For his first eight years, Olu, a Brooklyn, New York native only knew the hustle and bustle of a big metropolitan city.

His summer experience was limited to a hot and sticky environment filled with crowded streets and noisy neighborhoods. But all that changed in 1996. He visited Boothbay for a week to experience life outside the city. When Olu arrived, the first thing he did was to walk barefoot in the grass to feel the cool, prickly sensation tickling his feet.

And he didn’t come to visit friends or relatives. His trip was sponsored by the Fresh Air Fund, a 137-year-old New York City program that matches inner city youths with hosts families in a rural setting. Olu spent a week with the Conlin family that summer, which began the first of eight he would spend in Boothbay. Robert and Eve Conlin had recently started their own family in 1996 when they decided to host a Fresh Air Fund child.

This summer marked the 16th year the family hosted a child. For one week, the Conlins exposed their NYC guests to Maine’s beaches, hiking trails, green lawns, fresh air and various other amusements. The Conlins entertained their guests by bowling, or playing on the Slip ‘n’ Slide in their yard.

“It really shows that there is a lot of things to do in Maine without having to spend a lot of money,” Eve Conlin said. “The kids have a great time with our family just by doing normal activities. It shows you don’t have to go Funtown to have a good time in Maine.”

The Conlins also learn about city life from their guests. Eve Conlin believes her summer guests introduce her children to urban life without having to go there. 

“The kids are a lot of fun,” she  said. “They come to learn about a different way of life. This experience also has a positive impact on our children. It introduces them to different viewpoints and experiences.”

Conlin knew about the program through her volunteering as a teenager at a Massachusetts Fresh Air Fund Summer camp.  She re-kindled her connection with program after reading a magazine advertisement for host families.

“When I saw the ad, we had just had our oldest child Liam, and I thought it sounded like a great thing for us to do,” said Eve Conlin.

Once Olu reached age 16, it was time for the Conlins to host a new child.

For the past four years, they’ve hosted a 14-year-old girl, Reanna Miller of Brooklyn. Three years ago, a second guest, Tyrese Bethell, a 13-year-old boy from the Bronx, was added to the mix. Reanna and Tyrese spend a week with Conlins enjoying the Maine summer. The two enjoy Maine’s beaches, hiking trails, green lawns, fresh air and various amusements such as bowling and Slip ‘n’ Slides. The two youths spent Aug. 11-18 with the Conlins.

The youths also share a piece of city life with the Conlins. Reanna served the family deep fried Oreos this summer. She deep fries the Oreos in pancake batter and shares the delicacy with her appreciative hosts.

“It’s really good,” said daughter, Nora.

But the FAF program’s main purpose is for the city youths to enjoy a summer in a rural setting. For Reanna and Tyrese that meant hiking in the Maine woods. The two joined the Conlins in the  pine tree packed woods. For Reanna and Tyrese, the tall pines were a new and awe-inspiring experience.

For Liam, the Conlins’ 16-year-old son, it wasn’t,  but watching his guest witness the experience was.

“Just watching them in woods is amazing,” Liam said. “Hiking in the woods is a whole different experience for them. For me, I see it all the time, but their reactions after looking the pines was something I really didn’t expect to see.”

Another amazing experience for Tyrese occurred during an earlier visit. He had his first encounter with a Maine blueberry. He was also surprised to find out the family ate chicken eggs.

“He said ‘you eat eggs from chickens,” Eve recalled. She then asked what kinds of eggs he ate and he replied, “I don’t know, eggs.”

The Fresh Air Fund sends youths to Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont. When Tyrese’s mother had a chance to send her child to Maine for a week she had no reservations. 

Eloise Bethell had never met the Conlins or heard of Boothbay, Maine before agreeing to enroll him in the program. However, she had heard plenty about the Fresh Air Fund. Other neighborhood parents had sent their children to live with a host parent before. She thought the program would benefit her son.

“He really enjoys it and looks forward to going back every year,” Eloise Bethell said. “The program has a good reputation. It’s a great opportunity for him to meet new people and experience life outside the city.”

The visit may be over for this year, but Eve Conlin still has her summer guests in mind. She’s working on a photo book filled with memories of her guests’ visits. She plans on sending each child a copy. The Conlin family stays in contact with her guests throughout the year on Facebook. Eve Conlin also receives a call from Reanna on Mother’s Day and one from Tyrese’s family on Christmas Day.