URBAN NATURE PARTNERS PDX

Cause Area

Children & Youth
Community
Environment
Race & Ethnicity
Sports & Recreation

Location

9201 SE Foster Rd#204PORTLAND, OR 97266 United States

Website:

http://urban-nature-partners.org/

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Website:
http://urban-nature-partners.org/

Active Opportunities (1)

Outdoor Mentor for Youth

Flexible Schedule | Portland, OR 97266

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.

Date Posted: 2024-03-12

Organization Information

Mission Statement

Urban Nature Partners PDX empowers youth from historically marginalized Portland communities through long term one-on-one mentoring relationships and access to meaningful outdoor experiences.

Description

OUR SERVICES

We provide basic outdoor gear and resources, information about and transportation to neighborhood natural areas, and adult guidance to remove barriers to lower income youth and families taking advantage of greater Portland’s superlative network of urban greenspaces.

Values: Equity

Since simply providing access to the outdoors is not enough, we actively dismantle barriers by elevating the leadership of BIPOC folks and other marginalized populations, while also using ally privileges to demand a space for everyone in the outdoors and nature based programming and professions.

Relationships

We practice shared decision making within long term relationships- within our organization, and with partners that share our values, goals, and competencies- that create mutual benefits and advance equity.

Youth Voice

We center the inherent capabilities of each individual youth, emphasizing meaning and skills from their culture and experience. We commit to amplifying the voice of each youth in our program and in communities, through empowering decision making and leadership skills.

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URBAN NATURE PARTNERS PDX

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