Join our mentorship program!
SERCAL Mentorship Program
Where Community Grows through Curiosity and Meaningful Connections
Mentorship is a win-win situation for both established community members and the younger generations looking to enter the field! With a wealth of experience to impart and resources to share, SERCAL Mentors can bridge the gap for mentees, setting them up for success in our field. At the same time, SERCAL Mentees come with new perspectives and energy to share. Both voices are essential because now, more than ever, the connections made will help our industry chart a nimble path through the challenges ahead.
The Goals of our Mentorship Program are to:
Provide a platform which facilitates individual growth opportunities for students, emerging professionals, and youth in environmental and STEM fields; and
Ensure equity in educational opportunities and professional advancement for historically underrepresented groups.
Participants in this program sign up as a mentee or mentor during registration in Sep/Oct.
Once Connected (late Nov), Mentors and Mentees Agree to:
1) Collaborate to complete and submit the Mentorship Agreement Form to outline individual goals and expectations of program (before year’s end is suggested, so that the pairing will already have a plan for the new year),
2) Schedule regular (~quarterly) meetings beginning in January and concluding at the end of August,
3) Make a plan for meeting and debriefing during SERCAL 2027, May 17-19 at the University of Redlands. Or, if either or both are not able to attend, to make plans to view and discuss the recordings available the month following the conference, and
4) Upon successful completion of the program, each Mentor/Mentee will receive a certification of completion.
Please contact julie@sercal.org if you would like to get more involved in developing our Mentorship Program.
Jump to: Here’s the Process and Link to Apply | Prompts/Ideas for getting acquainted | How to get the most out of the conference
Mentor Expectations
Become a Mentor by signing up when the next program is announced. Join Restoration for All so you are informed right away!
Before year’s end, your Mentee will be in touch to schedule a meeting to review and fill out the Mentorship Agreement Form.
Meet at least quarterly with your Mentee (virtually or in-person). Mentees will be responsible for reaching out to schedule meetings.
In the month before the annual conference*, be available to meet with your Mentee to answer questions and to make a plan for meeting up during the conference.
*If either or both are not able to attend, to make plans to view and discuss the recordings available the month following the conference.
At the conference:
Be available to connect with your Mentee during breaks — shoot for at least one 10-minute check-in each day of the conference.
You will have a special “MENTOR” nametag — some mentees may be completely new to scientific conferences and may not know what to expect — please take a moment to answer any questions.
Be available for some 1:1 time with your Mentee after the conference — they will contact you about a week after the conference to set up a 20-minute appointment to debrief — this is an important time to answer questions and to discuss Next Steps for your Mentee after the program concludes.
Participate in about three quick (~5-minute ) surveys throughout the program to provide feedback so we can improve next year’s program.
Mentee Expectations
Become a Mentee by signing up when the next program is announced. Join Restoration for All so you are informed right away!
Before year’s end, schedule an initial meeting with your Mentor to review and fill out the Mentorship Agreement Form. It is your responsibility to schedule (~quarterly) meetings with your Mentor (virtually or in-person).
Prepare and share discussion items for your Mentor prior to each meeting, focusing on action items for your professional growth.
Reach out to at least one other Mentor in the program.
In the month before the conference*, meet with your Mentor to ask questions and make a plan for meeting up!
*If either or both are not able to attend, to make plans to view and discuss the recordings available the month following the conference.
At the conference:
Be available to connect with your Mentor during breaks — shoot for at least one 10-minute check-in each day of the conference.
You will have a special “MENTEE” nametag — Mentors will also be identified with “MENTOR” on their nametag. Try to meet as many Mentors as you can — and be prepared with some opening questions to break the ice.
Make a plan to connect with your Mentor during breaks — shoot for at least one 10-minute check-in each day of the conference.
Contact your Mentor a week after the conference to set up a 20-minute appointment to debrief — this is an important time to ask questions and to discuss what’s next for you after the program concludes.
Participate in about three quick (~5-minute ) surveys throughout the program to provide feedback so we can improve next year’s program.
Here’s the process for applying and getting the most out of this program!
Apply with THIS FORM by October 16. We will close enrollment October 16 to begin matching mid-Oct through mid-Nov. We'll announce Mentor Families soon after!
