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According to AndrewÕs father, Dan, local businesses and groups have been generous.

Andrew has raised $1,600 of the $4,500 he needs to raise for the trip.

ÒHe turned 16 this summer,Ó Dan said. ÒWhen he was accepted (as a member of the choir), we had to ask him, ÔWell, do you want a car or do you want to go to Europe?ÕÓ

Andrew was the Scarecrow in the recent Crosstrails Community Theatre production of the Wizard of Oz, held in both Forest Area and Kalkaska high schools.

He also is in the Traverse City Youth Orchestra.

ÒHeÕs been going to Blue Lake for four years,Ó Dan said. ÒYou name it, heÕs in it.Ó

ÒI chose the trip to Europe because I can just use my mom and dadÕs car,Ó Andrew said. ÒThe trip to Europe is a once in a lifetime opportunity.Ó ÒI am both excited and nervous,Ó Andrew said. ÒI am nervous because I have to memorize 23 pieces of music.

ÒI am excited because I get to go to Europe,Ó he said.

Andrew, who sings tenor, will head to camp on June 8 for a week of intense training and then leave for Europe with the choir, part of the Blue Lake International Exchange Program. Upon his return home, he will stay with the choir and do a Michigan tour.

Andrew said the group will be performing to a variety of audiences during the trip.

ÒItÕs a variety,Ó he said. ÒWeÕre going to villages and smaller places. WeÕll perform in churches and in town squares.Ó

Although Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp has not yet finalized the itinerary, according to Dan, the release from Blue Lake stated that there are six groups from the camp that will tour six countries from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea.

The countries where one or more Blue Lake group will visit and present concerts during June and July include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Italy. Each group will visit seven communities in two or more countries while in Europe.

Andrew has some fund raising yet to do.

ÒWe came up with some pretty good ideas,Ó he said. ÒWe are doing a 50/50 raffle with people we know; we sold candy bars; and weÕre going to put a bunch of plastic flamingos in peopleÕs yards and ask them to make a donation to have the flamingos removed.

ÒIÕve learned that fund raising is really hard,Ó he said. ÒThere are only so many businesses in Kalkaska and if you hit them up more than once, I think itÕs annoying.Ó

If you wake up to find a bunch of pink flamingos in your yard, you might want to call the Hillikers. TheyÕre listed.