UrbanPromise: Camden, NJ

2008-04-01T12:02:00.002-05:00

UrbanTrekkers on their Everglades National Park Eco Tour...It's only after a trip like this, reading student journals, looking at our pictures and videos that I begin to realize how much I've challenged and stretched my students. One week of hiking, swamp walks, canoeing, snorkeling, lectures, early wake-ups and early lights out is an extraordinary adventure...not necessarily a vacation for them or our adult leaders. But I know this...we keep on doing it because something very special is happening. Enjoy our pictures.

Peace for there is joy in the journey,
Mr. C

2008-04-01T11:39:00.003-05:00

Sixteen students and five adults trekked to the Everglades national Park for the annual Trekkers Eco Tour. It was my hope to inspire a sense of wonder about the regions natural treasures. By giving my students an up close and tactile experience with this endangered eco-system; so rich in bio-diversity they will hopefully be better able to understand our role as caretakers and what it means Biblically "to have dominion over" all the flora and fauna.

2008-04-01T08:51:00.004-05:00

Tag, You're it! For most of us a simple childhood game played in our own backyards as children. The UrbanTrekkers were exuberant as they dashed about the lush subtropical yard/garden at the Florida City Everglades Hostel. With its Gumbo-Limbo trees, palms, and wild orchid plants it looked like a tropical jungle compared to the streets of Camden. They welcomed their free time. Our days were starting early with full schedules of learning and exploration and I had taken them way outside of their comfort zones.

2008-04-01T08:36:00.002-05:00

UrbanTrekkers posing under a Strangler Fig during their 2008 Everglades Eco Tour.

2008-03-27T15:33:00.001-05:00

Meet our new executive director...

Dear Friend,

I have great news! This past year UrbanPromise has grown exponentially. Media attention has provided opportunities to share our story and success to a broader audience. Involvement of volunteers has increased over ten fold. New programs have been initiated. Amazing…all of it!

This dynamic growth has pushed our existing administrative infra-structure to the limits, challenging me to rethink how to best organize for this next chapter of organizational growth.

After serving as Executive Director for 20 years, the board and I both felt the need for me to relinquish the day-to-day administrative operations to someone more specifically gifted in those areas. As of February 4th, 2008 the board of directors has shifted my role to President of UrbanPromise Ministries.

My time will now be spent providing ministry vision and strategy, speaking publicly, recruiting volunteers, providing staff pastoral care, writing and securing the resources needed to ensure a healthy and prosperous future for our work in Camden. I am excited about being released from some of my management duties and freed to focus on these new areas.

To manage the day-to-day operations I am delighted to welcome Bernetta Millonde. Bernetta comes to UrbanPromise from Farleigh Dickenson University where she has served as Vice President of Enrollment Management. She has also worked in higher education administration at Drexel University and the University of Southern California and has 15 + years of organizational management experience.

One of her former colleagues wrote, “Bernetta is never at a loss to praise her staff for a job well done. She seeks opportunities for staff to learn new skills and encourages all efforts to grow and progress. She is consistent, fair, and even-tempered. Bernetta sees leadership as empowering, not controlling; she gets the job done with grace and humor, and even makes the coffee once in a while!” What a wonderful testimony from a former employee.

Thanks for all your support and encouragement over the years. I can assure you that the addition of Bernetta to our team will only strengthen our outreach to children, teens and families in Camden. I will keep you posted

Blessing,

Bruce Main
President, UrbanPromise Ministries

2008-02-27T11:08:00.003-05:00

Mini-Urban Plunge Seminarians Visit Camden
by Russell Carstens

In October, thirty-six Princeton Seminary students from Professor Kenda Dean’s advanced youth ministry course went on a retreat to Camden, New Jersey, with Urban Promise, a non-profit urban ministry group that instills leadership skills in young people. Urban Promise is led by PTS graduate Bruce Main (D.Min. ’03). The students observed Urban Promise “to get a feel for urban ministry,” said Tonya Lawrence, a second year dual-degree student who did her field education in Camden with the group last summer.

Susan Tindall, another student on the retreat, described it as a “mini-urban plunge,” and said it was “applicable to what we’d like to accomplish somewhere in the world.”

