BCMC Mentorship Program

BCMC is pleased to announce that starting April 1, 2026, we will accept Mentor and Mentee applications for mountain sports such as Rock Climbing (Sport/Trad), Scrambling, Hiking and Mountaineering/Alpine Climbing. Please note that the availability of Mentors might impact our ability to include some of these mountain sports in the Mentorship Program.

Application Forms

Mentor and Mentee Applications must be received by 11:55 pm on April 15, 2026.

About the Program

The primary objective of the Mentorship Program is to provide BCMC members access and opportunity to learn and practice skills in a safe and trusting environment. The program will also help Mentors and Mentees enhance competencies and confidence in the chosen mountain sport.

Mentorship is not a replacement for formal guiding or training, and Mentors are not certified mountain guides. Mentees are encouraged to augment their skills development with formal training independently or through BCMC training events.

Mentorship Program Fee $50

All selected Mentees need to pay the Mentorship Program Fee of $50 before the meetup at the ANZA Club on May 5, 2026. Mentees who opt to drop out before May 31, 2026 will be given a full refund. The fee will be used to fund Mentors incentives, mentorship socials and other expenses to support the program.

Expectations from a Mentor

• BCMC Membership and Waiver Status as Current
• Commit to at least one mentorship trip per month or four trips during the season.
• Based on feedback from the previous Mentorship Program, we ask Mentors to post trips on the BCMC website with tentative dates for the entire season by May 31, 2026. Planning trips in advance will help Mentees sign up for the trips and avoid scheduling conflicts.
• Attend Mentee-Mentor Meetup for potential Mentors and Mentees on May 5, 2026, 07:00-09:00 pm at The Anza Club.
• Has appropriate and adequate technical skills and experience in the chosen mountain sport
• Creates a safe and trusting learning environment for Mentees
• Respect the Mentee’s preferences shared as part of the application process
• Is willing to share expertise and also learn from the mentorship experience
• Open to receiving and providing honest and constructive feedback
• Own the required gear to lead a trip for the chosen mountain sport
• Is responsible for getting to the meetup point for mentorship trips. Mentors can carpool with Mentors/Mentees to share the travel cost. BCMC will not reimburse Mentors or Mentees for the transportation cost.
• Meets the secondary set of criteria specific to each mountain sport, e.g. Basic Mountaineering Course for Mountaineering

Expectations from a Mentee

• BCMC Membership and Waiver Status as Current
• Commit to at least one mentorship trip per month or four trips during the season. BCMC will ask Mentors to post trips with tentative dates for the season by May 31, 2026. If you cannot join at least four of these trips during the season, BCMC will reconsider your participation in the program. If you sign up for trips and don’t show up or cancel on short notice without any valid justification, you will not be eligible to apply for future BCMC Mentorship programs.
• Attend Mentee-Mentor Meetup for potential Mentors and Mentees on May 5, 2026, 07:00-09:00 pm at The Anza Club. All potential Mentees will be notified about the Meetup by April 30, 2026.
• Respects the Mentor’s preferences shared as part of the application process
• Has identified at least one developmental goal for the season
• Is open to receiving constructive feedback and is willing to learn from the mentorship experience
• Owns or can rent the required gear related to the chosen mountain sport. Please plan for the gear expenses, as they can be significant depending on the mountain sport you choose. If you are not sure about your interest in mountain sports, it might help to rent or borrow gear.
• Is responsible for getting to the meetup point for mentorship trips. Mentees can carpool with Mentor(s)/other Mentees to share the travel cost. BCMC will not reimburse Mentors or Mentees for the transportation cost.
• Meet the secondary set of criteria specific to each mountain sport, e.g. Basic Mountaineering Course for Mountaineering
• BCMC is a volunteer-driven organization. At the completion of the program, Mentees are highly encouraged to give back to the club in any capacity - as a trip organizer, trail maintenance volunteer, Mentor, club volunteer, etc.

Mentor-Mentee Pairing Process

Based on the feedback we received from the previous programs, we will have a two-step pairing process this season.

Step 1: Mentors will select Mentees based on the application

Key criteria:

• Commitment: Is the Mentee committed to the program?
• Goals: What does the Mentee want to achieve from this program?
• Skills and Fitness: What is the Mentee's current skill and fitness level in the chosen mountain sport?
• Preferences: Does the Mentee have specific preferences?
• Volunteer History: BCMC Members who have volunteered with the club in any capacity will be given preference

All potential Mentors and Mentees selected for the meetup will be notified by April 30, 2026.

Step 2: Mentor-Mentee Meetup on May 5, 2026, at The Anza Club:

The goal is to provide an opportunity for Mentors and Mentees to meet each other and discuss goals, preferences, fitness/skill level, potential dates, etc. We will also have a Q&A session about the program, expectations, required support, etc. Mentors/Mentees will have an opportunity to do some trips together and any changes to the group needs to be finalized by May 31, 2026.

Mentor Incentives

Mentors who complete the mentorship program will be eligible for the following incentives at the end of the program:

• BCMC Pro Discount Program for a year
• Up to 50% reimbursement (maximum of $200) on any guided instructional course that you take within a year of completing the mentorship program

Mentorship Program Q&A

You can find answers to all the questions from previous winter/summer programs here - Google Document

We will also host a Mentors only Q&A session on April 17, 2026, 07:00 pm - 08:00 pm to answer questions about Mentee selection

Key Dates

April 1, 2026 - 07:00 am, Mentor and Mentee applications open.

April 15, 2026 - 11:55 pm, Mentor and Mentee applications close.

April 17, 2026 - Mentors Only Q&A Session, 07:00 pm - 08:00 pm. Session to discuss mentee selection and answer questions about the program.

April 30, 2026 - Communication to all Mentees selected for the Mentor-Mentee meetup.

May 5, 2026 - Mentor-Mentee meetup at The Anza Club, 07:00 pm - 09:00 pm. Mentees should pay $50 Program Fee before the meetup to confirm their participation in the program.

May 31, 2026 - Finalize Mentor-Mentee groups for the Summer 2026 Season and notify Mentor/Mentees of any changes.