Chapter I
Getting Started – The
Mentor Manual
Let’s imagine that we’re driving to Disney World.
We’re going to need to pack a few things. Some clothes, shampoo, soap, a toothbrush, maybe a book or two. We’re going
to need to make sure we bring the tickets, make sure that we have money for gas. We might need to plan a place to rest
after a long day driving on the interstate. We might need to think of a plan to share the driving time. We will need to make
sure our car is in good driving condition and we will need to check the oil, the wiper fluid, and the tire pressure.
But maybe most importantly, we are going to need to make a plan on how to get there. Years ago, we would have used a
map and charted out a course with a red pen or highlighter. And while that method still works pretty well today, a lot of us
use a GPS system. We type in our goal – Disney World – and the system charts out a strategy on how to get there – a route
– and, when we’re not paying attention or get off course, it can correct our mistakes and take us on a new way to our goal.
This is a manual that’s designed to help you, as a mentor, work to improve the “internal GPS” of youth in your program.
Youth everywhere, regardless of their interests, their neighborhood, or their situation, constantly set and work towards goals.
Goals are what drive youth development forward on a path towards thriving.
In order to achieve those goals, and learn the most from the journey, youth need a set of goal-directed skills. In this manual,
we refer to those skills through the acronym GPS. There are three distinct GPS Skills: Goal Selection, Pursuit of Strategies,
and Shifting Gears. Taken together, an extensive body of research has shown that youth with high levels of GPS skills have
more positive developmental outcomes, such as good grades and self-confidence, and less risk or problem behaviors, such as
delinquency or drug use.
The Manual’s Goals
Step-It-Up-2-Thrive
This manual seeks to accomplish several goals. First, it will introduce you to some of the key concepts and terms in the
Project GPS vocabulary. These concepts are based on cutting-edge research from around the world, and have been tailored
to fit the needs of young people in mentor-based youth-development programs.
After providing the essential concepts, this handbook will include an explanation of GPS, as well as detailed instructions
about how mentors can reflect on, measure and build GPS skills in the youth in their care. Book II will introduce Project
GPS’ unique set of rubrics, simplified scoring sheets which allow both the mentor and youth to reflect on and assess youth
development of GPS skills and attributes of positive youth development. Of course, simply measuring current levels of goal
skills isn’t enough; Book 3 includes a full suite of entertaining and educational activities, specially designed to help foster
conversation about GPS and development of GPS skills. Finally, as an additional educational tool, Book 3 of Project GPS
includes a collection of videos of truly exemplary individuals – young men and women, who, through their GPS skills, have
succeeded in achieving a wide range of goals despite several different obstacles. These engaging stories will provide concrete
and practical models for young people in your program.
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