Trekkers Hosts Forum on Internet Safety

Rockland, Maine - Trekkers is hosting a free community forum on the topic of Internet Safety on Wednesday, May 27th from 5:00 to 6:30pm at the Strand Theatre in Rockland. This informational forum will be open to the public and presented by SASSMM (Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine). Trekkers is excited to be working with SASSMM to bring this informative evening to the community. The goal is to help parents, families, and those who work with youth to walk away feeling empowered, as well as encouraged, in knowing that they aren’t alone in dealing with this difficult and sometimes confusing subject.

SASSMM will focus the presentation on raising awareness about identifying hurtful online behaviors (cyber-bullying, cyber-harassment, sexting), and will provide helpful instruction on intervention techniques, encouraging parents to think critically about their child's online interactions. The talk will also increase awareness of the online sexual victimization of youth, and empower them to support victims of cyberbullying. It is Trekkers’ goal that the presentation will help families and attendees see how a child's online habits and behaviors can affect "offline" lives.

The May 27th presentation is the first in a new initiative called “Trekkers Family Forums.” The main purpose of the Family Forums is to bring together parents, guardians and families to hear experts on topics, such as cyber-bullying, suicide prevention, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, the impact of technology use/Internet, building resiliency, mental health issues and many others. Trekkers is also inviting local youth serving organizations, educators, and other interested stake-holders in the community to attend the presentations. Trekkers plans to schedule up to three of these forums per school year.

The upcoming Family Forum on Internet Safety is supported by the following: Camden-Rockport PTA, Georges River Education Foundation (GREF), Horch Roofing, Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSM) and the Strand Theatre.

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. Trekkers serves 7th through 12th grade students from the six communities of RSU #13: Cushing, Owls Head, Rockland, South Thomaston, St. George and Thomaston. For more information about Trekkers or the Family Forums, please visit www.trekkers.org or call 207-594-5095.