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Mentorship

 

BCMC MENTORSHIP PROGRAM | Winter 2024-25

 

 

Applications are now closed for the Winter 2024-25 Season. Applications for the Summer 2025 season will open April 1, 2025.

 

For the Winter 2024-25 Season, we received 121 mentee applications. 86 mentees were selected and paired with 25 mentors.

 

BCMC is pleased to announce the launch of its Mentorship Program for the Winter 2024-25 Season. Starting October 1, 2024, we will accept Mentor and Mentee applications for mountain sports such as Ski Mountaineering, Backcountry Skiing, Split Boarding and Snowshoeing. Please note that availability of Mentors might impact our ability to include some of these mountain sports in the Mentorship Program.

 

APPLICATION FORMS

 

Mentees | Mentors

 

Mentor and Mentee Applications must be received by 11:55 pm on October 15, 2024.

  

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

 

The primary objective of the Mentorship Program is to provide BCMC members access and opportunity to learn and practice skills in a safe and trusting environment. The program will also help Mentors and Mentees enhance competencies and confidence in the chosen mountain sport.

 

Mentorship is not a replacement for formal guiding or training, and Mentors are not certified mountain guides. Mentees are encouraged to augment their skills development with formal training independently or through BCMC training events.

 

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FEE $50

 

For the Winter 2024-25 Season, we are introducing a $50 fee for Mentees and all selected Mentees need to pay this fee before the meetup at the ANZA Club on November 5, 2024. Mentees who drop out before November 30, 2024 will be given a full refund. The main goal of this fee is to ensure Mentee commitment to the program. The fee will be used to fund Q&A with professionals (guides/coaches), food and drinks for mentee meetups, etc. More to come on this later in the season.

 

EXPECTATIONS FROM A MENTOR:

  • Active BCMC Membership with BCMC Waiver Status as Current
  • Commit to at least one mentorship trip per month or four trips during the season.
  • Based on feedback from the previous Mentorship Program, we ask Mentors to post trips on the BCMC website with tentative dates for the entire season by November 30, 2024. Planning trips in advance will help Mentees sign up for the trips and avoid scheduling conflicts.
  • Attend Mentee-Mentor Meetup for potential Mentors and Mentees on November 5, 2024, 07:00-09:00 pm at The Anza Club. All potential Mentors will be notified about the meetup by October 31, 2024.
  • Has appropriate and adequate technical skills and experience in the chosen mountain sport
  • Creates a safe and trusting learning environment for Mentees
  • Respect the Mentee’s preferences shared as part of the application process
  • Is willing to share expertise and also learn from the mentorship experience
  • Open to receiving and providing honest and constructive feedback
  • Own the required gear to lead a trip for the chosen mountain sport
  • Is responsible for getting to the meetup point for mentorship trips. Mentors can carpool with Mentors/Mentees to share the travel cost. BCMC will not reimburse Mentors or Mentees for the transportation cost.
  • Meets the secondary set of criteria specific to each mountain sport, e.g. AST-1 course for Backcountry Skiing

EXPECTATIONS FROM A MENTEE:

  • Active BCMC Membership with BCMC Waiver Status as Current
  • Commit to at least one mentorship trip per month or four trips during the season. BCMC will ask Mentors to post trips with tentative dates for the entire season by November 30, 2024. If you cannot join at least four of these trips during the season, BCMC will reconsider your participation in the program. If you sign up for trips and don’t show up or cancel on short notice without any valid justification, you will not be eligible to apply for future BCMC Mentorship programs.
  • Attend Mentee-Mentor Meetup for potential Mentors and Mentees on November 5, 2024, 07:00-09:00 pm at The Anza Club. All potential Mentees will be notified about the Meetup by October 31, 2024.
  • Respects the Mentor’s preferences shared as part of the application process
  • Has identified at least one developmental goal for the season
  • Is open to receiving constructive feedback and willing to learn from the mentorship experience
  • Owns or can rent required gear related to the chosen mountain sport
  • Is responsible for getting to the meetup point for mentorship trips. Mentees can carpool with Mentor(s)/other Mentees to share the travel cost. BCMC will not reimburse Mentors or Mentees for the transportation cost.
  • Meet the secondary set of criteria specific to each mountain sport, e.g. AST-1 course for Backcountry Skiing
  • BCMC is a volunteer-driven organization. At the completion of the program, Mentees are highly encouraged to give back to the club in any capacity - as a trip organizer, trail maintenance volunteer, Mentor, club volunteer, etc.

MENTOR-MENTEE PAIRING PROCESS:

Based on the feedback we received from the previous programs, we will have a two-step pairing process this season.

Step 1: Mentors will select Mentees based on the application.

Key criteria:

  • Commitment: Is the Mentee committed to the program?
  • Goals: What does the Mentee want to achieve from this program?
  • Skills and Fitness: What is the Mentee's current skill and fitness level in the chosen mountain sport?
  • Preferences: Does the Mentee have specific preferences?
  • Volunteer History: BCMC members who have volunteered with the club in any capacity will be given preference.

All potential Mentors and Mentees selected for the meetup will be notified by October 31, 2024.

Step 2: Mentor-Mentee Meetup on November 5, 2024, at The Anza Club:

The goal is to provide an opportunity for Mentors and Mentees to meet each other and discuss goals, preferences, fitness/skill level, potential dates, etc. We will also have a Q&A session about the program, expectations, required support, etc. Mentors/Mentees will have an opportunity to do some trips together in November and any changes to the group needs to be finalized by November 30, 2024.

 

MENTOR INCENTIVES:  

Mentors who complete the mentorship program will be eligible for the following incentives at the end of the program:

  • BCMC Pro Discount Program for a year
  • Up to 50% reimbursement (maximum of $200) on any guided instructional course that you take within a year of completing the mentorship program

 

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM Q&A:

BCMC will host an Online Q&A Session on October 7, 2024, 07:00 pm - 08:00 pm, to answer questions about the Mentorship Program. The Q&A session is open to anyone interested in joining the Mentorship Program as a Mentee or a Mentor. You can find answers to all the questions from previous winter/summer programs here - Google Document

We will also host another Mentors Only Q&A Session on October 16, 2024, 07:00 pm - 08:00 pm to answer questions about Mentee selection. This session is only for Winter 2024-25 Season Mentors.

 

APPLICATION FORMS

 

Mentees | Mentors

 

KEY DATES:

 

October 1, 2024 - Mentor and Mentee applications open

 

October 7, 2024 - Online Q&A Session, 07:00 pm - 08:00 pm. Sign up if you are interested in becoming a Mentee or a Mentor and have questions about the program

 

October 15, 2024 - 11:55 pm, Mentor and Mentee applications close

 

October 16, 2024 - Mentors Only Q&A Session, 07:00 pm - 08:00 pm. Session to discuss mentee selection and answer questions about the program.

 

October 30, 2024 - Communication to all Mentors and Mentees selected for the Mentor-Mentee meetup.

 

November 5, 2024 - Mentor-Mentee meetup at The Anza Club, 07:00 pm - 09:00 pm. New this season - Mentees should pay $50 Program Fee to confirm their participation in the program. Mentees who drop out before November 30 will be given a full refund.

 

November 30, 2024 - Finalize Mentor-Mentee groups for the Winter 2024-25 Season and notify Mentor/Mentees of any changes.

 

TBD - Winter Mentorship Program Wrap Up Party!

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