MAPS Eco Explorers Mentorship Program

What is MAPS?

For over a decade, Portland State has partnered with Greater Than and Alder Elementary School in the Reynolds School District to connect the kids at Alder Elementary with PSU college students to learn, explore, and connect. From leading an after-school "Eco-Explorers" garden club, to planning an immersive kindergarten College Day visit to PSU, to facilitating interactions that inspire academic curiosity and introduce kids to the idea of college, our Mentor Alder Portland State (MAPS) student volunteers are dedicated to fostering an environment where every child can thrive.

Centered in Portland's Rockwood neighborhood, Alder Elementary students come from a rich multicultural and multilingual area that has historically been under-resourced. In line with the school's dual-language immersion program, we aim to provide programming in both English and Spanish through both our ongoing afterschool program and during our College Day visits.

What is Eco-Explorers?

In the 2024-25 school year, we launched a new bilingual "Eco-Explorers" after school club to provide mentorship and support through STEM and garden education. Eco-Explorers mentors are paired with small groups of students within the club to help kids develop science, math, and social-emotional skills through hands-on activities both in and outside of the garden. Activities are designed in English and Spanish, so that students in Alder's Spanish immersion program can participate in their native language.

Becoming a MAPS Eco-Explorer mentor is a great way to help make an impact in the lives of these students through hands-on education and small-group support! Mentors participate in mentor training during Fall term on Wednesday afternoons in mid-November and continue in January; the Eco-Explorers club starts up in late January and run through Spring. Eco-Explorers runs on Wednesday afternoons between 1-5pm during Winter and Spring terms, with commitment expected through both terms. Transportation is provided from the PSU campus via Zipcar carpool; students with their own transportation can meet directly at the school.

If you are passionate about education, youth mentorship, and supporting elementary students in hands-on STEM learning, consider joining our Eco-Explorers team! Students with proficiency in Spanish or other languages are especially encouraged to apply. The application to become a MAPS Eco-Explorers Mentor for the 2026-27 year will launch in September 2026. If you'd like more information, contact volunteer@pdx.edu.

I am so thankful to have had this opportunity to learn and grow with my student.

Fall Term:

Recruitment of new PSU student mentors through October
Students are interviewed for the program
Onboarding and training begins by mid-November

Winter Term:

PSU student mentors continue training in early January and begin garden club in Alder Elementary
Students travel to Alder weekly (on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons) to help lead small groups of students in hands-on activities based on garden education, STEM, and social-emotional learning.

Spring Term:

Students continue to travel to Alder weekly (on Tuesdays or Wednesdays) to meet with students for the after school garden club; more activities will happen outdoors as the weather improves and planting season is in full swing.
In May, PSU student mentors are involved in helping with "Alder College Day @ PSU" when all Alder kindergarten classrooms come to the PSU campus to "experience college" for a day.

Meet this year's Mentors! 2025-2026

Mary Muly (she/her)

Social Work Major

MAPS Mentor Lead

Jasmine Lopez Dominguez (she/her)

Management & Leadership Major

MAPS Mentor Lead

Nay Aye (She/Her)

Public Health: Pre-Clinicals and General Science Major

MAPS Mentor Lead

Sofia Romero

Pre-clinical public health with a minor in neuroscience and psychology Major

MAPS Mentor

Yasmin Padron

Psychology Major

MAPS Mentor

Kye Guynes

Environmental Studies Major

MAPS Mentor

Alyssa Trotter

Environmental Science Major

MAPS Mentor

Finn Murray

Environmental Studies Major

MAPS Mentor

History of the MAPS Program

In the 2011-12 academic year, Portland State University adopted a grade level (Dreamer class) at Alder Elementary School through the I Have A Dream Foundation (IHADF) Oregon (now called Greater Than). PSU made a pledge to support IHADF's goal to help low-income students in a particular grade level achieve success in school, college, and career. Alder Elementary is a school in the Reynolds School District rich with diversity and resilience, in which 27 different languages are spoken by students and their families. Greater Than's mission is to support and empower students from poverty-impacted communities to thrive in school, college, and career.