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Mentor

The special thing about small town is the sense of community. We’re a grassroots project that is built and ran by people giving back through volunteering.

The most important part of our organization is our volunteer mentors.

These people spend a day on the ski hill or in a drift boat working with at-risk youth and sharing their passion for being outside. During the week they teach a curriculum on how to work through the issues that life can throw at you. It can be incredibly rewarding and incredibly tough.

But it usually changes everyone involved.

This is Fun

Chillin with the Group

Having Fun at Big Sky

Lnch Time

Jibbers

A word with one of our mentors:

BYEP: Who are you?
Ashlee: My name is Ashlee Robeson. I’m a 21 year old, junior at Montana State University majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology and Human Development.

BYEP: Why Do You Volunteer?
Ashlee: I choose to volunteer for BYEP because I was blessed with an incredibly privileged upbringing. I wanted to share my passion and love for the outdoors with Bozeman’s youth, hopefully to inspire them to also become “outdoor junkies.” Little did I know I would be the one to be inspired.
BYEP has been a life changing program for me. It’s made me question everything in life from my relationships to my intended career path. I actually declared my Human Development minor due to BYEP. I’ve learned to live, love, and laugh with my soul because of BYEP. I’ve learned that actually living life require so much more than a routine, it requires passion!

BYEP: What Are Some of Your Favorite Memories?
Ashlee: Some of my favorite memories of BYEP are when I witnessed the passion in my fellow mentors and especially seeing it in the kids. Days on the hill inspiring the kids to hit a jump or rail and seeing them glow after achieving a goal. Every single one of them will forever hold a passion for the ski hill that I helped to build. That’s a feeling I can’t even put into words.

BYEP: What Changes Did You See?
Ashlee: The changes I witnessed in the group were pretty dramatic from the first week to the last. I saw a shy kid turn to outgoing. I witnessed cautiousness turned into bravery. I witness drama queens learn to control their emotions. A teen become a young adult and the mentors become young at heart. We all made positive transformations throughout the program. “Getting outside, growing inside!”

BYEP: How Would You Describe BYEP?
Ashlee: BYEP is a program filled with passion. Whether it be winter skiing/riding or summer fishing and climbing, mentors and kid’s have to love every aspect of the program to contribute more than 120+ hours over a 12 week program. BYEP is the only program in Gallatin County that gives back to the community in such a significant way! Join in on the fun!

How to Get Involved as a Mentor
All you need to do is send our program director (Dave) an email by clicking on this sentence.