Mentorship Program
A Six-month, semi-structured initiative
About the Program
The SORP Mentorship Program is a semi-structured initiative designed to foster professional development, leadership growth, and meaningful connections among outdoor recreation professionals. The program connects early- and mid-career professionals (mentees) with experienced leaders in the field (mentors) to cultivate inclusive, cross-generational relationships and strengthen the broader outdoor recreation community.
The 2027 cohort will run from January through June 2027.
How the Program Works
The SORP Mentorship Program is designed to provide structure and support while giving mentor-mentee pairs the flexibility to shape their experience around their own goals and interests.
Mentors and mentees will:
- Complete an application sharing their professional experience, interests, goals, communication preferences, and other information that can help inform a thoughtful match.
- Be paired based on areas of shared interest, experience, goals, and potential for a meaningful mentoring relationship.
- Establish personal and professional goals together at the beginning of the program.
- Meet regularly throughout the program, with monthly meetings suggested as a minimum.
- Share knowledge, experiences, perspectives, resources, and professional connections.
- Reflect on their experience and progress throughout the program.
The program does not require participants to complete a specific project or deliverable. Instead, mentor-mentee pairs are encouraged to determine what would make the experience most valuable to them and collaboratively shape their mentoring relationship around those goals.
What Can You Expect?
SORP emphasizes shared learning, leadership development, professional growth, and network-building through consistent, intentional engagement and the exchange of diverse experiences and perspectives.
Mentors and mentees are encouraged to use their time together to explore topics such as:
- Career development and professional goals
- Leadership and management
- Navigating career transitions
- Developing new skills and competencies
- Exploring different career paths within outdoor recreation
- Building professional networks
- Navigating challenges and opportunities in the field
- Sharing resources, experiences, and lessons learned
- Exploring topics and interests that are unique to each mentoring partnership
You don't need to have all the answers - or even know exactly what you want to accomplish - before you begin. The program is designed to provide a framework for meaningful conversations and connections while allowing each mentoring partnership to develop in its own way.
Support from SORP
Mentors and mentees will receive guidance and resources throughout the program, including tools and templates to help establish goals, structure conversations, and support a successful mentoring relationship. SORP will also provide opportunities for participants to connect with one another and engage with the broader SORP community throughout the cohort.
Set personal and professional goals
Grow as a leader and industry professional
Make new connections and build your network
Exchange diverse experiences and perspectives
Who Can Participate?
MENTORS
Mentors are outdoor recreation planners, managers, researchers, and consultants who are interested in sharing their knowledge, experience, perspectives, and professional connections while supporting the growth of another professional in the field. Mentors have at least 5-years of experience. Mentoring is also an opportunity for experienced professionals to learn from a different generation and perspective within the outdoor recreation profession. We believe the strongest mentoring relationships are built on mutual learning and shared benefit.
MENTEES
The program is designed for early- and mid-career outdoor recreation professionals who are interested in learning from an experienced professional, exploring career and professional development opportunities, and expanding their network.
SORP Membership Requirement
SORP membership is required to participate in the Mentorship Program. Not currently a SORP member? You can join before participating in the program.
2027 Cohort
The next SORP Mentorship Program cohort will run from January through May 2027. Applications for mentors and mentees will open separately as we build the cohort.
- Mentor applications: August 31–September 28, 2026
- Mentee applications: October 13–November 13, 2026
- Program begins: January 2027
Space in the program is limited, and submitting an application does not guarantee selection. Mentor and mentee applications will be reviewed by the SORP Mentorship Committee, and participants will be selected based on program capacity and the information provided in their applications. Following selection, SORP will thoughtfully match mentors and mentees based on professional experience, interests, goals, communication preferences, and other relevant factors.
