As regular readers know, this column has spun off an exciting internet-based project called the "Hidden Heroes WebQuest, which has been designed for use in schools as well as other family and youth groups. The project is now being piloted in the mid Island region.

Paul Grey's Grade 5 class at Coal Tyee was the first to begin. The quality of the work done by the entire class was excellent and the results were exciting.

One of the exercises in the WebQuest encourages students to become secret Hidden Heroes in their own family. In other words they are asked to think of different positive things they could do at home and then do them for a week without telling their parents or siblings what they are doing.

In many classrooms this part of the project will be set up in a science experiment format where the kids decide what they will do, develop a hypothesis, do what they have planned, observe their own reactions and the reactions of others, and draw conclusions.

At the end of the project the parents in Mr. Grey's class were sent a letter telling them about the secret Hidden Heroes project and asking for their response.

Here are some of the comments from both students and parents.

Alicia - "The past five days were different than usual. I volunteered my time and I was really nice. After doing all of these nice things, I realized that if you do stuff for others, they are nice back. I have been loading up the dishwasher every night and, for once, I vacuumed without being asked. I have always wanted to be a Hidden Hero but now I know that I can! Being a Hidden Hero has changed my life and from now on I am going to be a Hidden Hero forever. Maybe as I keep volunteering my time, my brother will get the idea and help make it a better place."

From Brittany's Aunty Laura - "I am very proud of Britteny's sense of responsibility and her desire to help care for our family. Way to go Britteny!"

From Michael parents - "We hope Michael will continue to carry on with the little extras he has done this week as not only did he receive pleasure from it, we did too. Great job Michael. We are so very proud of you."

From Derrick's mom - "Derrick has done a lot of chores with only being asked once (usually it takes 5 times). I was even thinking that I wanted to do something special for him because he has been so helpful ... Thanks Derrick."

From Derek (not Derrick) - "The Hidden Heroes project was great for my family ... After I did something like volunteering for a chore, everybody was kind of happier such as when I secretly cooked my mom's favorite pudding, tapioca, when she was sleeping. She woke up to her favorite pudding and it felt good because everybody was kind of happy."

From Derek's mom - "We were starting to wonder if this Derek was an imposter and maybe aliens had abducted the 'real' Derek. He has been more available to help out with garbage, dishes and doggy duties and there has not been the usual "selective hearing" that goes along with chore duties ... He has shown initiative and self-motivation. If this is just a hoax or if Derek really has been abducted by aliens ... we'll keep the one we currently have. -- This Hidden Heroes project ends in June 2010 right?