[DMI]: DEPTH MENTORING INSTITUTE

Introduction:  

At Summer Search, we practice Depth Mentoring, an approach that both:

• Acknowledges and addresses the realities faced by our young people and our staff mentors to support one's mental health and well-being;
• Encourages tapping into our internal wisdom to learn about one’s self, connect with others, and leverage our strengths to move through challenges.

In 2019, we launched our Depth Mentoring Institute (DMI) to deliver a consistent approach to developing our internal program/mentoring teams. In 2022, we moved to sharing Summer Search's unique mentoring framework with external audiences, piloting DMI with our longtime summer program partner, Deer Hill Expeditions.

This summer, we are honored to offer this Depth Mentoring Orientation for our entire Summer Experience Partner Community.

The Summer Search journey begins with the breakthrough experiences our students take part in during the summers of their sophomore and junior years of high school.

Thanks to YOUR support (our partners who have devoted their lives to the development of young people), thousands of Summer Searchers have had life-changing experiences.

Objectives and Content Outline:  

Objective 1: Workshop attendees will understand the basics of our theories and frameworks 

• Lecture style with discussion questions 

Content Outline:  

• Critical Consciousness 
• Trauma Sensitivity 
• Adolescent Development  
• Social and Emotional Learning 
  

Objective 2: Workshop attendees will explore best practices for approaching youth development according to our frameworks  

• Lecture style with activities  

Content Outline:  

• How to practice Critical Inquiry with our program participants
• Recognizing the strengths and resiliency of our students  
• How to help participants build relationships and create community for our participants
• Positive practitioner practices 
  

Objective 3: Workshop attendees will learn more about Summer Search Programming and the 'Summer Searcher' Experience

• Lecture style and small group work 

Content Outline:

• The Summer Search experience  
• How to build a cohesive experience for participants aligned with our model of programming