Trekkers adds one new staff person, two new projects!

Trekkers, a nonprofit outdoor-based youth mentoring organization, continues its six year expansion with the addition of a Special Projects Coordinator.  Rose Swan, a Dixfield, Maine native, has joined the Trekkers staff to coordinate two new projects for local youth.

In the role of Special Projects Coordinator, Ms. Swan will help launch two new projects for Trekkers.  One is an exciting new program to help 11th and 12th grade students discover what they are passionate about during their high school career, helping them become more successful in making their future goals a reality.  This program will also help juniors and seniors connect their developing passions to real-world opportunities within the local business community through “internships.”  Rose will be developing the curriculum for this program, as well as recruiting student interns and prospective employers to host them.  It is Trekkers’ hope that this project, made possible by a gift from the Leon Lowenstein Foundation, Inc., will help students be better prepared when choosing a college option or seeking a particular career path.

Another project that Rose will be coordinating involves Trekkers’ new partnership with the Program in Education and Afterschool Resiliency (PEAR), a joint initiative between Harvard University and McClean Hospital in Boston.  PEAR creates and fosters evidence-based initiatives to help young people learn, dream, and thrive.  Its programs and projects are established in the Boston Public School System and are also being replicated in other parts of the country. This project will help build even more resiliency and academic success for the local youth that Trekkers serves.  Trekkers is thrilled to have Rose on board to coordinate this partnership with such an esteemed organization.

Trekkers is now in the second half of a six-year expansion plan that will nearly double the number of students participating in its unique youth mentoring program. Trekkers serves local youth from the communities of Cushing, Owls Head, Rockland, Thomaston, South Thomaston, and St. George.  As the expansion progresses, Trekkers will continue to strengthen and enhance its relationships with the community by connecting students with caring adults.  The addition of Rose Swan as Special Projects Coordinator is a perfect way to continue this vision.

Boatbuilding School Launch of New Projects

Rockland, Maine - On Friday, June 14, 1:00 pm, The Apprenticeshop (the school for traditional

boatbuilding and seamanship in Rockland, Maine) invites the community to celebrate the graduation of apprentices from its 2-year boatbuilding program and cheer them on as they launch their newest traditional wooden boat projects.

This year, an 11’6” Herreshoff Columbia dinghy, a 12’ Robert Steward Susan skiff, a 12’ John Atkin Nina sailing dinghy and a 29’ Leonard Boatshop whaleboat will launch from the school’s waterfront at 643 Main Street. Launch is held rain or shine.

The build of the whaleboat is a contribution to the historic preservation effort at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut to restore the 106’ bark Charles W. Morgan: the last remaining wooden whaleship in the world.  The Morgan carried seven whaleboats per voyage.  These were the boats that were lowered off the deck once a whale was sighted and the hunt ensued. As part of its full restoration, Mystic officials needed to replicate these 28-29’ vessels, and conducted a national search for small boatshops to participate.  The Apprenticeshop was the only shop in Maine chosen.

Students and staff plan a rowing expedition to Mystic in late June to deliver the whaleboat and honor the seafaring traditions of Maine.