There's just one hitch: They must follow the standards of the "Do Right" community campaign being enforced at all summer city festivals.

"(It's) been an observation that at the end of these venues, our kids are stuck there waiting for rides. This can be very unhealthy when you have students from all over the community not knowing each other," said Carl Cannon, founder of the ELITE Youth Program, during a news conference Wednesday at CityLink's Transit Center. "Somebody steps on somebody's foot, something could get started. So we went to CityLink and asked them to help us address this problem. So now we're going to take our students back to the community in which they live.

'Do Right' guidelines

The campaign focuses on: Do right, act right, dress right, speak right, feel right.

Participating teens pledge to:

• Meet the appropriate dress code and wear clothing in a respectful manner.

• Treat everyone with respect.

• Conduct themselves as a lady or gentleman at all times.

• Use positive communication.

Youths agree to follow the campaign guidelines while frequenting city festivals, such as the Heart of Illinois Fair, and any other venue to which the effort is extended.

Source: CityLink and city of Peoria

"We're going to have a better expectation that these young people are going to get home safe."

In exchange for a free, safe ride to their neighborhoods, teens are asked to follow the "Do Right" behavior code posted at the entrance of the fair. That conduct is expected to continue as a passenger on the bus.

Bus transportation will be provided from the fairgrounds on Northmoor Road to Manual, Peoria and Woodruff high schools at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, then again next weekend, July 17-18. District 150 campus police will monitor the youths on the bus.

There is no age restriction to ride the buses, and passengers do not have to be District 150 students. CityLink will provide enough buses so no youths are left behind at the fair without a way home.

"This started as an experiment with Steamboat Days. Now we hope to continue it with the Heart of Illinois Fair and send some buses out in the evening that will be able to bring many of the younger folks home - people who might not have been able to participate if it wasn't for the transportation we provide," said Tom Lucek, general manager of CityLink.

Partners in the effort are the city of Peoria and the ELITE Youth Program, which last year adopted the "Do Right" media campaign, created to encourage youth to behave in an acceptable manner during the city's festivals. The campaign focuses on dressing appropriately, respect for others and no cursing.

"This 'Do Right' initiative is about teaching our youth what is right and what is acceptable behavior in a community," said City Councilman Eric Turner, who also serves as the liaison between the city and CityLink. "We've been able to adopt a new community standard for acceptable behavior at our community events and festivals, and now, in working with District 150 and CityLink, we're going to move this initiative a major step forward. I think the atmosphere of bad behavior at our summer events and festivals is coming close to a close."

Cannon agreed, saying Peoria's festivals are safer than they were a year ago.

"We've reached the point where families, myself included, can go to a venue with the expectation of no violence, no issues," he said.

"Do Right" was spearheaded by city leaders to address the violence that broke out last year at the Heritage Days and Steamboat sports festivals. The bad behavior by many unsupervised youths in attendance threatened the public safety and tarnished the reputations of what were otherwise deemed fun, safe family events.

So far this year, the festivals have been peaceful. There have been no violent outbursts, arrests or injuries.

Cannon's ELITE volunteers will be in attendance during the Heart of Illinois Fair, which runs Friday through July 18. Program members won't be there during the week - just the weekend nights, when a majority of youths are expected to attend - and look to the public to be extra eyes and ears to ensure the event is a success.

"We're saying to the majority - you have a right to this venue. We're saying to those who operate outside those lines - it won't be tolerated. We're also saying to those outside the lines - join us," said Cannon. "This is not something that is not available to you as well, but you are going to do it on society's terms."