To get involved as a Wolftree mentor, please fill out our online application or feel free to contact us directly to find out more.
Wolftree programs are unique and successful because of the committed and dedicated mentors who guide students in scientific investigations in the field. Mentors are professional biologists, natural resource specialists, and naturalists who enjoy working with young people in the outdoors. Mentors share their passion for science and nature by safely guiding small teams of students on a rigorous, exploratory journey where they use scientific tools and the inquiry process to make sense of the natural world. Our mentor-to-student ratio averages 1:5, which provides a superb learning environment. Mentors give students a rare and invaluable opportunity to have individual interactions with professionals and learn more about the science and natural resources.
TRAINING AND PREPARATION
Through mentor workshops and/or shadowing*, mentors receive training on Wolftree’s educational approach and on teaching techniques that engage students in the science inquiry process through active questioning. Mentors are encouraged to learn along with their team, leading by example and enthusiasm. Our education programs are renowned for their flexibility, which provide mentors the opportunity to take advantage of ‘learning moments’, of which there are many in the field!
*Mentors “shadow” by observing a seasoned mentor in action in the field.
All mentors receive Wolftree’s Ecology Field Guide (EFG) to assist with their preparation for working with students. The EFG is an illustrated, 150-page user-friendly publication that includes:
- our science education approach and tips on mentoring;
- background readings on science inquiry and core ecological concepts that the students are introduced to; and
- background information, procedures, data sheets and more information about the field activities that Wolftree offers.
IN THE COMMUNITY
We encourage Wolftree mentors and teachers to keep in touch after the field day, taking advantage of every opportunity to enhance and enrich students’ scientific studies back in the classroom. Mentors may help a class by providing expertise related to their restoration project on school grounds or by becoming a resource for job shadows or internships. Not only do students benefit, but the community becomes more cohesive with active citizens engaged in learning about their local ecosystems together.
PARTNERSHIP FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION
Our pool of almost 300 mentors hail from nearly 70 organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Some mentors join us for a day or two each year, others for a day or two each week. We formally recognize those institutions which provide consistent and solid support for Wolftree’s Watershed Science Projects.
