4-H Mentoring

Belonging. Independence. Generosity. Mastery.

Become a Mentor

Make an impact today!

Why Mentoring?
When you were young, did you know how to study for a test or make plans for college? Do you remember wanting your first car or looking for a part-time job? Simple things that may seem easy or straightforward to you now may be a complete mystery to a young person.

1 in 3 young people will grow up without having a mentor

– either through a formal mentoring program or informally through a family friend or community member – leaving them disconnected from a critical resource to help with these very things.

One hour. Once a week. Make an impact today! 
To get started, fill out the Become a Mentor form

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WHAT MAKES A GOOD MENTOR
Before becoming a mentor, here are a few things to understand about the role of mentoring. Most of us have had a teacher, supervisor, or coach who has been a mentor to us and made a positive difference in our lives. Those people wore many hats, acting as delegators, role models, cheerleaders, policy enforcers, advocates, and friends. Mentors assume these different roles during the course of a relationship, and share some basic qualities:

  • A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
  • Respect for young people
  • Active listening skills
  • Empathy
  • Ability to see solutions and opportunities
  • Flexibility

As you begin mentoring, please consider this carefully: you can have a very positive impact on your "mentee's" life, or you can have a very detrimental effect if you choose to do this program only partially.

As a mentor you will be matched with a mentee (ages 9-15) in Utah County. As a mentor, you will: 

  • Be a guide, advocate, and friend. You are not a tutor, school counselor, parent, or social worker. 
  • Help your mentee feel a sense of belonging, develop independence, understand the importance of generosity, and master new skills
  • Introduce your mentee to new and different environments
  • Attend the monthly 4-H sponsored Mentor & Mentee Activities 
  • Commit to giving a minimum of one year to your mentee
  • Meet four times/month (usually once a week) with the youth you mentor

Minimum Requirements:
To become a mentor, you will need to be between the ages of 18 to 35. Only mentors between the ages of 21 to 35 can transport their mentee in a vehicle. Those wishing to become mentors will:

  • Be formally interviewed by a mentoring site coordinator
  • Required to pass a fingerprinting background check and reference check
  • Complete volunteer trainings

Once all the required preliminary work has been completed, the process of matching you with a mentee will begin. Learn more about becoming a mentor under the "Mentor Responsibilities" tab.

BENEFITS OF BEING A MENTOR
Mentoring relationships are a shared opportunity for learning and growth. Many mentors say that the rewards they gain are as substantial as those for their mentees, and that mentoring has enabled them to:

  • Have fun
  • Achieve personal growth and learn more about themselves
  • Improve their self-esteem and feel they are making a difference
  • Gain a better understanding of other cultures and develop a greater appreciation for diversity
  • Feel more productive and have a better attitude at work
  • Enhance their relationships with their own children

Above all, a good mentor is willing to take the time to get to know their mentee, to learn new things that are important to the young person, and even to be changed by their relationship.

Impacts of Mentoring:
4-H Mentor, Abby - "When I started as a mentor with 4-H, I thought I was volunteering to help a child in my community, but little did I know I would be the one impacted! Mentoring my mentee for the last two years has impacted me in so many ways! We are now 'sisters' and have such a close bond. I am beyond grateful to have found this program so I could not only make a difference in someone else's life but also have an impact on my own heart." 

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Here are resources to help you plan activities with your mentee. Please reach out to your site coordinator if you need help with supplies. We have many of these supplies at our office for you to use!