While most teens spent July savoring summer freedom, two groups of 22 students from both South and North chose a different path. From June 9 to June 14, and later from July 13 to July 19, they rolled up their sleeves in Manistique, Michigan, to join Habitat for Humanity, a program led by the Glenbrook summer school that restores homes for families in need.

Among the students was senior Charlie Chasen, who discovered that a week of sweat and sawdust could be just as memorable as any summer getaway. Participants stayed in an elementary school that was repurposed for Habitat for Humanity, Chasen said. Here, volunteers learned how to renovate two houses that would later sell at a discounted price to those in need of affordable housing. They put in drywall, repainted walls, stained wood, and organized storage, Chasen said. Physical labor quickly became a way for students to connect with peers and find joy in their work, Chasen added.

“[Habitat] was a great opportunity to get volunteer experience and meet new people,” Chasen said. “[Working alongside] others made what otherwise would have been work more of a fun activity.”

Students also took on responsibilities beyond construction—managing a budget, shopping for groceries, planning, cooking, and cleaning up after meals together, Principal Dr. Barbara Georges, who attended the first trip in June, said. The trip pushed students to grow in ways a classroom alone could not offer, Georges said.

“I was incredibly proud of the Titans and Spartans for stretching themselves with personal reflection, interpersonal connections, and really learning about how different communities need their leadership and service,” Georges said.

The lessons did not end at the worksite; students also immersed themselves in Manistique, gaining a deeper understanding of the town they were serving, Chasen said. Exploring community gardens and small businesses illustrated how close-knit the area was, he added.

“Seeing the community in Manistique [showed me] how working together and building hope with one another can keep you strong,” Chasen said.

For senior Lily Golden,  Habitat helped her realize how meaningful even the smallest changes could be for families who would one day move into the housesthey built. Every coat of paint and every cleaned surface helped make the space more welcoming, she said.

“We [made the] house feel  like a home,” Golden said. “[Habitat for Humanity made me] feel very accomplished [by] making others happy.”

For Georges, the students’ growth was the true success of the trip. There is no greater joy than working until exhaustion, knowing that the effort went toward helping someone and making the world a little brighter, Georges said. Students left Manistique tired, but richer in their understanding of service, she added.

“The Habitat for Humanity trip embodies everything we aspire for Titans to achieve as well rounded students,” Georges said. “It is a beautiful combination of being lifelong learners, understanding the impact of service, and building a community with people that you don’t typically engage with.”