Outdoor Mentor for Youth

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Serve as a 1:1 mentor to a young person, typically an incoming 10-year-old, or as a small group mentor to several young people starting at 13 years old, from a historically marginalized community to participate in outdoor activities in urban greenspaces around Portland. Please note that this opportunity is cohort based; our 2024 recruitment season is open March 11- May 19.

Commitment:

Initial commitment period for both opportunities is one year, with a strong preference for 1:1 mentors that are able to extend to 2-4 years, and small group mentors that are able to commit to 2 years, if their mentee(s) and family(ies) are also willing and able.

Schedule:

For the younger youth, once weekly individual meetings of 1-1.5 hours with mentee in an outdoor location (plus transportation time), usually on a weekday evening in summer, or bi-weekly meetings of 2+ hours with mentee on a weekend day in winter; plus an average of one longer group activity with mentor-youth cohort and family members on weekends per month, plus quarterly ongoing training or social activities alongside other mentors. Total monthly commitment of 8 to 10 hours per month.

For the older youth cohorts, the total monthly commitment is expected to be 5 to 8 hours a month. This commitment is expected to include several outings per month, between small group outings and larger, communal group outings with other mentor pairs and potentially family members. This new program model is being launched in 2024, and will intentionally include co-decision making with older youth- flexibility and patience will be key in meeting the needs of youth while mentors negotiate a realistic volunteer schedule. Regular co-planning meetings with youth and staff, as well as quarterly ongoing training or social activities alongside other mentors, should be expected.

Responsibilities:

Like in more traditional mentoring programs, Urban Nature Partners mentors are adults that want to make a difference in the life of a young person or persons by spending time with them to earn trust and build a caring relationship. They play this role primarily in an outdoor setting, working with their mentee or mentees in a way that is responsive to their interests, abilities, and background, and helps them make guided choices that will build their well-being, self-confidence and problem-solving skills. UNP mentors become a part of a network in a young person’s family, and community life, and help open up the possibilities that exploring urban nature on their own terms provide for learning about oneself and one’s place in the world.

Small group mentors to older youth will additionally work to increase their autonomy, group problem-solving, and leadership skills, and help guide them to and through additional teen opportunities with partners that could lead to outdoor career paths.

Mentors are responsible for the safety, well being, and informal education of their mentee or mentees on 1:1 and small group outings, and share responsibility for other youth on communal group outings. 1:1 mentors are available for at least half of weekend group activities as well as weekly meetings with their mentee. In the case of the small group mentors for older youth, they are available for all or most commitments made with their mentee group.