Apply to be a 2024 ESI mentor for the summer
ESI mentors with backgrounds in arts or sciences work with fellows during our eight-week summer program. Apply to be a mentor by May 15, 2024 using the form below.
Mentors have become an integral part of FMR's Environmental Stewardship Institute (ESI) program. Our mentors — professionals and graduate students with a background in STEM or the arts — join us at our group meetings, work one-on-one with students on their individual projects, help their students develop a professional network and speak on a panel about their career path. Mentors add invaluable resources to this program. Join us for a summer of collaborative learning, field trips and independent project development!
What is the Environmental Stewardship Institute (ESI)?
The Environmental Stewardship Institute (ESI) fosters a diverse next generation of environmental leaders through an immersive program of local river issues and professional development that supports an interdisciplinary exploration of the environmental field.
During the summer ESI fellowship, we work with up to 26 fellows (rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors) over the course of an eight-week program. Together we explore environmental topics, visit field sites and labs, learn professional skills and support fellows' independent projects.
We understand that everyone in the program brings their own knowledge and expertise, as well as opportunities to learn — fellows, mentors, staff and visiting experts all included. We aim to create a space where all program participants feel on equal footing and are equally excited to share their own knowledge as well as learn from one another.
In 2024, fellows will explore environmental topics alongside the program assistants, mentors and FMR staff through self-directed projects, job skill-building, discussions, presentations and interactive activities about local environmental issues.
Mentorship
Each mentor will work closely with one to two fellows. Mentors will facilitate each fellow's individual project, setting goals together and ensuring that project work is progressing throughout the program. Mentors will also act as resources for fellows: providing information based on their area of expertise and the fellows' areas of interest, and connecting fellows to professional contacts, experts in the field and resources for their projects. Mentors will also have the opportunity to participate in discussions, activities and field trips alongside fellows.
We are looking for an equal number of mentors with backgrounds in STEM as in the arts.
Time commitment
The ESI summer program will meet weekly in person on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Before the program starts, we will have a hybrid program training and orientation dinner on June 7 from 5-7 p.m. The start date for ESI is June 12, 2024, and our program ends on August 7, 2024. Mondays will typically be our scheduled outdoor field experience. Wednesdays and Fridays will typically be our indoor sessions at FMR's office for ESI fellows to work on projects and participate in career development and educational activities.
Ideally, mentors will attend at least one hour of programming during each week, and schedule a 15-minute check-in with their fellows about their project at least once a week outside of the scheduled time via phone or virtual meeting platform.
Mentors will be expected to RSVP for the following week on Fridays so FMR can plan accordingly for their presence at ESI throughout the summer.
Learn more
To learn more about the ESI mentor experience, please contact education@fmr.org.