According to camconnect.org, Camden has made the list of the most dangerous cities in the United States since 1998, and was ranked as the number one most dangerous city in 2004. As an area that is home to young people who are susceptible to the negative aspects of their surroundings, Camden was an effective place for seminarians to observe urban ministry. Urban Promise began its mission in 1988 to keep Camden youth off the street, and “equip (them) with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth, and Christian leadership,” said Main.

Dean explained, “The best learning doesn’t happen in a classroom. The transformative learning theory says that paradigm shifts start with a ‘disorienting dilemma’- something that throws us off our game, pulls us out of our comfort zones, and forces us to scan for new solutions. Many of us experienced our time in Camden as disorienting and powerful. We went there to dismantle ‘white suburban youth group’ assumptions about youth ministry, and to see what meaningful ministry looks like when you are young, urban, and poor.”

The students attended a worship service on Friday evening led by youth groups from several Camden churches and Urban Promise members. It was a unique combination of sermon, worship, and praise, with dance to different forms of music played live that Lawrence described as “quite energetic; they were in their element.”

Tindall added, “It was an incredible worship service and full of life. You could tell that they loved that time of being together.”

Saturday morning, the students spoke with people involved in Camden to gain insight about ministry with people “in a blighted or oppressed situation,” said Lawrence. That afternoon, they spent one-on-one time with Urban Promise teenagers to get their points of view on life in Camden, and their understanding of God. Although they have pride in where they come from, many of these teens grow up feeling stuck because they’re not exposed to the possibilities of life outside their hometown. They spoke passionately about pursuing their college education outside of Camden, then coming back to help fix the brokenness of that community. With little or no opportunity, “they have to somehow find a way both to grow up in their community and to keep themselves away from it,” said Adam Gorman, a first year dual-degree student.

The Seminary class also took part in an Urban Promise alumni/ae discussion panel with people who had grown up in the program, some of whom came back after college to work in Camden. Tindall said the youth spoke openly about how Urban Promise demonstrated grace by helping them with school when they needed it, and not making them leave the group if their grades suffered. The panel pointed out how Camden youth, like all young people, want to be a part of a group, and are easily susceptible to joining a gang. They explained that Urban Promise is a family where they have a lot of fun, and goodness and love holds them together. Many Urban Promise alumni/ae have gone on to work in gratifying jobs that help people, such as in homeless shelters or welfare offices.

The PTS students took a tour of the city that night, which gave them an idea of the changes in Camden, where businesses once thrived but are now gone. Lawrence said she learned that students in the city have high aspirations, but the area schools lack the resources to help them reach their goals. Without a structure of support to help youth succeed, some of the students may drop out, and the positive direction that urban ministry provides is key to keeping them on the right path.

Reflecting on the retreat, Main said, “There is a wonderful Haitian proverb that says, ‘We see from where we stand.’ Spending a weekend in Camden, meeting youth from the city, and listening to other ministry practitioners I hope gave PTS students a unique perspective on ministry in an urban environment. It was dynamic-I sensed a high level of engagement and excitement.”

Although the weekend was short, it was valuable to the students who attended. Gorman said, “Urban Promise is not just a place where kids can be safe and learn about God, but they actually work for God. They build their faith by being the hands and feet of Christ. It’s a place that gives them hope.”

Tindall feels that Urban Promise has “built local leadership through the gospel message, and started a new wave of hope that is so different from anything I’ve seen before.”

Urban Promise helped Lawrence understand that keeping regular contact with those she works with is key to successful urban ministry. “Maybe youth group once a week isn’t enough. I see ministry with teens as being a daily, or frequent interaction,” she said. Overall, she learned that she wants to “help those I work with shape their identity and find their goals and purpose for their future through an effective, goal-oriented education. I know from this weekend that it needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

2008-01-21T19:12:00.001-05:00

The UrbanPromise eight grade class decides to send money raised for their class trip to help the people of Malibu Presbyterian Church, instead.

This past October I watched angry and aggressive flames sweep down the Malibu Hills of Southern California and encircle Pepperdine University. The ferocious winds whipped the fire into frenzied, terrifying destruction.

My good friend, Greg Hughes, is the pastor of Malibu Presbyterian Church— located across the street from the Pepperdine campus. His church has been a long time supporter of UrbanPromise Ministries. Greg’s dynamic university outreach program attracts students from Pepperdine and challenges them to serve in the world’s neediest communities. The children of Camden have gotten to know many of the incredible students from Malibu when the California volunteers come to Camden as missionaries and interns.

