Mentor FAQs
All mentors must be 19 years of age or older.
Mentors are required to have a background check prior to volunteering.
Mentors are required to participate in a 3-hour onsite certification training at the ranch, along with a 2-hour online youth suicide prevention (QPR) training.
The Aspen Effect director engages with parents to learn as much information as possible in order to match you with your mentee. Mentors receive this information in order to decide whether or not the match is satisfactory.
The Animal Lovers Volunteer Club offers a one-hour meetup for 10 weeks at the Mane Mission Ranch in Sedalia. The 10 week schedule needs to work for parents/youth, The Aspen Effect director and the mentor. Coordination of this schedule occurs via a group text between the three individuals prior to the meetup start date.
All schedule changes need to be coordinated through The Aspen Effect director.
The first meetup will be facilitated by The Aspen Effect at the ranch. Youth and animal safety, program expectations and logistics will be covered in this initial meeting. The new mentor and mentee will tour the ranch together and begin talking about what they would like the next 9 weeks to look like.
Mentors are encouraged to have continuous dialogue with The Aspen Effect director about any questions, concerns or ideas that will help us to improve our programming.
Mentors will have access to our licensed ranch therapist for questions or concerns about their mentee or their mentoring.
Nearly every mentor that volunteers at The Aspen Effect admits that one of the benefits of mentoring is the opportunity to improve our own mental health and resiliency. By stepping onto the ranch property, serving a young person and interacting with animals, we are able to set our worries aside and see our own lives with greater perspective!
We hope you join The Aspen Effect family and create a new, meaningful adventure!