POTSDAM - While their friends and classmates will be going to the beach, shopping, watching movies and just hanging out this summer, Lindsey A. Martin and Kylie J. Matott will be spending 10 days in the Dominican Republic, doing their part to help make the world a better place.

However, in order for the girls to make it to the Dominican this summer, they need the public’s help raising money to cover the cost of the trip.

“It’s $2,200 each and that doesn’t include airfare,” Ms. Matott said, explaining the girls will travel to the Dominican for 10 days from Aug. 12-21.

The trip, which the girls are doing as part of their senior project, almost didn’t happen.

“Kylie got information on it and wanted to go, but she kind of gave up because her parents weren’t going to let her go alone,” Ms. Martin said, adding it was after hearing that Ms. Matott wasn’t going to be able to go on the trip that she got involved.

“I kind of brought it back up after I got permission from my parents,” Ms.Martin aid.

After knowing that she wouldn’t be traveling alone, Ms. Matott’s parents also agreed and agreed to let the trip happen.

Ms. Matott said the idea all started from a catalog she received in the mail earlier this year.

“I got a catalog in the mail for it, and I’ve always wanted to do it, but my parents weren’t going to let me,” she said. “We’ve never really traveled out of the country before.”

To help raise funds for the trip, the girls have organized a school-wide dress down day, where students, faculty and staff can dress down in exchange for a donation to help offset the trip’s cost. The girls have also sent letters seeking donations out to their friends and family members.

A deposit of $1,000 each is due June 15, with the remaining cost due on July 1. As for the air fare, the girls said they can purchase their plane ticket anytime.

Both girls said they expect to be pushed out of their comfort zones during the experience.

“We’ll be working with Haitian refugees, mainly children who were relocated after the earthquake,” Ms. Martin said. “It’s a lot of community service, and we thought it would be a different kind of project.”

Ms. Matott said she’s looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s going to be hard. There’s going to be a lot of hiking and we’re going to be building a school out of recycled soda bottles,” she said. “I’m not really used to that kind of work.”

If you would like to contribute toward the cost of the trip, donations may be mailed to Potsdam High School; 29 Leroy St., Potsdam NY 13676 by the last day of school, June 8.

Checks should be made out to: Global Leadership Adventures.

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