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Description

The Trekkers program in Rockland, ME is a non-profit outdoor-based mentoring program that has served young people in mid-coast Maine since 1994. Its unique long-term mentoring model supports students over six years that begins when they are in 7th grade and continues until they graduate high school. Trekkers’ model focuses on building social, emotional and intellectual resiliency in young people through one-to-one peer mentoring, as well as the use of expeditionary learning, community service and adventure-based education. Trekkers’ programs are designed to provide an ongoing supportive network for young people in the community by connecting them with caring adults while fostering valuable life skills that help the students prepare for a happier and more successful life beyond high school graduation. In 2022, Trekkers reached out to the Data Innovation Project within the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute to engage in an exploratory impact evaluation of their program model. The purpose of this report is to share the results of the exploratory analyses conducted by the research team. The report first shares the methodology, including the primary research questions, data sources, samples, and the statistical methods used to conduct the analysis. The findings of each analysis are presented, followed by a discussion of results and the implications for Trekkers, Inc., its partners, and other youth programs. The findings of this study highlight several promising results that stem from program participation, notably in terms of building resilience and relationships, and the positive outcomes that youth experience subsequently in terms of academic success.

Publication Date

10-2023

Publisher

Trekkers

City

Portalnd, Maine

Keywords

Youth mentoring, positive youth development, Data Innovation Project, Trekkers, rural youth

Disciplines

Art and Design | Digital Humanities | Education | Graphic Design | Interdisciplinary Arts and Media | Statistics and Probability

Comments

Produced by the Data Innovation Project on behalf of Trekkers

Beyond 365 Days: A Retrospective Evaluation of Trekkers


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