Mentor Requirements:

1.   Attend Mentor Training at the MYCA.  This training normally occurs within the 10th residential week of the program. 

2.  Attend Mentor Day at the MYCA during the residential program to meet with your cadet and spend some quality time together.

3.  Meet with the cadet four times/month post-residentially (after the youth graduates and is back home).  This includes two times per month face to face and the other two contacts through phone, letter, or email.

4.  Submit a Monthy Mentor Report every month to the MYCA Post-Residential staff during the 12 month post-residential phase.

If you would like to become a mentor for an at-risk youth, you may print a mentor application from the link at the left of the screen  or you may contact Mike Krajnik in our Mentoring Department at 269-968-1368. 

Mentor Michigan

Click Here to read more about the Governor's Mentoring objectives for Michigan youth.

First Gentleman, Daniel Mulhern, visits MYCAMichigan Youth ChalleNGe Mentor Program Concept

The mentor comes into play during the post-residential part of the program when the youth is back home from the academy.  The Mentoring Phase of the Michigan Youth ChalleNGe is community-based and supervised by the Mentor Coordinator. Transition is critical to the successful reintegration of the cadets. Although they have acquired new and useful skills during the residential phase, cadets will have difficulty in maintaining their newly acquired lifestyle without appropriate support systems. This is where the help of the mentor is needed, not only to reinforce the new skills of the cadets, but also to serve as a catalyst for personal achievement. Following this rational, the primary goal of the Mentoring Phase is to assess and match each cadet with an unrelated adult in the community in an effort to develop a sustained relationship. This adult serves as a companion, supporter, teacher, challenger and role model to the cadet, while engaging in activities of mutual interest.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring involves a one-on-one relationship between a youth and an adult, over a prolonged period of time, providing consistent support and guidance. This responsibility is increasingly important, especially when the youth goes through a difficult and challenging situation or period in life. The goal of the mentor is to aid the cadet in attaining, as well as maintaining, the skills and confidence needed to become a responsible adult. This will culminate in the youth's desire and ability to succeed in education and employment opportunities. Mentoring is also community-building on the part of the mentor. You are entrusted with molding a young person into becoming a contributing and productive member of society. It is the process of sharing your personal knowledge, experience and skills with less experienced youth. It is easy to see how being a mentor requires believing in, and caring about young people.

What is a Mentor?

Mentor, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, means "a wise and trusted counselor or teacher" and has a Greek root meaning of "steadfast and enduring." The Greek poet Homer first coined the word "mentor" in his epic poem, The Odyssey. A great warrior, Odysseus, knowing he was to be away from his home for many years on a journey, chose a man named Mentor to be the guardian and tutor of his son. The Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Mentor is to inspire the cadet to think, act and develop his/her potential through praise, motivation, correction and listening. The mentor encourages the cadet to utilize his/her personal strengths, to accept challenges and pursue dreams.