THOMASTON — In late January, several Trekkers Alumni met with members of the Trekkers staff to discuss Alumni involvement with the organization. This was the first meeting of a new initiative focused on ways to actively engage alumni with Trekkers. This initial Alumni Engagement Committee meeting included Brandon Caron-Program Manager, Amie Hutchison-Executive Director, Katie Jacob-Trekkers Institute AmeriCorps VISTA staff member, Alumni from Trekker classes 2003 to 2015 and a current Trekkers student. This group will represent nearly 500 graduates of the six-year mentoring program. Trekkers Alumni are an extraordinary network of individuals that they have identified as representing significant value to offer Trekkers' current and future programming.

The emphasis of this meeting was to draft an alumni engagement plan, with a focus on reconnecting Trekkers Alumni with the organization itself, to one another, and to current students participating in the program. Some of the goals that the committee identified were to increase the amount of volunteer hours and donations by Alumni; to create an active and engaging alumni communication tool; and to host an annual Trekkers alumni event.

Many of the alumni were networking with their peers for the first time since graduation, which created a high level of energy and excitement throughout the evening. They reminisced on the adventures and lifelong relationships that they made while in the Trekkers program. The impact the program has made on so many lives was clear and Trekkers is very excited for what the future of this committee will mean for the program, students participating in the program and for the community as a whole.

If you would like more information more on the Alumni Committee, please reach out to Brandon Caron, Program Manager at (207) 594-5095 or brandon@trekkers.org.

Trekkers is a non-profit outdoor-based six-year mentoring program that connects young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, community service and adventure-based education. This year, Trekkers will serve more than 200 7th – 12th grade students from the communities of Cushing, Owls Head, Rockland, South Thomaston, St. George and Thomaston. For more information about Trekkers please visit www.trekkers.org or call the Trekkers office at 594-5095.