Join our mentorship program!
We have closed registrations for the 2025/2026 Mentorship Program and if you signed up, Mentor Families will receive an introduction email in early December! This year’s program will culminate at the conference (whether virtually or in-person) and the process will start anew in September 2026. Join Restoration for All so you are informed right away!
SERCAL 2025/2026 Mentorship Program
With a wealth of knowledge and experience to impart, and resources to share, SERCAL mentors can bridge the gap for their mentees and set them up for success in our field. Our goals 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.
The structure of this mentorship program consists of:
1) Signing up as a mentee or mentor during registration in Sep/Oct,
2) Scheduling regular Mentorship Family (~quarterly) meetings between mentors/mentees up to the conference, and
3) Meeting (in-person or virtually) during SERCAL 2026, May 18-20 in Fortuna, and debriefing and discussing next steps after the conference.
This is just the first step… Watch for updates and, potentially, year-round opportunities! Please contact julie@sercal.org if you would like to get more involved in developing our Mentorship Program.
Jump to: 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!
Meet at least quarterly with your Mentee (virtually or in-person)
At least one week before the annual conference, reach out to your Mentee and make a plan to connect in during 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.
At 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.
Within a week following the conference, set up a 20-minute appointment to debrief and have 1:1 time with your Mentee.
Participate in a 5-minute survey 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!
Meet at least quarterly with your Mentee (virtually or in-person)
Meet with your Mentor at least a week before the conference and ask questions!
At the conference, connect with your mentor and try to meet as many mentors as you can! Mentors will have special “MENTOR” nametags — connect with as many as you can!
Meeting with your Mentor soon after the conference to debrief
Participate in a 5-minute survey to provide feedback so we can improve next year’s program.
Reach out to at least one other Mentor
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
For in-person attendees:
Mentors and Mentees will have special nametags identifying them as participants
During conference breaks and poster session, there will be a designated “meet and greet” area for Mentors and Mentees
Mentors should consider joining the Mentees at the career panel and inviting them to their table during lunches.
For virtual attendees:
Set up a plan for checking in during the day, using whatever technology works best for the both of you.
We will host a special zoom meeting during the career panel with break-out rooms where you can meet
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 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, via the chat function, 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]?
