MENTORSHIP INTEREST FORM | 2026 – 2027 SCHOOL YEAR

​FIELD MENTORSHIP is a Naturalist Immersion Course centered in building leadership. This is a 14 week mentorship program over the course of a school year that connects students with the outer world and inner world, keeps them sharp, flexible, ethical, and aware, while also contributing to our community. While exploring nature and developing an eye for tracking, compass, botany, ornithology, entomology, and all the neat connections that nature teaches us, students will learn everything from patience to kindness, gratitude to resiliency through carefully curated and designed adventures, sit spots, and mysteries that need to be solved.

Each semester consists of 6 classes Plus one group spirit day (where we ask parents to also come and volunteer and be involved on that day)

OUR MENTORS
MENTORS for the 2026 – 2027 school year are Sama Wareh, Dana Malas, Hind Museitef, Joey Plemmons. Read their bios here.

COMMITMENT A lot of what happens in leadership building happens outside of the designated timings that classes meet. By joining this course, set yourself up for a 4 – 5 year expedition of growth where your kids will come as kids and leave as independent and resilient leaders who are creating game-changing initiatives in the community. To pull this off, a lot of volunteering and coaching at all our AWI events needs to happen so that students can get placed in a variety of situations and learning experiences. Be prepared to drive your kids to volunteer opportunities throughout the year in addition to the class meetup times.

Mentorship is a huge time commitment as it is a leadership program. Homework is mandatory and project-based learning kicks in starting year 2 in mentorship. Parent support is crucial for developing great leaders.

LOCATION
Locations rotate throughout Orange County and INLAND EMPIRE
​and only serious students should apply. Due to weather and other unforeseeable circumstances. often more than not, there are last minute location changes. You must be willing to be flexible to enroll in this program.

COST
$500 per semester. Each semester is comprised of 6, 3 hour classes and one all day spirit day with all groups combined.
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MATERIALS
Once your child passes interviews, they will be sent a material list. Materials are not included in the program.

FREQUENCY
Mentorship is every other week for regular mentorship (ages 9 – 15)
​ and once a month for JR.MENTORSHIP. JR. MENTORSHIP is for ages 5 – 8 years old.

 

MENTORSHIP INQUIRY
Please fill this form out to get onto the waitlist and be informed when Mentorship opens up

INTEREST LIST/WAITLIST

 

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST, PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE That you understand the following:

  • I understand that a lot of the extreme fun and adventure learning is done during class which means that students have a lot of follow-up work and research at home and must complete their homework and assignments to stay in the program. It can be rigorous and sometimes there are a lot expectations from the students.
  • I understand that this program is geared towards leadership and that this means I will encourage independent behavior from my children. I will not pack their lunches, bags, or water bottles, unpack their bags for them, or do anything that makes them more dependent on you. Sometimes they will forget their water bottles, but I understand that they will learn the lesson from that on their own. I understand that the nature of this program is teaching them life skills.
  • I understand that locations change frequently due to rain, park closures, tide schedules, and other circumstances and that I am okay with that.
  • I understand that Field Mentorship is adventurous at times, and although the instructor does her best to ensure the safety and well-being of each child, the only way to create resilience is to push them and allow some freedom in the field and I accept the risk associated with this style of learning.
  • I understand that if accepted into the program, all payments or POs are due 2 weeks prior to the first day of each semester.
  • I understand that 3rd and 4th year students will have leadership service projects and that this will require a lot of support from parents.
  • I understand that my child must complete 1 academic year at Art and Wilderness Institute prior to acceptance into Mentorship.

TIMELINE:
April- You will be invited to add your name to the formal waitlist on our portal for the timeslot you are interested in.

If a slot is available, then you will receive a phone call and interview by Mid-June.