Author: Maria Chiarella

New US Green Mentors and Mentees Needed

Posted on by Maria Chiarella

"Before the PLT Green Mentor program, I could describe my personal growth using only one word: stagnant. My mentor and I have discussed ways where, as she says, we can "cross-pollinate." Through collaboration and genuine discussions, we listen, learn, teach and guide each other through our mentorship progress. It's an overwhelming feeling of joy and motivation."

The future of environmental education, forestry and conservation, and other green careers is bright and enthusiastic—but its success will also come with the advice and support of those already in the sector.

Youth want to be part of conversations and decisions that will impact their careers and futures; similarly, employers need young people to continue the great and vast work in the sustainability sector.

 

Building a Diverse and Resilient Green Jobs Workforce Through Mentorship

20 PLT and World Forestry Congress mentees and mentors gather for a group selfie

In May 2023, I attended the XV World Forestry Congress (WFC) in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and represented the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) to host the first PLT Canada/WFC Green Mentor program.

Over 100 mentorship participants from around the world were part of the PLT Canada/WFC Green Mentor program, a six-month program that launched in January 2022. Over the course of the program, 51 mentorship pairs from 37 different countries connected every month, attended webinars and trainings, and worked on their professional and personal development.

We found that 88% of the PLT Canada/WFC Green Mentor participants felt inspired to work or continue working in the forest and related sectors because of the program. In addition, 93% of mentees reported landing a job or advancing in their career because of their mentor!

This event was an opportunity to provide insights into how we are improving career development within the forest sector and to promote new perspectives within the sector. It was fantastic to share how our Green Mentor program positively impacted our mentees and mentors.

We’re bringing the same inspiration and impact to the United States with the My Green Mentor Program.

 

  • Application deadline: November 21, 2022
  • Time commitment: 2–3 hours per month from February 2023–July 2023
  • Benefits: Grow your network, gain new perspectives, develop soft skills, and more!
  • Mentor eligibility: 3+ years of professional experience within any operation in the forest and conservation sector
  • Cost: Free

 

Join the First PLT US Green Mentor Program Cohort

Fast forward a few months, and PLT is launching the Green Mentor Program in the United States.

The deadline to apply to join the first cohort in February 2023 is November 21, 2022.

The program connects young adults with forest and conservation professionals. Mentorship can inspire the next generation of leaders and help young people expand their green jobs knowledge, goals, and network.

Do you know an environmental educator or sustainability professional looking to give back and connect with others? Encourage them to become a mentee or mentor!

learn more apply now

Please note: The US mentorship form is hosted on PLT Canada’s website to take advantage of the industry-leading matching software.