BEAR's Peer Mentor Leadership Development Program is aimed at Bitterroot Valley high school students, grades 9-12, who are interested in leading community service projects and providing mentorship to middle school aged youth. In this program mentors will choose and development service projects that interest them, learn about the outdoors and experiential education, share their knowledge with mentees, and foster a supportive environment for the mentor team. Mentors will receive lots of training throughout the year, help mentees with their service learning project, attend after school activities, weekend and overnight trips, and attend a special peer mentor summer camp!

Click here to download the Peer Mentor Application​

WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Teens grades 9-12, who are willing to:

• Be a mentor for youth grades 6-8
• Learn how to develop and execute community service projects
• Learn about outdoor and experiential education & connect with mentees
• ​Foster a supportive environment that promotes trust and personal growth

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Grades 9-12
• Must have an interest in learning about community service, mentoring, outdoor education, and experiential learning.
• Previous experience is preferred but not necessary
• Experience with youth is preferred but not necessary
• Leadership experience is preferred but not necessary
• Creative and playful spirit
• Flexibility and willingness to try new things
• Lifeguard qualifications are very helpful, but not required
• Ability and willingness to make a firm commitment to full participation in all training, and scheduled activities
• Open and honest communication

BENEFITS:

• Training in mentoring best practices, leadership, experiential education, outdoor education, and more. Plus, fun summer activities outdoors!
• Job and college references or letters of recommendation are available after successful completion of the program.

• Stipend of $500 - The Peer Mentor Program focuses on training and skill building. It is not a paid position. The program is similar to an internship. BEAR staff spend several hours training peer mentors and serve as ongoing coaches as they work with mentees during activities. Stipends are given to assist with expenses such as gas/mileage, food and equipment costs the mentor may accrue during this time period, and at times, loss of other potential paid work at another company. Stipends are donor funded and there is not a consistent timeline in which youth will receive them. Stipends will be dispersed within 3-6 months after completion of all requirements (listed below).

HOW IT WORKS:
Peer mentors will fill out an application and return it to the BEAR office. If qualified, they will be called for an interview and references will be checked. We will be accepting up to 4 peer mentors for the 2024-2025 school year.

Peer mentors will become an important person in the lives of BEAR mentees who will look up to you for guidance and support. It is important that applicants are prepared to commit to the program and see it through to the end of the school year and hopefully into the summer!

HIRING PROCESS:

• Accepting applications on a rolling basis
• Be thoughtful in your responses and write clearly.
• Interviews will be held with qualified applicants and references will be called.
• Commitment to mandatory training dates is required for acceptance into the program, even for those who have previously been peer mentors.​

TO APPLY:
Email applications and questions to: 
Breeze McCormack & Ethan Saulnier 
[email protected] , [email protected]
406-209-9901