AmeriCorps members, or Peak Pathfinders, will serve with YouthPower365 and its partners within the Eagle County Schools community to support students identified as struggling academically, economically, and/or social-emotionally. Members will support students in school, afterschool, and in the evenings through direct mentorship, afterschool programs, and family engagement. In this position Members will develop both personally and professionally while gaining applicable skills for a career in youth development and non-profit work.
Service Activities
• 1:1 Mentorship: As mentors, AmeriCorps members will work with students to accomplish short term goals and develop skills and habits that will foster future success. Most importantly, members will create life-changing relationships with youth.
• Out of School Time Programming: Members will provide tutoring, project-based learning, career and college exploration, and extra-curricular activities and clubs.
• Family Engagement: Members will help coordinate evening workshops with partners, staff, and volunteers for families and caregivers and engage in service with outside organizations that support families.
Community Need Addressed
More than half of all students across Eagle County Schools are below reading and math benchmarks, and the course fail rate has doubled in the last year, now at 25%. Academic intervention and engagement are critical needs to support ECS’s most at-risk youth.
Suicide has become the fourth leading cause of death in Eagle County. More than 30% of ECS students have indicated they are clinically depressed and are struggling with engagement in school and in social activities, and that rate is higher for Hispanic students. Families/Caregivers are struggling to support their youth as they adapt to the ever-changing world and academic and mental health needs.
YouthPower365 believes that wrap-around supports, extended learning, mentoring, and family engagement are critical to address learning inequalities, which have only been exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Integrating young adult mentors, or Peak Pathfinders, into these critical services during the school day, afterschool, and during summer months will increase the resiliency and connection to school necessary for youth to succeed academically and emotionally.
Position Outcomes
• 400 students (50% of most at-risk students at each school as identified by the schools early warning system) will receive 1:1 or group tutoring during the school day.
• 400 students (50% of most at-risk students at each school as identified by the schools early warming system) will be served in afterschool programs through Peak Pathfinders.
• 400 students (50 students at each school) will demonstrate improved academic performance and improved school attendance by June 2025.
• 400 students will benefit from near-peer mentorship, pro-social activities, and trusted adult relationships and experience increased connections to mentors by July 2025.
• 150 students (50 at each high school) will experience increased academic engagement by July 200. High school students will engage in at least 1 afterschool activity, club, or workshop per academic quarter.
• 150 students (50 at each middle school) will experience increased social-emotional engagement.
• 150 students (75 at each elementary school) will experience increased social-emotional engagement.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, College Credit, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Housing, Living allowance, Relocation allowance (if applicable), Student loan forbearance, Training
Housing is provided and free for Members. All Vail Valley Foundation staff perks will also be available including a free ski pass and a few health insurance options.
Education Benefits
College Degree
CPR/First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Standard Precautions
FEMA Disaster Response
Mandatory Reporting
Positive Youth Development Training
Credited college course 'Intro to Education'.
Skills you will gain
Leadership
Youth development
Social, emotional, and mental health support for youth
Case management
Non-profit management
Family services and engagement
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Facilitate group planning
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment