If you’re like me, you’ve probably never heard of Casco Bay, Maine. You probably didn’t know they have some of the best water in America or that every year they take their high school juniors on an excursion trip. This week I got to spend six hours a day with about 100 different students from Casco Bay High School in Maine doing volunteer work for RecoveryPark. I wasn’t sure what to expect initially, I mean, what image comes to your mind when you think of students from Maine? Perhaps sheltered? Maybe misguided? Forced by their teachers to go on some heroic journey to a far-away city they would never visit on their own. After spending time roughly 30 hours with these students and staff I’ll tell you what comes to my mind, willing.

They were willing to step out of their comfort zones and come to a city they’ve only heard negative things about on the news. They were willing to engage local residents that didn’t look or talk like they did. They were willing to move nearly 100 illegally dumped tires filled with filthy water and even made a game out of it. By the end of the week the news had spread, and these students appeared on Fox 2 News for a brief segment talking about their experience in Detroit. Residents from around the neighborhood came by to thank them for the volunteer work. Truckers took different routes to show their appreciation and our inbox at RecoveryPark is now booming with volunteer request.

I had a chance to speak with many of the students in small groups or individually and was continually impressed with their level of eagerness and intelligence. One student shared with me how she started a movement called “The Yellow Tulip Project” centered around promoting hope and happiness after losing two friends to suicide. Another student talked about the trip they won to Russia after winning an essay contest. A few of the students were skilled in commercial art and others had their own desires to run businesses. One thing they all shared however was the youthful hope and imagination that many of us lose as we progress through life.

As I had mentioned each year Casco Bay takes their juniors on an excursion trip and this year they chose Detroit. They did documentary work and explored a city which has seen immense change in the past few years. From the moment they first got off the bus, peaking into abandoned buildings like they just stepped into a war zone. Until the last time I saw them, wide eyes and telling me how much they loved Detroit and wanted to stay in touch. The students of Casco Bay did not approach Detroit with a savior’s complex. They probably won’t see much monetary reward for their hard work and documentation. But the reward they will receive is realizing they’ve become a catalyst for hope and pride in the neighborhood in which they chose to volunteer in. From the residents of the Chene Ferry neighborhood, to myself, thank you Casco Bay.

Here’s a link to the video and article from Fox 2 News: http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/247969146-story