Explorers Mentor Apprentice
Welcome Explorers Mentor Apprentices (EMA)!
2023-24 EMA Training & Celebration
Saturday, September 2, 2023 | 10:00-2:00PM | Lake Padden
On this day, we’ll review the expectations of the program, handout EMA folders, play lots of games, and craft individual yearly goals.
Please come prepared as you would to any normal Explorers Club outing. Bring rain gear, lunch, water, your nature journal, and a writing utensil.
Directions: 4882 S. Samish Way, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 252 (Samish Way). Drive south on S. Samish Way for approx. 2.4 miles. Turn west onto Lakeshore Dr. (same as Lake Padden Golf Course entrance). Continue to park and the first shelter near the playground. If you’ve gone to the dog park and road end, you’ve gone too far! Map.
SUmmer 2024 EMA Training & Celebration
Spring 2024 TBA
On this day, we’ll review the expectations of the program, handout EMA folders, play lots of games, and craft individual yearly goals.
Please come prepared as you would to any normal Explorers Club outing. Bring rain gear, lunch, water, your nature journal, and a writing utensil.
Directions: TBD
An Explorers Mentor Apprentice (EMA) is introduced to mentoring techniques such as leading from behind, risk assessment, skill sharing, game facilitation, and group leadership.
EMA’s are challenged to deepen their own outdoor skills, asked to step into new forms of leadership, and are given the opportunity to share their love and connection with nature with younger Explorers.
responsibilities
Sustained Mentorship
As an EMA, we request that you attend at least five (5) outings of a younger group’s season. You will work alongside group mentors as a part of their mentoring team. In doing so, you will have an opportunity to explore your leadership styles and grow into new ones as well.
For every outing, we ask that you arrive 15 minutes early and stay 15 minutes after the scheduled outing time in order to pre-brief and de-brief the outing with your mentoring team.
Guided Reflection
We will provide you with prompts to help you reflect on your EMA experiences. As mentors, we recognize that you get the most out of experiences when you allow proper time and energy to reflect on them. After each outing, you will reflect on your outing using the provided journal prompts. Additionally, you will also complete a culminating reflection that happens at the end of the year.
Outing Expectations
When you attend an outing as an EMA, you are held to different expectations than when you attend an outing as an Explorer. Your job is nuanced and complex, but the expectations below should illustrate how you can show up as a supportive mentor.
Youth Leadership: It is expected that you show up to each outing ready to set personal leadership goals, conduct yourself responsibly, and set an example for the younger Explorers. What areas of mentorship are you interested in refining and what tools/methods will you use to do so? The other mentors are your #1 support system here, so please utilize them.
Group Support: It is expected that you are an engaged member of the mentoring team for each outing that you attend. That means being a part of outing pre-briefs, debriefs, and mentor check-ins that happen throughout the day. What does the group need right now? How should we stretch their edges? We want to hear your voice and utilize your experience.
Risk Management: In Explorers Club, the most important motto is Safety First. Safety means physical safety, mental safety, and heart safety. It is our expectation that you will:
Act in a safe and responsible manner: Younger Explorers will follow the example you set - good or bad!
Help the younger Explorers make safe and smart decisions, i.e. Collaborate and Compromise and S.T.O.P. circles
If you notice anything happening on an outing that you feel is unsafe, say something. Never hesitate to talk to the mentors or participants about safety.
There are a limited number of EMA positions available. To be considered for a spot, please email explorersclub@wildwhatcom.org by no later than August 1.