Trekkers’ eighth grade team k2 completed a three day “it’s fall y’all!” expedition in mid-Oct. to kick off their advanced Trekkers program. The focus of this local, short-term expedition was to provide an outdoor-based teambuilding experience for the students and mentors. “It’s fall y’all!” incorporated a community service project, wilderness experience, team initiatives, and the chance for the students to practice their consensus based decision-making skills.

Led by Program Manager Brandon Caron, the group of 14 students and eight leaders headed to Camp Kieve in Nobleboro, which served as their home base for the two-night expedition. Their first night was filled with games, ice breakers and expectations about the weekend. The next morning, team k2 fulfilled the wilderness component of the short trek by heading to Camden Hills State Park for a hike up Mount Megunticook. In the evening hours, the group participated in more team building initiatives, games and journaling about their experience.

The group also completed a community service project at Camp Kieve. They helped prepare for the offseason by loading canoes onto trailers and clearing some overgrown areas of the property. The team’s final activities during this short trek included bowling at Oakland Park Bowling Lanes in Rockport before returning to Oceanside West.

Having completed their first short trek expedition of the year, Trekkers’ team k2 will be better prepared for their 10-day educational expedition, which will take place next summer. The consensus based decision-making process that the group practiced will be used throughout the school year during their planning meetings. During those meetings, the group will collectively decide how they will include five educational components in their summer expedition: community service, wilderness experience, cultural awareness, environmental stewardship and adventure-based education. Team k2 is one of two advanced Trekkers groups of eighth graders this year.

Trekkers is a non-profit outdoor-based mentoring program that connects young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, community service and adventure-based education. The organization serves the communities of Cushing, Owls Head, Rockland, South Thomaston, St. George and Thomaston. This year, Trekkers will serve more than 200 students from grades seven to 12 in Midcoast Maine.

For more information about Trekkers, please contact the office at (207) 594-5095 or visit trekkers.org.