When the helicopter cameras panned away from the campus to the surrounding areas, I could see thick black smoke billowing from the steeple; flames danced out of shattered windows. The Malibu Presbyterian Church, in moments, was reduced to charred wreckage.

During our chapel service the next week, the news was shared with our young students at the CamdenForward School. Pictures were shown, newspaper clippings were read, and the children were encouraged to pray for their California friends. The children were moved by the fire’s devastation.

Later in the day a student said to Mr. Muzyczek, his teacher, “A few of us were talking. As you know we’ve been selling pretzels to raise money for our class trip. And we decided we want to send our trip money to the church in California to help them rebuild.”

“That’s a great idea, Jose. But we’ll need to get everyone in the class to agree on the idea. We can take a vote. It’s the class’s money, so everyone’ll need to agree to make this gift.”

Mr. Muzyczek gathered the class together. “You are all aware that we have been raising money for our class trip. Everyone has worked hard and I am proud of you. Now, a few of you have suggested that we should send our money to First Presbyterian Church in Malibu to help them rebuild. As you learned in chapel today, their church is gone. If you think it’s a good idea for us to send our trip money to our friends in California, raise your hand.”

Hands began to rise. Then all 17 popped into the air. Unanimous!
Next week I will have the privilege of sending a small, but, oh so generous check of $150 to my friend Greg, from a group of thirteen year olds in Camden. Against the magnitude of the task, our gift will not do much-- a few bricks, a couple of hymnals, a child sized chair.

But how symbolic! It’s a symbol of the kind of young leaders UrbanPromise is nurturing—compassionate, caring, kind and generous.

I hope your heart is encouraged and touched by this story, and that you will continue to invest in the terrific kids who walk through our doors at UrbanPromise each day. Because of your generous help we are building a city of promise...one child at a time.

2008-01-21T19:07:00.000-05:00

REFLECTIONS: BY BRUCE MAIN

“Bruce, I think Albert is feeling a little bit down,” said one of our staff members the other afternoon.

The next day when I saw him I asked, “How’s it going, Al? I could see he was not his usual up-beat self.

“Bruce, I’m worried, there’s a new drug operation just outside the church where we have our Club. There were junkies shooting up the other day just where our kids could see what was going down. What do you think we should do?”

Albert is an incredible young man who directs our North Camden After School program. He practically grew up in UrbanPromise as one of our most enthusiastic students—started when he was six year’s old—then attended our summer camps, was employed during his teen years as a great StreetLeader, and then went to Eastern University on a scholarship. After graduation Albert felt compelled to give back to his old neighborhood. “People came from all over the world as Volunteers to help me,” he always likes to share. “I just wanted to give back...kids relate to me and my story. I made it, now they can see how they can make it too.”

As we talked we explored some options of how Albert might approach the drug dealer: calling the police would only bring retribution, doing nothing would be detrimental to our kids. “I’m going to have a talk with that guy who runs that operation,” concluded my young friend.

Later that week Albert burst into my office. “Bruce, Bruce, I talked to the guy who runs the corner,” he began. “I asked him if he could move his operation somewhere else. I told him how I was trying to set an example for the little kids in the community.” Albert paused. “Right away the guy started to yell at his crew to clear the corner. Apologetically he told me that he would have them out of there by two o’clock.”

Albert then looked at me and asked curiously, “Bruce, did we ever have a guy named Jeff work here about--15 years ago?”

I dug back into my memory. “Fifteen years ago...yea, we did have a guy on staff named...Jeff. Yes, I remember he was an intern from Southern California, graduated from USC as I remember. He’d spent a number of years with UrbanPromise before going into teaching. Everybody liked him. Why do you ask?”

“Strange, but that dealer asked me if a guy named Jeff still worked at UrbanPromise. The dealer also told me that he had been part of UrbanPromise when he was in fifth grade and Jeff was his favorite counselor.”

Later, I mused on why our local drug pusher hadn’t turned out like Albert—a college graduate, one who had come back to the city to positively change his community. Instead, this nameless twenty seven year old had slipped through the cracks and ended up a drug dealer—yet a dealer who chose to apologetically shut down his operations so that young kids could safely enter our After School Center.