When we send you the email announcing your match, we will also send you two links:
The Mentorship Program and Directory is a great resource for finding other participants in this year's program. We ask that you not to share the link/password with anyone outside of the program in order to make the Directory a safe space for all participants.
The Mentorship Agreement is an online document you both will fill out at your first meeting. We feel this step will be key in helping you understand each other’s goals and expectations for your mentorship relationship. Go ahead and start thinking about your answers before your first meeting so you will have more time to get acquainted.
Next, Mentees, you will be responsible for reaching out to your mentor to schedule your first meeting — hopefully before year’s end — so that you can start the new year with a plan already in place.
While you will choose your own schedule for meeting, we will be checking in with you and offering helpful suggestions Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, and May/Jun, and lastly in Jul/Aug for your feedback and to request a Mentorship Certificate. And always, if you have questions or concerns during this year’s Program, we will be available to you.
We all have unique experiences, we all have something to share, and we all have something to learn. We hope you enjoy learning from each other and learning more about restoration!
Prompts/Ideas for getting acquainted
Mentors, here are some great ideas:
Go on a hike
Invite your Mentee to your office or field site
Think of other colleagues to introduce your Mentee to
Example question prompts for your Mentee:
How did you become interested in ecological restoration?
What classes have you liked, what classes have you not liked?
Is there a particular part/sector of ecological restoration that interests you?
What is your experience with field work?
What is your experience in technical writing?
What kind of training opportunities are you interested in/want to learn more about?
Have you attended a professional conference before?
How are you applying the concepts you’ve learned in your education/previous jobs in ecological restoration?
Do you have questions about advice you’ve heard previously?
What advice would you give other students/early career professionals?
What would you like to get out of the conference? How can I help with that?
Is there anything I can do to make the upcoming conference more enjoyable and effective for you?
Mentees, here’s how you get started:
Communicate with your Mentor — how frequently you want to meet, what the easiest way to communicate is, how you’d like your Mentor to help you with professional development
Mentors are busy and get a lot of emails, but they have expressed interest in mentoring you — if you don’t get a response, don’t be shy about emailing them again to make sure they see your emails
Example question prompts for your Mentor:
What was your education and background that helped you get to where you are now?
What are key points I should be looking to take away from a conference?
What are some resources you suggest I look into if I am interested in [insert topic here]?
What are some of the items you've struggled with in your career?
I see that you're [insert job or industry] — why did you choose that?
What are some methods that I can practice to approach a speaker or session chair to get more information?
What inspired you to serve as a mentor during the conference?
Why is [insert particular subject] important within ecological restoration?
What are some ways to get experience in ecological restoration? Internships, funding sources?
How to get the most out of the Conference
Mentors and Mentees will have special nametags identifying them as participants
During conference breaks and the poster reception, there will be a designated “meet and greet” area for Mentors and Mentees
Mentors should consider inviting Mentees to their table during lunches.
Mentors, here are some ideas for providing mentees with a valuable conference experience:
Reminders:
Demonstrate active listening — ask questions and follow-up questions; listen to their answers and invite their questions.
Who can you introduce your mentee to at the conference or in your network — think of others with relevant subject matter, career path, or shared interests.
Share SERCAL’s job board (http://www.sercal.org/job-openings), other job boards, and resources for career opportunities.
Highlight skills that may be valuable to prospective employers (e.g, data entry & analysis, field experience, technical writing skills, etc,).
If comfortable, please share your contact information and encourage an ongoing conversation.
Example question prompts for your Mentee:
Is there someone you’d like to meet at the conference?
What would you like to get out of the conference? How can I help with that?
Is there anything I can do to make this a more enjoyable and effective conference?
Mentees, some suggestions for how to get the most out of the conference:
Reminders:
Practice asking follow-up questions to presenters.
Practice introducing yourself — in person or over email.
Practice taking notes in a format that will be easy to review in the future.
Example question prompts for your Mentor:
What are key points I should be looking to take away from a conference?
What are some methods that I can practice to approach a speaker or session chair to get more information?
Do you know if anyone in the conference is an expert in [insert particular subject area]?
