Previous trips were to Alaska. This one is to build a house for Habitat for Humanity in Kuaii, in Hawaii. It’s the relatively untouristed area. We’ll be in sleeping bags in a recreation center. I’m bringing an air mattress.

The group, Stony Knoll Youth Services,  is described at http://www.stonyknollyouth.org/articles/alaskatrip.htm. I hosted a delegation for a bbq last summer when they presented their experiences to a national drug court conference in Boston.

The other chaperones are Danny, a cop, a counselor and I think the cop’s wife.

This is a donations-driven trip and Danny’s Harvard law connections have brought in the plane fare, so they’re still fundraising for food, etc. On our off days we’ll be doing whale count, hiking, the whole volcano scene…mostly ecological stuff. We work five days and are off two. It’s for two weeks

The Alaska connection

One interesting thing is some youths from the Alaskan village (Indian village) where the group has forged ties on previous trips are hooking up in Hawaii. We’re coming from 3 corners of the US, counting me.

There is a cost, of course, as I don’t have paid vacation like the others, but I would never see Hawaii in my lifetime otherwise and this is pretty much the real Hawaii that I’d like to see.

My responsibilities are, other than swinging a hammer, to focus on helping the yoots with journaling and I hope some of that will be video; also some media to help the cause. I’ll be the group photographer.

Its own website is largely incomplete which is why I had to link you to an old newspaper article. It is a 501c3 charity.

Further donations directly to Stony Knoll would be welcome. Stony Knoll Youth Services (SKYS) is a charitable corporation as defined under IRS 501(c)(3).

As such, all contributions are tax deductible. Questions or donations may be directed to SKYS in care of:

145 Stony Knoll Road

El Cajon, CA 92019

carlaanddanny@cox.net

619-887-0109

Besides the travel, I get to help two nonprofits at once. I guess I kind of have to help the Habitat house going up in Sturbridge next year to salve my conscience a little for bailing out on winter.

Big Fun Cleveland!

Two Bobs and a Robot singing James Brown

I feel good
like I knew that I would.
I feel good
like I knew that I would now.
So good.
So good.
Cuz I got you — bum-bum-bum-bum-
baaaaah!

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