I don’t yet know that drug dealer’s name. But I will find out. Then, hopefully, and by God’s grace, I will have a chance to bring him up to date on the good things happening in Jeff’s life, and how those things could happen in his. For I believe the end of this sad story, this perplexing, brief encounter, has not yet been fully written. Our God continues to move in mysterious and exciting ways and writes miraculous stories.

2008-01-12T10:14:00.000-05:00

Three hours drive down the interstate and UrbanTrekkers were ready to begin their White House tour. The nations capitol is an incredible setting to explore and stimulate a lot of thoughtful conversation in addition to having lots of fun. We visited memorials, The Holocaust Museum, Smithsonian Air & Space, outdoor ice skating rink and a remarkable exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. I think UrbanTrekkers put more miles on their boots touring DC in four days than three days on the Appalachian Trail.

2008-01-12T10:05:00.000-05:00

Mr. C is so inspiring in the morning....

2008-01-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

Washington DC remains an exciting destination for UrbanTrekkers. With so much to do and see - getting away from our routines while being together over the Christmas holiday is a treat for all of us!

2007-10-26T11:13:00.000-05:00

Rousing my UrbanTrekkers from their sleeping bags to see an ocean sunrise from the beach of Assateague Island, MD. was an experience I couldn't let them miss. They sleepily waited but then the cheer went out over the roaring surf...it was morning's first peek!

2007-10-26T11:01:00.000-05:00

2007-10-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Assateague Island National Seashore with its vast bio-diversity is one of UrbanTrekkers favorite places to have fun and to learn. Its places like this, without distractions, we hear God's call to us to care for all creation and our roll as Earth's stewards. This barrier island offers a wilderness kayak trail with ample opportunity to get up close to herons, egrets, brown pelicans, horses, deer and a myriad of other wild life on land and in the sea.

2007-10-26T10:20:00.000-05:00

The Assateague Island, MD. Eco Tour 2007 provided four of our freshman UrbanTrekkers their first ever camping and kayaking experience & in the most incredible natural environment only a few hours drive from Camden. We were thoughtful to leave no trace behind only our footprints... though soon they would be erased by the wind & sea.

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better".... Albert Einstein

2007-10-22T17:36:00.000-05:00

UrbanPromise celebrates '20/20' special

By KRISTY DAVIES
Courier-Post staff

COLLINGSWOOD -- A jawbreaker.

That was the option chosen by Diane Sawyer of ABC's "20/20'' and ''Good Morning America'' during an interview with 7-year-old Karim Council of Camden.

The exclusive interview was shown at UrbanPromise Ministries' annual banquet Thursday night.

''What would you want to be, a flag or a jawbreaker?'' Karim asked Sawyer.

''A jawbreaker,'' said Sawyer, ''because I could be carried around in a pocket and be entertainment for later.''

Curling his face up, Karim said, ''If you're a flag, nobody going to eat you!''

The audience of banquet guests, about 700 people, laughed as they watched.

Karim also asked Sawyer what she thought of UrbanPromise.

The nonprofit organization helped Sawyer find local families to interview for her special ''Waiting on the World to Change,'' a feature on children growing up impoverished. Most of the children she interviewed were from Camden.

''I really liked everybody we met there,'' Sawyer said. ''I love that they have a good time.''

Sawyer turned the tables on Karim as she asked what kind of animal he would want to be.

''A t-rex,'' he answered.

''Isn't that scary?'' asked Sawyer.

''No,'' said Karim.

''Would you be a nice t-rex?'' she asked.

''No,'' said Karim, as the audience laughed.

After the interview finished airing at the banquet, Karim admitted he was a little nervous during his interview with Sawyer.

''She was nervous, too,'' he noted.

Karim also said he considers himself to be lucky to be involved in UrbanPromise and for the opportunities it has given him.

''I've always taught him to remember where he came from,'' said Gabriella Council, 25, Karim's mother. ''We are very grateful and feel this is an honor.''

''I'm proud of him,'' said Council's father, Karim Council. ''He's my best friend, too.''

During the video, UrbanPromise also revealed some behind-the-scenes looks at ''Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'' when the TV crew came to Camden and Pennsauken. The popular reality show built a new home for one of the families featured in Sawyer's 20/20 special.

''People need to go outside their comfort box and help others,'' Ed Sanders, an Extreme Makeover carpenter and designer, said on the video.

As part of Thursday's banquet, students, members and staff participated in prepared performances and talked about what a promise means and giving hope to the children and people of Camden.

