Mountain Mentors matches teenagers with adult mentor primarily for strengthening the teens’ positive goals and choices.  Mountain Mentors values physical, mental, relational, and spiritual health for coping with challenges faced by our community’s youth in peer relationships, schools, losses, and family stresses.  The program actively promotes these positive values through the mentors’ role-modeling, team work, and a variety of planned activities. Whether talking about the stresses of adolescence or backpacking in New Hampshire, the teens and mentors seek these values in ways both safe and fun.  

1.  The mentor – teen relationship is based on sound criteria:
2. Mentors are willing to commit to the program goals and time commitment.
3. Mentors have the capacity to form healthy relationships with youth.
4. Mentors have satisfactorily completed the application process, screening and training.
5. Mentors work with the teen’s family to provide appropriate mentoring. 
6. Teams support the individual students and mentors in completing the program.
7. Teams of 5 teens and 5 -6 adults create a hiking team.
8. Teamwork skills are promoted for the group’s and individual’s success.
9.  The activities center on skills, supportive relationships, and information for making good decisions. 
10. The mentor and teen arrange weekly phone calls and a monthly get-together.
11. Monthly team educational gatherings feature topics like leadership and teambuilding skills, substance abuse prevention, anger management, and wilderness training.
12.  Recreational group activities include time together both inside and out – such as hiking in the woods, bowling, or swimming, the Low and High Ropes courses at BSA Camp Miakonda
13. The  Mountain Mentors program is enhanced at year’s end by transition to age 20 into a co-ed  Venture Crew  program of the Boy Scouts of America.
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