SUMMER Mentors
The Summer Mentors Program Make a Difference
Be the person kids remember
Remember the camp counselor who made you feel like you could do anything? The librarian who got your sense of humor? The coach who saw something in you before you saw it yourself?
About Cohort 4
đ¤Applications for 2026 are now closed. Information about Cohort 4 is coming soon!
The Summer Mentors Program trains college students to work with kids in Wyoming communitiesâbuilding relationships, sparking curiosity, and creating the kind of belonging that changes lives. You’ll gain real skills, earn money, and spend your summer doing work that actually matters.
Whatâs included
đ°$600 stipend (on top of whatever your summer job pays you)
đProfessional training in youth development and relationship building
đ¤A statewide network of mentors doing the same work across Wyoming
đŚ$500 in materials/resources for your program
â¨Experience that counts (meets undergraduate internship requirements)
đĄ Plus, you’ll have stories worth telling for years
đDownload the full information packet!
The training works with your schedule
Taking advantage of the time between the end of college courses and when summer programs begin, participants will meet in Laramie for a one-day, in-person training. You will then participate in five virtual professional development sessions throughout the spring and early summer. Sessions are led by WYEN staff and nationally recognized experts in youth development. The program concludes with a one-day, in-person wrap-up session in August. Mentors receive a stipend, funds to help support their activities, and access to a statewide mentor network and resources.
Learn about the experience
Two profiles of the 2025 Summer Mentors speak to the different experiences that participants can have with the program. As a rising junior at the University of Wyoming, Lauren brought curiosity, compassion, and creativity to her work. Her experience highlights the importance of youth voice, exposure to career pathways, and near-peer mentorship. Read Lauren’s profile. Ashley Baros, Jada Floyd, Maisie Baros, and Mia Saucedo were the team from Goshen Countyâs Summer BREAK who served nearly 50 young people while offering a safe and engaging place to learn, explore, and grow. Read Summer BREAK’s profile.
Spread the word
Do you know someone who would be an amazing Summer Mentor? Share the one-page flyer and encourage them to apply!
Program ScheduleÂ
Winter: Applications opened January 20 and closed April 1.
Spring: A one-day in-person training will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 9:00am in Laramie at the STEM Sandbox. Participants will build their network and learn about positive youth development. The session will be facilitated by WYEN Program Coordinator Emily Vercoe with training from PEARâs Assistant Director of Training Jamaal Williams, along with practical, hands-on tools from Innovation Wyrkshopâs Emily Leinen.
Summer Professional Development: Virtual sessions offer mentors additional strategies for working with youth from fabulous experts in the field, reinforce and build on the in-person content, and continue to be a place for reflection and celebration of all that comes with working with youth. Virtual sessions typically run weekly in May and June and last between 60 and 90 minutes each. Some pre-work, group discussions, and other activities will be included. We will do our best to find a time that works for the programs that host mentors to minimize time away from youth.Â
Virtual session content will include:Â Â
Effective facilitation strategies â such as:Â
- Mentoring Â
- Asking questions and active listeningÂ
Youth development strategies â such as:
- STEM and lifeskills Â
- Positive youth development Â
- Experiential learningÂ
Fall: A one-day in-person closing session will be held in August in Laramie before the beginning of UWâs fall semester to help Mentors celebrate their work and synthesize their experiences.Â
This schedule is subject to change!Â
Summer Mentors Reflect on Their Experience
“I want to be able to help provide these opportunities for young people in my community. Many of the students I have worked with in the past have a love for STEAM. I want to help nurture this passion and give them more opportunities. In my hometown, I was the only girl who loved my science classes and wanted more opportunities.” Abby C., 2024
“I think that exploring helps teach us how to learn. It reminds us that it is okay to not know something and to ask questions. Exploring reminds us that learning can be fun and exciting, and it can create a passion for life-long learning. Exploring also teaches us how to think on our own. When we’re out exploring and asking questions, we don’t have a teacher to turn to that will know all the answers.” Alayna, 2024
“It is exciting to me that I can be a guide to students in my community and allow them to grow into their best selves.” Ray, 2024
âEven if you donât get to see the impact right away, youâre making a difference.â Lauren, 2025
âEvery day was different and seeing how much the kids learned and grewâboth in confidence and curiosityâwas genuinely fulfilling,â Floyd said. âIt showed me how powerful it is to create space for kids to explore, ask questions, and just be themselves.â Jada, 2025
The program has been supported in part through the Stem Next Foundation. When out-of-school-time STEM experiences are intentionally and thoughtfully woven into a workforce development system, more youth will be excited about STEM, grow their interest and skills, see themselves as belonging in STEM, and be prepared to pursue STEM careers and beyond.
Mission: We bridge the gap between Wyomingâs out-of-school programs and the communities they uplift, fueling them with resources, support and opportunities that inspire lifelong learning, growth and connection.
Family of Funds
