Trekkers 11th Graders Participate in Leadership Training

On November 16th, 11 Oceanside High School juniors and six adult mentors participated in a three-day leadership training through Trekkers, a non-profit, outdoor-based mentoring program that connects young people to caring adults. Held at the Kieve-Wavus Leadership School in Nobleboro, ME, the training serves as the starting point for students interested in entering Trekkers’ Leadership Program. This program provides experiential learning, teaches lessons in leadership and offers older Trekkers the opportunity to mentor younger Trekkers students.


Trekkers’ newly expanded Leadership Program offers three training weekends to 11th grade students, followed by three training weekends when they progress to the 12th grade. Each subsequent session in the 2-year progression builds upon the topics and skills from the previous training. The weekend retreats focus on a particular theme that is addressed through group discussion, reflection, games, journaling and team-building activities.


The 11th grade Leadership Program begins with lessons in team dynamics. This year’s students challenged themselves on the high and low ropes courses at Kieve’s facilities during their first training session. Their second training session will take place in February. It focuses on the importance of good communication skills and how to use them effectively. The third training session will focus on conflict resolution and introduces mediation skills and techniques that students can apply to their everyday lives. In their senior year of high school, these 11 students will be offered three additional training weekends as part of the program.


Trekkers is currently expanding its programs to serve more students in the Midcoast area. The expansion of the Leadership Program is part of the growing organization’s plan to increase the number of student leaders. The Leadership Training Program is led by Executive Director, Don Carpenter, who feels that “by having students participate in three weekends of leadership lessons during their junior year and following up the training with three more sessions during their senior year, we have created the best possible opportunity for students to be successful in the leadership roles they take on in the community.” Historically, 46% of Trekkers students participate in the Leadership Program and become peer mentors for the younger students.


This spring and summer, the 11 participating juniors will have another opportunity to put their skills to use by volunteering as expedition mentors for Trekkers’ 7th and 8th grade programs. These expeditions range from 3 to 14 days in length, and provide many ways for student leaders to act as role models, mediators and friends to the younger Trekkers.


This year’s Leadership Program expansion is made possible in part by a grant from the Maine Community Foundation’s Knox County Fund.