BE A MENTOR

Did you know that January is Mentoring Month?

A mentor is an experienced Scout or adult leader who becomes a trusted guide and counselor to a less experienced individual. Mentors are not necessarily someone assigned to the role, but more often than not are someone who naturally found themselves filling a mentorship role.

Mentors ask questions and challenge assumptions.They help Scouts to grow in character and maturity. A Swamp Base high adventure trek is a great vehicle to showcase good mentorship and facilitate growth of character in Scouts. 

A key component of good mentoring is to allow the mentee to grow through challenge and failure. Mentors don’t shout directions or provide all the answers; they give you a map and help you develop the skills you need to navigate the trail and resolve your own challenges as they arise. They help you to become better through your own determination.

Scouting America outlines the Mentor Law as:

• Open-minded: Mentors put aside their own priorities, preferences, and prejudices. Mentors are as willing to be changed as their mentees.

• Patient: Rather than provide answers, mentors help Scouts discover those answers on their own.

• Listener: Mentors should listen more than they talk. Their goal is to help Scouts find their own path.

• Available: Mentors take time to build relationships with their mentees.

• Honest: Mentors tell us what we need to hear, even when we don’t want to hear it.

• Supporter: Mentors help their mentees find the resources they need to grow.

Mentors at Swamp Base bear many different titles: Trek Advisor, Crew Leader, Trek Guide, or may not have a title at all. Anyone can find themselves in a position to be a mentor and it is important that we prepare ourselves to fill that role. 

Everyone deserves a chance to grow, to succeed and fail, and become better because of it. January 28th is "Thank a Mentor Day". Who are the mentors in your life and how have they helped make a difference?

Like a cypress tree provides support for Spanish moss, was there anyone who helped support you during your Swamp Base trek? Feel free to share your mentorship stories or leave a comment thanking a mentor in your life.