AUBURN — During the summer four local youth from the Auburn-Lewiston Boys and Girls Club had an opportunity to attend the Appalachian Mountain Club Teen Wilderness Programs.

Spencer Brown is currently a first year student attending the University of Maine at Orono, studying mechanical engineering. Brown was awarded the trip for being an outstanding member of the Sports Leadership Club.

He attended a 6-day program that included three days of hiking, two days of rock climbing and a day of canoeing. “The trip was a great way to meet new people and the experience helped me become much more outgoing,” Brown said.

Reginald Beaulieu, a seventh grade student at Lewiston Middle School, was awarded the trip as a staff choice.

He attended a 7-day hiking and canoeing program that included summiting Mount Jefferson and paddling on Mooselookmeguntic Lake. “That was my first time away from home; although I missed home, the trip was one of my best life experiences,” Beaulieu said.

Nicole Morin is a first-year student at Saint Joseph’s College studying nursing. She was selected as Youth of the Year at the Auburn-Lewiston Boys and Girls Club and was awarded a 7-day Teen Wilderness Program.

Morin chose the Wilderness First Aid Program because she felt it would help her get some hands-on experience to enhance her nursing studies. Her program included litter carries, search/rescue, and improvised first aid techniques. Much of the training was done on Mount Washington. “The program gave me a strong appreciation for nature and allowed me to meet lots of new friends,” Morin said.

Alia Davidson is a seventh grade student at Lewiston Middle School and was selected as the Junior Youth of the year for the Auburn-Lewiston Boys and Girls Club. She was awarded and attended a 7-day backpacking and canoeing Appalachian Mountain Club Teen Wilderness trip.

All of the trips were fully funded by the Bridge Run Foundation, using proceeds from the L-A Bridge Run, a 5K running race that began in 1998 and occurs at the end of August every year.

The foundation encourages and supports active outdoor experiences for area youth to promote health and well-being. For more information go to www.triplecrown5k.com