OTISFIELD, MAINE | Twenty-nine students from the Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter (Maine) moved their classroom to the Seeds of Peace Camp from June 9 to 11.
The group deployed their skills across the Camp, making repairs, improving infrastructure, and preparing the facility for the summer.
This is the second year that Seeds of Peace and the Tri-County Technical Center have teamed up to provide students with an opportunity to make practical use their craft in a real-life setting, all the while taking part in a community service project.
“It is a special experience watching young people practice their skills, especially when there are moments of cross-learning,” said Seeds of Peace Assistant Camp Director Sarah Brajtbord.
Teams of students took on a range of tasks, including leveling the Dining Hall floor, redesigning bunk shutters, cleaning out culverts, and connecting above ground plumbing systems.
A student from the Certified Nursing Assistants program was on hand with first aid kits to treat any injuries, and culinary students took over the kitchen to prepare meals for their peers.
Every evening, Maine Seeds led discussions with the students about their experiences. The students learned what Seeds of Peace is doing to promote communication and understanding in high schools across Maine, and how they can advance change within their own communities.
“Once again, the Dexter Seeds have created another way for their Maine Seed peers to share the lessons learned from their involvement with the wider Seeds of Peace family,” said Maine Seeds Program Director Tim Wilson.
“It’s incredible that these teenagers wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet one another, just because they are from different ends of the state, and it’s even more powerful to see the ways in which they connect and learn from each other,” said Brajtbord.
“I can think of no better way to start off another summer at Seeds of Peace!”
The program is made possible by a George M. Briggs grant.