What is MAPS?
Every year Portland State partners with Together We Are Greater Than and Alder Elementary to match college student mentors with elementary students for one-on-one and group mentoring. Alder Elementary School has a large population of students who face economic barriers in a diverse multilingual and multicultural area. Historically, MAPS (Mentor Alder Portland State) mentors have worked to strengthen and cultivate students’ aspirations for future career and/or university achievement at an early age.
In the 2024-25 school year, we are excited to launch a new program, to provide mentorship and student support through the development of a bilingual “Eco Explorers” garden club at Alder Elementary! Mentors will be paired with small groups of students within the garden club and work in both larger and smaller group settings to help kids develop science, math, and social-emotional skills through hands-on activities both in and outside of the garden. Activities will be 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 will participate in mentor training during Fall term on Tuesdays or Wednesday afternoons in mid-November and continue in January; the garden club will start up in late January and run through Spring.
Garden club will run on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons between 1-5pm during Winter and Spring terms; students commit to one afternoon shift for both terms. For the 2024-25 year, transportation is provided from the PSU campus for up to four student mentors on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; students with their own transportation can meet directly at the school.
I am so thankful to have had this opportunity to learn and grow with my student.
The application to become a MAPS Eco-Explorers Mentor for the 2024-25 year will be reviewed on a rolling basis through end of October. Early applications encouraged! If you'd like more information, contact volunteer@pdx.edu.