Becoming a Mentor

Being a Community Friends Mentor is about having fun. It’s about sharing time and exploring the world together. Our mentors provide inspiration, acceptance, challenge, a sympathetic ear, and exposure to new ideas and activities. If you can be a good friend to a young person, you can be a great mentor.

Mentoring pairs meet on their own in the community, sharing activities that they both enjoy. Free and low-cost activities are encouraged and might include things like bike riding, baking, working on a project, fishing, exploring the community or just hanging out.

How to Become a Mentor

Community Friends Mentoring gets to know you during a careful enrollment process in order to find the best matches for our mentors. We base our matches on common interests, location, and time considerations and Community Friends staff will be available to support your match through any bumpy moments.

To become a mentor, please download a mentor application. Email Kristen Hayden-West, program coordinator, or call 802.488.6650 to learn more about the program and have your questions answered.

Mentors’ Frequently Asked Questions

I am so busy. Do I have time to be a mentor? 

All of our volunteers lead busy lives, but they find that the time spent with a child is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of their week. The key to a successful mentoring relationship is that matches meet on a regular basis. For most matches, this means getting together approximately two to three hours per week. Other matches set a consistent every-other-week schedule.

Do I need to be an expert?

No, we welcome mentors with all levels of experience. The Community Friends Mentor training will provide you with lots of helpful information about being a mentor. We also offer workshops on a variety of subjects related to mentoring and child development, and the Community Friends staff will always be available to lend a hand.

What will I do with my mentee?

As a mentor, you will spend about three hours per week with your mentee, doing activities of your choice. We encourage free and low-cost activities such as hiking Mt. Philo, bike riding along the lake, or baking cookies. The Community Friends staff sends out a monthly newsletter with upcoming events and activities within the community to give you ideas. Need help finding activities? Check out the Resources for Current Mentors page.

As a mentor in Chittenden County, you will also receive a MOBIUS card that provides mentoring pairs with discounts to several area attractions. Community Friends Mentoring also provides free tickets for theater, sporting and cultural events when available, as well as holds quarterly mentor-mentee activities such as potlucks, apple picking and swim parties.