Part One: Leadership Project Mentoring Part Two: Deep Wilderness Trek Part Three: Leadership Action Project Part Four: Leadership Enrichment Part Five: The Wild Gift Leader Network

The objective of project mentoring is to help each Wild Gift recipient refine his or her leadership action project proposal into a working contract that is practical, aligned with the recipient's own personal mission statement, and will succeed in the field. Project mentoring occurs at two levels – prior to and during the field work – according to the following timeline:

MAY: Upon being selected, the recipient works with the Wild Gift Executive Director to identify mentors and technical expertise for the project. A first contract draft is produced that specifies the project mission, goals, action plan, budget, partnerships, deliverables and evaluation criteria.

JUNE-JULY: A second contract draft is produced.  Preparation for deep wilderness trek.

AUGUST: Further project refinement occurs during the twenty-day deep wilderness trek, where the recipient defends his or her project while receiving counsel from peers and trek mentors.

SEPTEMBER: Post deep wilderness trek, the recipient writes the final working contract in consultation with Wild Gift director and his or her mentors.

OCTOBER-SEPTEMBER: The second level of mentoring occurs during the year of field work and is provided by the project partners identified in the contract. Project partners are critical to completion of the project. They assist during the actual project work. Quarterly progress reports and consultation with the Wild Gift Executive Director and Mentor Committee Chair are required. Contract adjustments are made following the quarterly evaluation.