Casco Bay High School Junior Journey 2019
Who are we?
We are Casco Bay High School's class of 2020. We are a group of driven, intelligent, curious, hopeful high school juniors. We seek to make a change in the world, and we need your help!
What is Junior Journey?
The mission of Junior Journey is to engage CBHS juniors in a one-week, cross-cultural learning experience that will expand students’ sense of their world through service and adventure learning. Past juniors have travelled to West Virginia, Mississippi, New York City, Detroit, and Millinocket to help communities rebuild after natural or economic disaster while also telling the untold and inspirational stories of locals through oral histories and documentary filmmaking. This year, the class of 2020 will be headed back to Millinocket for a week in April 2019, from the 6th to the 11th to continue to build connections in the Katahdin region and to study the effect that the decline of the paper industry has had on the local economy.
Why Millinocket?
We are going to Millinocket to study the effect that the reduction in forest products has had on the local economy, as well as to bridge gaps between rural and urban Maine. With the current nationwide political polarization, we wanted to begin to alleviate this in our home state. Millinocket is the perfect environment to do this in. While in Millinocket we will explore the rich natural beauty of the region, while also meeting with, and doing service with, various community members. Our hope is to gain perspective on issues affecting our state.
Prior to Junior Journey, the class of 2020 will spend time in our humanities classes examining current issues related to social and political change, and will explore ways to address these issues. Junior Journey will provide us with a chance to face the results of these injustices firsthand as well as to experience how we can make an impact.
FUNDING:
Buses, shelter, food . . . . There are many things that go into getting 100 students from Portland, Maine, to Millinocket, Maine, and back. And our teachers have not been shy about telling us the rule: no funds, no trip.
ANY donation, small or large, gets us one step closer to our goal of $2,000 raised through online funding. The entire trip will cost about $30,000, a generous amount of which has already been covered by a combination of grants, local fundraisers, and parent contributions. However, we still have a long ways to go, and are nowhere near where we need to be. As I mentioned, any amount is graciously appreciated!
Why should you care?
Because you know us. Well, you most likely don’t know all of us, but we are high school students, and you probably know some of those. You know how hard it is for high schoolers to learn in traditional settings, both socially and academically. Casco Bay High School’s Junior Journey is an amazing opportunity for students to put themselves out there and learn from the real world and real people, fostering real friendships along the way. Also, you know what it’s like to feel excited and inspired about the future of the world, and you care about exciting and inspiring youth, and giving the next generation an educational experience that will help shape them into motivated, intelligent leaders of tomorrow.
How can you help?
Besides donating the obvious way, we could use your help to spread the word about our campaign. Please share us on Facebook or Twitter or whatever you use, and tell a few friends to check us out. On behalf of the class of 2020, I thank you so much for your generosity and support.
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