THOMASTON — Trekkers, a non-profit outdoor-based youth mentoring organization, continues its six year expansion with the announcement that Brandon Caron has joined the Trekkers team as the newest Program Manager.

Brandon has a B.A. in Outdoor Education from Johnson State College in Vermont, with a concentration in Adventure Leadership. He is a graduate of Georges Valley High School, an alumnus of Trekkers and has been an expedition leader and mentor for several years. Brandon served as Trekkers’ Program Coordinator during an AmeriCorps term in 2011-12, and recently completed a summer internship with the organization in August. In addition to his work with local youth, Brandon also worked as a mentor for Laraway Youth and Family Services in Vermont. In his free time, you’ll likely find him on a mountain, in the woods, on the water or in a hammock.

Brandon is excited to rejoin the community and focus on building relationships through Trekkers as the organization continues to grow. He not only believes in, but has experienced, the power and importance of youth being connected to their community.

Speaking about his new role, Brandon said, “I cherish the time I spent as a Trekkers student. It provided me the opportunity to see places I never would have seen, meet tons of new and incredibly interesting people and form lasting friendships with other students and adults in the community. However, the real gift you receive from being a student in the program is what you learn about yourself. Trekkers teaches you how to live a very present lifestyle with an open mind. It teaches you to look into your soul and figure out who you really are at your core and to pursue what energizes you in life. I think that without Trekkers I would have been afraid to stray from the beaten path to search for my passion and what really gets me excited in life. I will be forever grateful for my experience as a Trekkers student. Now I am excited that I am taking on a bigger role in Trekkers.”

As Program Manager, Brandon will be responsible for facilitating programs and leading educational expeditions for 45 students each year. This year, Trekkers will be leading 20 educational programs for more than 200 students from the Midcoast area. Trekkers connects young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, community service and adventure-based education. For more information about the organization, please visit trekkers.org or call the Trekkers office at 207-594-5095.