Trekkers Launches New Pilot Program!

Thomaston, Maine -  On March 23rd, twelve  Junior and Senior Oceanside High School students and three adult Career Mentors, completed the first workshop in a new Trekkers’ program called Success through Employment and Educational Development  or SEED. SEED is a pilot program developed by Trekkers to help 11th and 12th grade students name, know and nourish their future aspirations during a ten-week program this spring.  At the heart of the program is a 40-hour paid internship for students in the local business community.  This paid internship will help participating students connect their developing interests and passions to real-world employment experiences.

Between now and April 25th, Trekkers Special Projects Coordinator Rose Swan will be recruiting businesses to participate as host organizations for these twelve interns.  Trekkers will disburse funds to organizations to cover the costs of paying the student’s wages during their employment.  A few of the professional fields Trekkers will be recruiting in are journalism, filmmaking and interior design.  Organizations
interested in hosting an intern are encouraged to contact the Trekkers office for further information.  

In addition to the paid internship, students will participate in a series of six Professional Development Workshops.  These workshops will give students the opportunity to gain greater clarity about their passions, strengths, values, and styles of leadership as they relate to a particular area of professional interest.   Students will also explore important soft skills for success, such as communication and professionalism.

With the cost of living on the rise, there is increasing pressure on youth to make informed decisions about their path after high school, whether it be college focused or workplace oriented. Trekkers is aware of the challenges and demands of pursuing either post-secondary education or direct workforce entry.  It is Trekkers’ intention that the SEED project, made possible by a gift from the Leon Lowenstein Foundation, Inc., will help students be better informed when choosing a college major or following a particular professional path in the workplace.

In developing SEED, Trekkers was fortunate to consult with other established youth programs that are also addressing the need for real-world employment experiences.  These programs include Youth Matter’s: Youth Empowerment Through Employment Program (YETE) (http://www.youthmatter.net/YETE.html ), the School to Career Program at Oceanside East High School, and the Island Scholar’s Internship Program of the Island Institute (http://www.islandinstitute.org/islandscholarsinternshipprogram.php).

Trekkers serves local youth from the communities of Cushing, Owls Head, Rockland, Thomaston, South Thomaston, and St. George.  For more information about Trekkers or the SEED program, contact the Trekkers office (207) 594-5095.