''I grew up in Camden,'' said Elyse Smith, 19. ''It's my city.''

Smith, who was interviewed as part of the "20/20'' special, received scholarship money that allowed her to begin college this fall at Bloomfield College.

''I'm outside of my environment, but I'm focused on becoming a better leader and my education,'' said Smith.

''UrbanPromise is a very inspired group and inspire other people,'' said Garo Hovnanian, spokesman for J.S. Hovnanian and Sons, the builder of the ''Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'' home for the Marrero family. ''They define the word 'hope.' ''

2007-10-14T10:30:00.000-05:00

UrbanTrekkers - Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT) on the Appalachian Trail

2007-10-14T10:11:00.000-05:00

UrbanTrekkers take on the Appalachian Trail...it was OLT weekend (Outdoor Leadership Training)...we started out with temperatures in the high 80's, a bit on the warm side for October in the Delaware Water Gap. Day 1 had us climbing mostly up along the Kittatinny Range as we began our 3 day expedition.

2007-10-14T09:53:00.000-05:00

the trip , a requirement for the spring Senior Rite of Passage to the Adirondacks provided plenty of first time experiences for the students. The New Jersey portion of the AT has some of the more difficult terrain along the 2,150 mile trail...over the 15 miles we hiked Trekkers were given turns to lead the group responding to situations where they faced scenarios of an injured hiker or a lost member of the group.

2007-10-14T09:29:00.000-05:00

we had some incredible visitas viewing mountains beyond mountains...hiking with 35 - 40 pounds on our backs, filtering water to drink from the mountain streams. Its been exciting to watch these students grow in experience and confidence as they explore a world beyond the streets of Camden.

2007-10-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

Not Just an Outdoor Club...Sure we've hiked snow covered mountains, kayaked among the porpoises off the coast of Maine, and backpacked rugged ridge lines along the Appalachian Trail. But dress us up and we can become "Ushers Extraordiare". UrbanTrekkers assist the Symphony in C with their concert series performed at the Gordon Theater of Rutgers University in Camden. For the second year our students provide a concession service during the intermission and usher service throughout the evening. Besides their good work they get to spend the evening listening to world class performances of Prokofiev and Rachmaninov from the Symphony in C

2007-10-07T11:52:00.000-05:00

UrbanPromise Second Annual Monarch Butterfly Release

UrbanTrekkers the expeditionary learning program of UrbanPromise Ministries working with the staff and students of the Camden Forward School celebrated their second annual Monarch Butterfly release. "Gotta Go, Gotta Go to Mexico" the students chanted as they released the Monarchs to begin their miraculous journey south. Students and volunteers at UrbanPromise have created and nurtured a Butterfly habitat that serves as an outside laboratory. Each fall students collect the butterfly eggs from the Milkweed plants and then raise the caterpillars in their classrooms, watching the transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Our garden celebration completes the cycle for this season but we can only long for their return next summer.

Peace, like a garden in Camden.
UT

2007-10-07T11:50:00.000-05:00

God Told Me to Come Home
By: Dr. Bruce Main, Executive Director of UrbanPromise

The crème colored couch had been sitting outside the new Student Center for two weeks—a beautiful new structure that houses our youth programs and alternative high school.

Some well intended donor had dropped off the couch after hours one day. But by the second day, the cushions had been taken by kids who wanted to do back flips in the parking lot. By the end of the first week, the Coke and Slurpee stains started to appear like small continents on the smooth cotton surface. Regardless of its appearance, the kids would park their behinds on the dirty couch while waiting for the program to begin. It was an eyesore.

I must admit I was getting a little irritated that nobody on the staff had taken the time to remove it. “How many times will they walk past before they do something?” I thought to myself. I just imagined a donor visiting and seeing this unattended piece of trash. So much for good impressions.

But the couch did not irritate me as much as the missing bus keys at 5am on Friday morning. I had volunteered to pick up 10 kids and their parents and take them to the airport. A camp in Colorado had donated a free week for our kids. SouthWest Airlines donated the tickets. I just had to get them all to the airport by 6:30am.

No bus keys!

Brent, our staff worker, was supposed to leave them in my mail box in the older building—our administrative hub on the other side of campus. But no keys were to be found.

