Local Spotlight: Scott Kern

Some people want to save dogs, others want to save children.

Scott Kern's passion project is saving a “planet” and the Earth itself.

Kern, who lives in Old Orchard Beach, is working to preserve Sand Island in Casco Bay - which he calls Planet Sand, and, in turn, the world.

He said his life has changed dramatically since he became sober almost seven years ago.

“You don’t get to choose your pathways,” Kern said. “I was chosen for the pathway after years of battling addiction. I’m so drawn to be here at Milestone (Recovery).”

His mission was revealed when he was an addict in recovery.

“How do I pay people back for the damage I caused?,” he asked himself.

Part of the answer was Step 9 of the 12 steps outlined in Alcoholics Anonymous: Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Kern said it was difficult to make amends to individuals because people had moved, died or were otherwise not available. He decided to “pay back society for the damage I’ve caused” by volunteering his time to perform maintenance at the United Methodist Church in Old Orchard Beach.

Kern also leaned on AA’s Step 11, which reads in part: “to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

“As you understand God,” Kern pointed out. “I took on the mission of saving Planet Sand. There’s an external force guiding my mission.”

The island is co-owned by his parents and, in part, fond memories of a childhood spent at Cousins Island, Yarmouth, led to his interest in the island.

But it was camping trips Milestone foundation hosted that sparked his interest.

“Earth has so many failed ideas. The world needs something,” he said. “I created something to make people’s life better overall” and spread the happiness.”

Kern has been relying on the faith, intuition and determination that has come after decades of addiction. He said If enough people subscribe to his YouTube channel and follow social media – Planet Sand – and the Earth – can be saved.

When he was asked why Planet Sand must be preserved, he shrugged and said, “I don’t know. I don’t need to.”

It’s been a long, strange trip indeed. In the mid-2000s he hitchhiked across the U.S., logging 30,000 miles in seven months. He sought treatment for 20 years but kept relapsing.

Kern came back to Maine about 12 years ago. For two years, he lived with his parents but still had a substance abuse problem.

He and a former girlfriend bought a townhouse in Portland, after he achieved sobriety for 22 months. But she was not sober at that time.

“I lost myself in her. I used for six months and burned my life to the ground,” Kern said. “I felt like I was going to die.”

He said he went on six-month bender before going to Milestone and has since achieved the sobriety for which he worked so hard.

“Milestone was a good fit because it broke me.,” Kern said, "It built me back up to the man I am now. It was like boot camp.”

“They taught me a lot of stuff I never learned. Even though I had been to eight other programs. We had to work with each other. Hardest thing I’d had to do in my whole life.”

He started “a new system” of living because of sober living. He now confronts issues through social media, where he’s read many uplifting stories. His credo is simple: be nice to each other.

Kern proudly wears a hat emblazoned with “Maniac Men,” explaining that members perform chores for free.

“Helping an old lady across the street is gone,” Kern said. “Politics just is not working. It’s time for something else. I’m sick of gloom and doom and need something to be happy.”

The gods of Planet Sand, he believes, have been on the island for 7,000 years.

“The Earth has gods, why not an island?,” he reasoned. “What better than crazy to fix crazy?”

On his YouTube channel, Kern shows off the lean-to made from found materials. He’s filmed hauling seaweed — which fights toxic chemicals – from the ocean to the beach. He builds rock walls to fight rising sea levels and points out the erosion that’s undermined part of the beach.

Several of his YouTube videos have racked up over 1,000 views.

“This is the best I’ve ever done in my life,” he said of work he and the Maniac Men have done on Planet Sand.

Kern said his goal for Planet Sand is to “take over” and heal the Earth.

“I’m infectious. I have to believe that would work. I’ve been my biggest fan.”

Kern said he believes in setting unrealistic goals because “I have something to fight for the rest of my life.”

Ann Fisher is a freelance journalist based in Saco. She can be reached at 432-7483.