Eluna’s Expert Voices – Importance of Mentorship

Mentorship is the glue of Camp Mariposa – binding the community together through year-round support. Did you know that Camp Mariposa hosts camps every other month throughout the year and campers will often attend for three years – or more!? And each camp site weaves in community events during those ‘off months’ to welcome in family members and strengthen ties in the community! Within this unique camp model, mentorship is the key to building hope & healing for youth affected by a family member’s substance misuse. Many of our mentors have walked their path and model what breaking the cycle can look like. In this video, we asked the experts about the power and importance of mentorship:

Friendship

“My butterfly award one time – we had a new camper and they wrote on mine that I was their first friend. It was so powerful in a few words on a piece of paper that I actually have it right next to my desk here when I’m working and I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed by something. It’s just a reminder to know that it doesn’t take much to be a kind and caring human who can make a difference.” – Emily, Mentor

Connection

“One of the counselors has blue hair. So, one of my girls who is really shy wanted to dye her hair blue. So her birthday was in September and she got to dye her hair blue. She was so excited to go to camp so she could find the counselor with blue hair…It’s really cool the adults that are involved at Camp Mariposa. I can guarantee that most of the adults that are there have some sort of history or story of healing. You can tell that it’s not a job. They are there for connection, relationships, bonding and helping these kids heal. I do think that the relationship that are built at Camp Mariposa last a lifetime.” – Tiffany, Foster Mom

Diversity

“We have phenomenal mentors who serve as great role models both in terms of how they identify, gender orientation, how they talk to kids, their careers, it’s so diverse. I think that’s really beneficial for these kids.” – Matt, Mentor

Modeling

“With the Mentor role and the Junior Counselor role in some ways they are very similar. I see a lot of modeling from staff about making good choices and showing them that they are allowed to make choices. But, from the Junior Counselors – to me they have a special opportunity to show modeling that is more relatable to the younger kids. Because they’ve been through it. They’ve been through camp. They know what’s up.” – Kristina, Clinical Director & Mentor

Options

“I go to camp and I see a bunch of young people who have their whole lives in front of them. Since I have personal experience with what they are going through, I can help them to know that they have options and they don’t have to succumb to everything around them. If they want to make a good life, they can.” – Ivy, Camper, Junior Counselor, Mentor

One on One’s

“I think it’s all about one on one’s. I make sure every camp to be super intentional about whether it’s cabin time or walking between activities to make sure I’m really checking in one on one with all my campers. I start with hey – what’s been going on in your life? Sometimes it’s ‘I’m really stressed about school’ and sometimes it’s ‘I really wish I could talk to this person in my family.” – Shea, Mentor.

Updates

“It’s amazing because once they leave Mariposa then maybe we sit out two months and then we go back to Mariposa and they update you on their lives. They update you on the choices they’ve made, they update you on the things they were listening to and the things you need to listen to from them. The whole experience of Mariposa is wonderful.” – Yasin, Mentor

Listening

“Campers will have things going on in their life that they don’t necessarily want to talk about at the start of camp. As the warm up, as they participate in more activities, they will grab one of us – They are open and willing to communicate at that time. We never want to force any of the campers to open up to us about what they are going through at home. But, encouraging them that if they need someone to talk to that we are certainly there to be that listening ear and support them in any way that we can.” – Alli, Mentor

Prevention

“What do I need so that I don’t go down that same path that my family member went down. If I can stop or prevent that at an early age… When they do get tempted – because that does happen – right before they are about to try, let’s say smoking cigarettes, if a picture of my face pops into their head for that one second. Then that’s it, my job is done.” – Steve, Mentor.

Click here to see a full list of Expert Voices videos!