourth Countryside camp this summer. He has a rare birth defect, skeletal dysplasia, a bone condition in which bones and some connective tissues abnormally develop.

His father, Michael French, said they have seen doctors from Tokyo to Berlin. There is no known cure.

Because of the disorder, Conrad's left arm won't fully extend, and his foot sticks out to one side, but otherwise he is an active third-grader. He plays on an in-house basketball team at Countryside, skateboards, rides his bike, is a scout archery member and does not use his condition as an excuse for anything.

"Everything for Conrad is a challenge," said Michael French. "The thing with my son is that he has more determination in his pinkie finger than the average NFL player has in their whole body. He gives 1,000 percent effort in everything that he does."

Now for the good news

I judge a theater by its popcorn, so I went the purist route, ordering a midsized tub of buttered popcorn ($5.50). I received a small cardboard box filled 2/3 full with dry, stale popcorn. When I asked for butter on top, the cashier said they don’t serve it at the counter, but she’d go in the kitchen and find something to pour on top. Another mistake. The rancid-flavored topping leaked through the  slit-bottomed box and all over the tray, chair and my pants.

My daughter picked the Raspberry Chesecake Brulee ($9), which was certainly better than the popcorn, but still mushy, oversweet and of modest size for the price.

Now for the good news.

The auditoriums more than live up to the “Luxury Cinemas” name.

The large, wide, electronically controlled leather recliners are comfy enough to sleep in, have drink cups, tray tables, armrests, waiter call buttons and little lamps so you can read the menu and dig through your purse for a tip when the waiter delivers your overpriced cheesecake.

The chairs are also paired in twos with a center armrest that can be raised if you want to snuggle. And the chairs are far enough apart from the next set of seats that you won’t be bothered by any distractions.

The Cinepolis staff is unfailingly polite and ultra-quiet, including the young waiter who brought me two rounds of napkins for cleaning up the butter mess. And the sound and video quality in the auditoriums is excellent.

We saw “Captain America” with fancy wraparound 3-D glasses and I can say it’s the first time I’ve enjoyed a 3D film all the way through.

Cinepolis isn’t cheap, but it does offer a lot if you’re there to watch a movie in style. It’s a fun grown-up date locale, too.