A mentor is a person or friend who guides a less experienced person by building trust and modeling positive behaviors. An effective mentor understands that his or her role is to be dependable, engaged, authentic, and tuned into the needs of the mentee.

Mentor Criteria

• 21 years of age or older

• Resident of Montana and citizen of the United States, or legal resident

• Reside within a reasonable distance of the Cadet

• Same gender as the Cadet

• Must NOT be a parent, stepparent, sibling or living in the same household as the Cadet (Mentor can be Uncle/Aunt, Grandfather/Grandmother, or Cousin)

Mentor Must Be Willing To

• Agree to a criminal background check.

• Attend Mentor Day Training to be held at Montana Youth Academy.*Remote training may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis, in the event a mentor is unable to make the commute to campus. 

• Make weekly contact by phone, mail or email with Cadet after being trained while Cadet is at Montana Youth Challenge Academy.

• Make weekly contact with Cadet face-to-face or by phone, mail, email, social media, or text for 12 months after they complete the Residential portion of the program.

• Complete a monthly report to Montana Youth Challenge Academy by mail, e-mail, or online on the progress of Cadet.

*Good Choices for a Mentor

• Coach

• Minister

• Teacher

• Counselor

• Family friend

• Neighbor

• Relative (but not a sibling, parent, step-parent, or anyone in the same household)

* Note: Students, NOT parents, should choose the mentor.