So after rousing Brent’s supervisor from his sleep, I discovered that the only set of keys were on the other side of campus, in the new Student Center. Instead of jumping in the bus and heading off to the airport, I would need to break into the Student Center, disarm the alarm, and find the spare set of keys. I was already late for my pickups. This was only going to add to the morning drama.

I was not amused as I walked across the parking in the pitch dark.

I won’t tell you what I muttered to myself.

And then I saw the big ugly crème couch. It was too dark to see the stains, but seeing that eyesore still resting up against the brand new building irritated me even more.

“I guess I’ll have to move it myself,” I whined under my breath. Doesn’t it say in the Bible somewhere that Moses leaned on his “staff” and died?

Within a foot of the couch I noticed someone sleeping on it. Immediately a head popped up and startled me.

“Who’s that?” I asked, wondering who was more surprised. The person had obviously been sleeping. I, on the other hand, was not expecting to meet anyone at 5am in the parking lot.

I inched a little closer. It was a male wearing beige pants and a white t-shirt.

“Antwan.”

“Antwan, who?” I beckoned.

“Antwan Smith.”

The last time I had heard from Antwan Smith was ten years earlier. He had been locked up for drug dealing charges and I had lost track of him. But I had not forgotten Antwan. How could I? He was one of the boys in my memorable 6th grade class—a class of young boys who oozed with potential. Antwan had won our annual Martin Luther King Speech contest with a stirring rhetorical display. He had sung in our Gospel Choir, raked my leaves for spare change. He was just a good kid.

But then like so many young men in our city something happened. The drugs, the money, the prestige of being on the corner was just too alluring for a young man searching for identity.

Here he was. Pants wet with urine from an early morning discharge, curled up on a cushion-less couch. Homeless. What had his life had become? A 27 year old man without a job, without an education. Drifting.

I reached out my hand for his.

“Good to see you friend,” I chimed with a smile.

“Good to see you too,” he returned.

“Antwan,” I asked, feeling like I was caught in some kind of surreal moment of suspended time. You see, I am usually in bed at 5am. And had the keys been where they were supposed to be, I would have never seen Antwan. But there we were. Both ten years older. No fear between us. The seeds of friendship had been sown years before.

“Why did you come here?” I inquired.

Silence. The city eerily quiet.

“God told me I was supposed to come home.”

That was it. No big theological explanation. Just, “God told me I was supposed to come home.”

“Do you want to ride to airport with me?” I asked.

He nodded. And together we began our journey through the city streets to pick up eagerly waiting kids. As each child got on the bus, bagged packed, eyes wide open with expectation and hope I wondered what Antwan was thinking. Did he remember those days when I used to pick him up for trips to the Shore or the Amusement Park or for church Sunday morning? Was it painful for him to watch young people who still had hope, opportunity and choices?

After dropping the children and parents at the airport, we stopped for breakfast. We chatted for a couple of hours about the past ten years. And then I dropped him at the corner of Federal and Broadway so he could meet his parole officer.

I have not seen Antwan since. All I know is that for a brief moment Antwan came home. And because of an old couch and a set of forgotten keys, I was given the opportunity to welcome him.

2007-10-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

Pics from SeaQuest...

UrbanTrekkers, the expeditionary learning program of UrbanPromise Ministries in Camden, New Jersey helped to bring a marine biology based afterschool program into the Camden Forward School for grades 6 - 8. In partnership with the American Littoral Society 14 students were part of a fourteen week program both in and outside the classroom with students building a salt water aquarium, visiting natural habitats of both fresh and salt water marine life. Students were also treated to a wonderful sea food dinner that they took part in preparing as well as the eating. They also learned of the relationship between Camden, the Delaware River, the Atlantic Ocean and themselves.

2007-10-04T14:30:00.000-05:00

some pics from Maine..."Hoods to Woods Summit II"

For the second year running UrbanTrekkers and Trekkers from Midcoast Maine, two youth development programs, joined forces at Blueberry Cove Camp in Tenants Harbor, Maine. Twenty five high school students from both groups met to explore the area and learn about each others cultures. The program included kayaking in Port Clyde, swimming in rock quarries, fishing on lobster boats and hiking Monhegan Island. Time spent in camp included evening camp fires where the rural Maine Trekkers engaged our UrbanTrekkers from Camden, New Jersey. Both programs are committed to helping young people reach their full potential by exposing them to a myriad of options for life choices.