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The Community Outdoor Mentorship Training is a new program from the Outdoor Sport Institute (OSI) being offered exclusively to students in four Maine High Schools* this school year.
The goal is to build your comfort and ability in active outdoor pursuits, while also building your ability to positively influence your own life and the community around you.
During the course you will work with a teacher advisor in your school, professional coaches from OSI, and other students like yourself on the following -
Developing skills in outdoor sports including mountain biking, hiking, flatwater paddling, and whitewater paddling
Feeling your best physically and mentally
Creating strong habits to achieve the things that matter most to you
Connecting to your community and environment in a way that helps you thrive
Overview
The program includes a weekly online session through February and March, followed by…
A 10-day road trip kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking in the Southeastern U.S. This will take place over April Break, leaving the Thursday before school gets out.
After April break you will conclude the program by spending at least eight hours mentoring middle school aged students in your community in the outdoor activities you’ve learned.
Completion of the training earns you a certification from OSI in Community Outdoor Mentorship, showing you’ve earned a special skill set that makes you a more powerful asset in your community.
Who’s it for?
This program is for you, if you have the following:
An interest in learning more about outdoor activities like paddling, hiking, or mountain biking.
An interest in learning how to more effectively pursue the things that matter to you in any area of your life.
An interest in being part of supportive, positive, and even hilarious community
An interest in exploring the world around you, whether out your back door, or a thousand miles from home.
A willingness to make life a little better for other people.
Who’s it NOT for?
You won’t enjoy this program if –
You’re unwilling to get a little uncomfortable.
You don’t want to meet new people.
You don’t want to be physically active.
You’re more interested in getting a grade than learning things you can apply to your own life.
Requirements
In order to apply for this program you need to:
Be willing to spend an hour+ a week for 8 weeks to complete the online portion of the training.
Be able to participate in the field experience from April 16th to 25th, (This includes April School Break)
Be willing to complete 8 hours of mentorship time with middle school students in your community from late April to late May
Applying & Important Course Dates
NOW - Get a link to the online application from your teacher advisor. Not sure who that is? Email mike@outdoorsi.org to find out.
December 2019 - Submit the application by Tuesday, December 17th. Accepted applicants will be notified by Monday, December 23rd.
January 2020 – Once accepted into the program, you’ll receive a program packet outlining the course in detail.
February & March 2020 – Starting on the week of Feb 3rd you’ll complete weekly interactive sessions online and with your peers.
April 16th to 25th, 2020 – We’ll hit the road for a 10-day trip during April break in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. We’ll be camping, paddling, biking, and hiking our way throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southeastern USA.
May 2020 – With the support of your teacher, you’ll spend at least 8 hours applying what you’ve learned to help local middle school students gain outdoor sport skills of their own. Upon completion of these hours, you’ll earn your Community Mentorship Certification from OSI.
About OSI
The mission of OSI is to strengthen communities through outdoor sport, and explore outdoor sport through community. We believe outdoor sports such as biking, paddling, skiing, and hiking can foster personal skills we all need to improve like self-confidence, resilience, discipline, humor, risk management, judgment, and decision making. We believe everyone in a community has the ability to be a positive mentor to others, and we want to help you build that ability in yourself.
*Participating High Schools -
East Grand School in Danforth
Schenck High School in East Millinocket
Stearns High School in Millinocket
Somerset Career & Technical Center in Skowhegan