2024-25 OSPREY Camp Mentor Application

Application Process

1) The first step in the application process is to submit a competitive application. This information provides OSPREY Camp Staff with their first impression of you! Please, take the time to answer each question thoughtfully and thoroughly.

2) If you are selected during the first-round application process and invited to attend Mentor Training, please note that a Mentor Training (MT) is the next step in the application process only. This does not guarantee you will be selected to attend a week of camp as a Mentor. Please plan on attending a MT and showing us the very BEST version of yourself!

3) Our final Mentor selection process is based on the overall summary of the following areas:

A) Submission of a thorough and competitive Mentor application.
B) Attending MT and participating to the fullest extent, including a brief 1:1 interivew during the training with OSPREY Staff.
C) Detailed Mentor evaluations provided by our OSPREY Camp Staff / Volunteer Staff throughout MTW.

FINAL MENTOR SELECTION: The final selection of Mentors will be determined by the OSPREY Director and is non-negotiable!

It is very important for you to consider the demands this commitment will have on your time and any school/work/extracurricular responsibilities. Schoolwork is your responsibility to complete prior to attending OSPREY Camp or upon your return to school. We are counting on our selected Mentors to fulfill their obligations. It is your responsibility to communicate with your teachers, well in advance of your assigned camp week, and make any necessary arrangements. Please ensure you understand this information thoroughly before submitting your application.

The Mentor Role at OSPREY Camp

The mission of OSPREY Camp, which stands for Opportunities for Stewardship Promoting Respect for the Environment and Youth, is to provide meangingful outdoor experiences for all of our youth and adult participants. At OSPREY Camp, 5th & 6th grade students attend a overnight outdoor school experience with their teacher and their class. The role of our high school Mentor is a vital component to our program. Through a competitive application process, high school students are screened, selected, and trained to ensure they are exemplary role models who can provide a safe and positive OSPREY Camp experience for our students.

The influence our Mentors have on our 5th & 6th grade students is profound. Our students look to their Mentors for guidance and direction. The success achieved by our students is in direct proportion to the enthusiasm shared, dedication shown, and positive attitude maintained by our Mentors. With the assistance of their Mentors and teachers, students study a variety of environmental and ecological concepts, via hands-on lessons and activities, and apply them to the natural world. Living onsite at OSPREY Camp provides a safe and supportive environment for the development of social, emotional, and life-learning skills. Along with the direct supervision and support of our adult OSPREY Camp Staff, Mentors provide hands-on care, behavior management, and supervision during their time at camp.

All high school students who successfully complete the OSPREY Camp Mentorship Program will earn 105 certified community service hours. *Kent School District Students Only: High school students who successfully complete the OSPREY Camp Mentorship Program will be eligible to receive a 0.5 Career & Technical Education credit. Students will gain valuable career exploration opportunities and hands-on learning experience while working directly with 5th grade students from the Kent School District community.

Mentor Training: To ensure our Mentors are thoroughly prepared, all applicants are required to attend our Mentor Training (MT). Trainings are either an overnight, two-day training event, or a 1-Day Training held at a KSD school. Both will equally prepare you to be a mentor. Our Mentor Training Weekend provides new mentors the oppurtunity to bond with other Mentors and familiarize themselves with the OSPREY Property before their week of camp.

Mentor Trainings provides potential Mentors the opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge and experience in our instructional areas, learn exemplary teaching, communication, and leadership skills, participate in camp program activities, gain knowledge and experience in behavior management strategies, and better understand the active role our Mentors play in the overall success of our students and the OSPREY Camp program as a whole.

Please Note: You cannot attend a week of OSPREY Camp without attending Mentor Training. There are no exceptions.

Name*

First Name (Legal)Preferred Name Last Name (Legal)

Birthday*

Date

Gender*

Pronouns*

Phone Number*

Please enter a valid phone number.

Email*

example@example.com

Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

What school do you attend?*

Student #?*

Allergies / Dietary Needs?*

Grade?*

Briefly describe how you contribute to your community: (e.g., volunteering, working with youth, babysitting, leadership positions in school, etc.)*

Why do you want to be an OSPREY Camp Mentor? Please be specific.*

What languages do you speak? (Even a little counts!)

Are you a returning mentor? Returning mentors have already completed a Mentor Training and attended a week of camp.*

YESNO

RETURNING MENTORS ONLY - Which week of camp can you attend?

If you are NOT a returning Mentor please type in the date(s) of Mentor Training you are interested in attending.*

October 11th (Friday)January 18th (Saturday)April 19th (Saturday)N/A (Returning mentor)