MENTOR IN TRAINING 2024

Spring & Summer Mentor in Training Program

Join us for a short semester to become a “Mentor in Training”!!! 

We will laugh. We will create. We will build.

We will grow together in nature mentoring. 

Students will learn about the Coyote’s Way of Nature Mentoring (Jon Young’s, http://coyotoesguide.com) and will hone in their connection and foster their own pathway of how to lead nature connection in others.

In a time where disconnect is growing and resilience is dwindling, 

NOW is the time to CONNECT! Join us on this journey! 

This is the program to join if you would like to be an MIT or Apprentice during VFFS summer camp.

Mentors in Training (MITs) are 12-14 years old, and are looking for a little more than the carefree camp experience! They are at VFFS to grow their leadership and nature/crafting skills, be awesome role models for younger campers, and be helpful and supportive to staff. As an MIT gains experience and/or wants to challenge themself, they will be given opportunities to share skills and lead activities with campers with staff support. MITs are also learning to be more aware of group dynamics, their ability to share skills, and the structure and intention that goes into a day of camp. And of course, they are at VFFS to have fun! Attending this program allows you to help during our summer camp weeks and put your skills to use!

Details: Both MIT and Apprentices join us for a series of community-building workshops and a week of immersion and summer camp preparation! Students will build skills that will last a lifetime and that can be shared with VFFS summer camp. If you are interested in joining as an Apprentice or MIT during summer camp, this program is required. 

Program Facilitators:

Ashley Piccirillo

Ryan Johns (summer only)

Misse Axelrod

Yasi Zeichner (behind the scenes)

Dates: 

Saturday, April 13th 9am-Noon in Roxbury

Tuesday, April 30th 7-8pm Zoom Meet (pathway accountability check in)

Saturday, May 11th 9am-Noon In Roxbury

Tuesday, May 28th 7-8pm Zoom Meet (pathway accountability check in)

June 24-28th MIT Leadership Week – this will be a full week of camp 8:30-3pm with one overnight. Students will hone in their leadership and skills path and will conclude with an overnight backpacking trip.

Sliding Scale Tuition:

Pay it Forward: $625

True Cost: $575

Financial Assistance: $350-$475

Sliding Scale Tuition without the full week of camp (this is a great taste test) – this means you cannot MIT or Apprentice during summer camp season:

Pay it Forward: $150

True Cost: $80

Financial Assistance: $25-$75

Mentoring during summer camp is cost is $200/week. At least two weeks are required.

MENTOR Apprenticeship

15 + Years Old:

Mentor Apprentices are 15+ years old, have had one or more years of MIT experience at VFFS (or equivalent experience elsewhere), and apply for a stipend assistant/apprentice position at VFFS. This role comes with more responsibility than an MIT role. Mentor Apprentices are more capable of leading/co-leading groups of kids, and will be expected to lead (with support) portions of the day throughout the week (examples: story time, a skills workshop, a wild woods wander, a game). There is a limited number of Mentor Apprentice openings during summer camps.

Prerequisite: must have been a MIT for at least one year or have previous experience. If you have not attended the MIT training or been an MIT, you can join the spring and summer program to acquire the necessary training.

Session cost:  This is a stipend position – $300/week.