We Bring the Classroom Outdoors!

The Camp GEORGE Mentorship Program utilizes the near-peer relationship model. It gives high school students the opportunity to volunteer for a week at overnight Outdoor School, serving 5th and 6th-grade students from across Western Washington.

We will recruit and work with 9th-12th grade students before, during, and after their Outdoor School experience, providing ongoing training, resources, guidance, and support to ensure their success as Mentors. Most of our Mentors come from the same school districts as our student campers, giving them the unique opportunity to give back to their own communities.

The Camp GEORGE Mentorship Program offers high school Mentors the opportunity to earn 125 community service hours upon successful completion of their Outdoor School experience. Camp GEORGE will gladly work with schools and districts to provide school credit as well.

The ‘near-peer role model,’ also known as the ‘near-peer relationship model,’ refers to a mentorship dynamic in which the Mentor is close in age and experience to the mentee, creating a more relatable and approachable connection. At Camp GEORGE, the near-pear relationship bridges the gap between our 5th and 6th-grade students and our High School Mentors, making learning and personal development more engaging and meaningful for everyone involved.

Younger students see High School Mentors as positive role models who are close enough in age to understand their interests, challenges, and experiences. This helps build trust and engagement more quickly than with adult instructors or chaperones. Students often feel more comfortable trying new activities, asking questions, and stepping outside their comfort zones when guided by someone they look up to!

Since many of our High School Mentors come from the same school districts and communities as our student campers, this unique mentorship opportunity has the power to extend far beyond the Outdoor School experience.

Mentors play a crucial role in creating a safe, engaging, and transformative experience for our 5th and 6th graders. The success of our students is a direct reflection of their unwavering dedication, boundless enthusiasm, and positive attitudes. The main roles and responsibilities of our Mentors include but are not limited to:

• Managing a Cabin Group: Living in the cabins with their campers allows Mentors to provide hands-on supervision, behavior management, support, and guidance throughout the week. In their ‘home away from home,’ they help students navigate challenges, build confidence, and form meaningful relationships.

• Outdoor School Educator: Mentors are trained to lead immersive, hands-on instructional areas focusing on various ecosystems and the natural environment. They guide students through exciting field investigations, making learning come alive in a way that is interesting and impactful, creating compassionate environmental stewards. *Mentors are supported by the classroom teacher and/or Camp GEORGE staff, as needed, during our academic rotations.

• Hiking Enthusiast: Mentors become expert tour guides as they lead classes through lush forests and hidden trails. Time spent in the woods is fueled with learning opportunities, adventures, and exploration as our Mentors lead students in engaging activities while taking in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

• Dining Hall Community: At Camp GEORGE, family-style meals are a core part of our program, and our Mentors play a key role in making this dining experience successful. Sitting with a different table group at each meal, Mentors help facilitate conversations, reinforce polite manners, engage in and encourage camper participation during camp songs and presentations, and bring endless energy and enthusiasm to our dining hall.

• Camp-Wide Activities: The positive role models at Camp GEORGE play a crucial part in fostering the FUN and excitement for our student campers. Mentors enthusiastically lead and facilitate a variety of beloved camp traditions, from silly songs and friendly cabin competitions to line dancing, group presentations, community campfires, arts and crafts, and so much more. Lifelong memories are made as campers witness their Mentors showcase their pride and spirit, with a playful, lighthearted attitude.

We believe passionate and dedicated Mentors create the best experience for our students and that’s why we take our application and selection process seriously. Our Camp GEORGE Mentorship Program is a unique opportunity for high school students in grades 9-12 to step into a leadership role at overnight Outdoor School. The application process works as follows:

The process begins by submitting a detailed and competitive application along with a strong teacher recommendation. We are looking for students who demonstrate excellent communication and time management skills, strong leadership skills, good school attendance, and most importantly - a positive impact on their school and community. However, the written application and initial acceptance into our Camp GEORGE Mentorship Program is just the first step in the selection process.

The next step is an invitation to attend Mentor Training Weekend (MTW), where you’ll learn exactly what it takes to be a Mentor! Those who work hard and excel at MTW are invited to volunteer as a Mentor for a full week of Outdoor School. Once a Mentor has successfully completed their assigned Outdoor School week, they have officially completed the Camp GEORGE Mentorship Program for that specific Outdoor School experience.

If your Mentor application is selected, the next step is to attend Mentor Training Weekend (MTW). MTW is fast-paced, hands-on, and packed with everything you need to know to be successful. In just 32 hours, you’ll experience Outdoor School from a camper’s perspective - singing camp songs, hiking the trails, eating family-style meals, learning campfire traditions, and taking a deep dive into all things related to Camp GEORGE curriculum, instructional areas, and programming.

You’ll also attend various workshops on leadership and team building, youth stages and development, behavior management, and teaching strategies so you’re ready to lead our academic rotations and manage a cabin of younger students during your overnight experience. Think of it as a crash course in everything Camp GEORGE!

You’ll practice real-life student scenarios, sharpen your communication and critical thinking skills, and step into the role of a Mentor while our staff guides and supports you through the experience. It’s intense, exciting, fun, and one of the most rewarding weekends you’ll ever have. If you’re up for a challenge, MTW is where it begins! *Please note, you are not allowed to attend a week of Outdoor School without attending Mentor Training Weekend, there are no exceptions.

Great question! If your high school is interested in our Camp GEORGE Mentorship Program or having a Camp GEORGE team member visit for an informational session, please email us at info@camp-george.org We are eager and excited to work with your high school students, faculty, and school community.