While many teenagers spend their February break in Florida or Mexico, two busloads of Royal Oak High School (ROHS) students have elected to take an alternative February break. They are participating in the Hurricane Isaac Disaster Relief Trip Feb. 17-23, 2013.

This is not a “fun” field trip. ROHS teacher and Interact Club advisor Steve Chisnell described it as “hard, challenging, and sweaty, with poor and infrequent showers, bugs, rain and sunburns.”

The students will travel 16 hours by bus to Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans. Here with the National Relief Network, they will work to help restore homes to families recovering from Hurricane Isaac, which has devastated towns throughout the Mississippi valley region. 

“These students raise the funds, give up their February break, camp in rustic cabins, and work to their capacity,” said Chisnell. “As an educator, this is an experience that can motivate, renew, or offer genuine purpose to our students. After 25+ years of teaching, I have yet to find a classroom experience to match it.”

"Trips such as this teach students the value of service,” added Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin. “In Royal Oak, we are committed to building a community of excellence in our schools. These young people, and their commitment to scholarship and service, suggest we are well on our way towards realizing this vision.

“I am very grateful to Mr. Chisnell and the other adult leaders of this trip for giving of their time to provide such a great experience for our students," Lewis-Lakin added.