Founder Connor Archer, today purchased the first iPad for the Green House Nursery School today at Staples in Bangor, ME. After a meeting with staff, we also decided to install a Bluetooth speaker system, to play along with their iPad, so they can play their music without using CD's and a radio. 

The iPad will be brought to the school after the summer session is over. There will then be a training session on how to use the iPad. We will also setup the iPad that day, and go over on how the iPad will impact the school. 

Our next step, will be to purchase more iPads for the school, eventually allowing each staff member, to take home an iPad, so they can get these devices in the hands of these young children. After all, this is the device that will be used with the next generation of our learners. 

If you are interested in donating to this cause, please email Connor Archer at: [email protected]. You can mail your donation to Old Town High School, 203 Stillwater Avenue, Old Town, ME 04468. If you are making a check, please write Courageous Steps in the memo. 

One person can make a difference. Several, can make an impact. 

After waiting for a little while for Archer to get things sorted out, he was able to finally give that one last check for $1,000, to the RSU #26 Special Education Department. 

Director Sharon Brady, says that this will most likely go towards adaptive PE equipment, which they recently had to get rid of due to the old age of it. 

Superintendent of Schools, Joann Harriman, mentioned the following in a letter sent to Archer. "Connor, this gift is truly generous and we are very proud to be recipients of your Courageous Steps fundraiser. Your hard work and dedication in raising funds is quite impressive." 

The Old Town Orono YMCA, will be partnering with the Courageous Steps Project, to make the 2nd annual Courageous Steps Back to School Drive, on Thursday July 30th, a success. 

There is a bin located at the Old Town Orono YMCA. We encourage you to bring your items to drop off, or you can bring them to the fundraiser on Thursday July 30th at the Old Town Governor's Restaurant from 7am to 7pm. 

The Old Town Recreation Department has also partnered with the Courageous Steps Project, to also help with this great cause. 

Here is a list of the current locations for this year's back to school drive: 

Mahans Redemption Center
Bangor Savings Bank (Old Town & Orono branches)
Old Town Orono YMCA
Old Town Recreation Center
Green House Nursery School
Aqua Hair Salon

Mahans Redemption Center was recently added today. 

Read: Old Town High senior's efforts to overcome autism, helping others pay off 

After the fair turnout from last year's Courageous Steps Back to School Drive, founder Connor Archer is ready to make this the best yet back to school drive. 

Archer has partnered with the Old Town Recreation Department under the direction of Kevin McPhee. The department has been wanting to do a back to school drive to help our local schools. 

The recreation department has a donation bin located at it's center on the Bennoch Road outside in the lobby area. If you are someone that visits the recreation center often, please drop off a school supply item. All donations will benefit the Old Town & Orono area schools. 

The recreation department will also have kids to help at this year's back to school drive on Thursday July 30th at the Old Town Governor's Restaurant. 

Archer has also partnered with Bangor Savings Bank in Old Town and Orono, Aqua Hair Salon, Old Town Orono YMCA, and the Green House Nursery School so far. 

As the Courageous Steps Project continues to grow, we are finding more ways to find people who want to support the project in the easiest way possible. One way that we are trying to make donating be easier, is by setting up a Go Fund ME account. Many organizations and individuals use this in order to raise money for certain causes. 

There are many people in our state and country, that are not able to donate, because mailing is something that isn't maybe typically done for that person. This gives an option for those who want to donate to this amazing cause. 

All you have to do is go to our Go Fund ME page. We also have that link posted on our Facebook page. You then have the option to donate, and the website will walk you through on how to donate. All proceeds from this site, will go to helping young children with challenges in the Old Town, ME and Orono, ME Area. If you have any questions, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

Our first goal on Go Fund Me, is to raise $5,000. Then we will repost that goal after that amount of money is raised. Stay tuned to our Facebook page to find updates about this Go Fund Me fundraising. 

The Courageous Steps Project will have donation bins setup at these following businesses so far: 

Aqua Hair Salon
Green House Nursery School
Old Town Orono YMCA
Bangor Savings Bank (Old Town & Orono branches)

We will most likely add more drop-off locations in the coming days! 

After 4 years of waiting to start the technology project at the Green House Nursery School, founder Connor Archer finally revealed part of the technology platform at the Green House Nursery School, to the director and staff at the school. 

Before the meeting, the staff discussed what they wanted their vision of the iPad to be at the school. Archer came to the meeting with a plan to purchase 2 iPads. After some discussion, the staff and Archer agreed on only purchasing 1 iPad Air 2 with 128GB, a hard proof case, carrying case, and $50.00 gift card for those apps. Along with the iPad, there will be a bluetooth speaker system that will be purchased, so staff can play songs on the iPad, instead of a radio. 

The specific items being purchased in this first phase are the following: 

iPad Air 2     128GB    
Targus MediaVu for iPad Air 2 - Black/Pewter
Case Logic iPad®/10" Tablet Attaché with Pocket - Black (TNEO-110)
$50 iTunes Gift Card
Bluetooth Speaker System: Not yet determined


The 2nd iPad, that Archer put in his plan, is not out of the question yet. There are still some little details to be worked out in the following months. As we are starting this project, we are asking for people to make generous donations in order to support this great project helping young children with challenges. If you have any questions, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

Please mail your donation to Old Town High School with Courageous Steps in the memo if you are writing a check. 

The 2nd Annual Courageous Steps Back to School Drive now has a confirmed official date, and rain date for this year's fundraiser. 

Thursday July 30th will be the official date, and Friday July 31st will be rain date for this year's fundraiser. 

The fundraiser will begin at 7am, outside in the parking lot of the Old Town Governor's Restaurant. The ending time has not yet been determined, but most likely will go into the mid evening hours. 

Currently, Aqua Hair Salon in Old Town & the Old Town Orono YMCA will be hosting school supply collection bins at their locations. We are waiting to hear back from more businesses around the area, so keep posted on our Facebook page and our website about all the latest updates with the planning stages of the back to school drive. 

If you have any questions on what do donate, please visit our back to school drive fundraiser page under our fundraisers tab. You can also contact Connor Archer at: [email protected].