On Aug. 16, 12 students and four adult mentors from Trekkers Team Panther ventured out in the rain to explore the beauty and vastness of Mount Blue State Park on a two-night, three-day expedition. The overnight trip was part of the Teen Trekkers Program, the hallmark program for Trekkers, which introduced students to the model in a weekend expedition to Acadia National Park in May. This is the second year that Trekkers has been able to offer a follow-up short expedition in the summer for new Trekkers students.

Students and mentors hiked up 3,192-foot Mount Blue, swam in Webb Lake, divided cooking duties, played games and participated in nightly discussions focused around the transition into middle and high school. All six Regional School Unit 13 towns were represented in the gathering of students, and conversations focused around goal setting, facing fears and what it will be like to go into a new school.

When asked what she learned about herself from the experience, one Trekkers student said, “I learned that I really can do what I set my mind to.” Another student added, “I realized that I don’t have to be shy here.”

“The chance to reconnect, to talk about the realities of starting high school within a group of caring individuals is so vital to what we’re trying to do,” said Program Manager Emily Carver. “For that reason, and for having the space to meet that need, this trip was a huge success.”

Trekkers began in 1994 when a group of community members noticed a lack of relationships between local youths and adults. These caring adults sought to use the outdoors as a means to build those much-needed relationships. The Teen Trekkers program is the beginning of students’ six-year journey with Trekkers. After the Teen Trekkers program, these students will begin the Advanced Trekkers program, meeting throughout their eighth-grade year to plan a two-week expedition. As the years progress, students will continue to meet and participate in annual educational programs/expeditions until they graduate from high school. To read the Teen Trekkers trip logs and view photographs of each expedition, visit www.trekkersonline.com.