The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley

Home
United States
Bradford, VT
The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley

Join our community-based youth mentoring program & make a difference for youth! We inspire! What do we do?

The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley (TMPUV) is a community-based mentoring program matching adult volunteers with young people who live in the Vermont towns of Bradford, Newbury, Corinth, Fairlee, Groton, Ryegate, Wells River, Thetford, West Fairlee & Vershire. TMPUV began in 2005 to address a need identified by an Oxbow High School committee of parents, students, educators, and business leaders. We have since expanded to serve all Vermont towns in the Orange East Supervisory Union and Rivendell Interstate School District. Mentors build positive relationships with youth and in doing so, help promote and improve mentees:
Resiliency
Prosocial skills
Connectedness to community
Attitude towards school

How does it work? Each volunteer is matched with a young person based on mutual interests, schedule, personalities, and location. Prospective mentors, mentees, and their families complete application materials to initiate the matching process. All adult volunteers undergo a thorough background check and receive pre-match training. Once matched, a mentee and mentor spend a trial month together to see if they would like to extend their commitment to the full year—and perhaps beyond! You can also help us with our vision to increase the number of mentoring teams. Please send your charitable contributions payable to:

The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley
PO Box 237, Bradford, VT 05033

For More Information Contact:
Anne Hatch, Program Director
(802) 866-0904
PO Box 237, Bradford, VT 05033
www.mentoringprojectuv.org

The Mentoring Project Board:
Catherine Beaton - President
Leah Gawel - Vice President
Ted Mortimer - Treasurer
Caitlin Toleno - Secretary
Parrish Eiskamp - Director
Kaitlin Sampson Murphy - Director

10/31/2026

Wishing everyone a fun and safe Halloween! Know of a community event happening today? Comment the details below, so more folks can join in the spooky fun! 🎃

10/25/2026

Mentoring doesn’t have to be complicated. 💙

Sometimes it’s gardening, going for a walk, playing a board game, or just being there to listen.

It’s those little moments, week after week, that help build a meaningful mentoring relationship.

Interested in becoming a mentor? Learn more at the link in our bio!

10/24/2026

BMU student journalist Callie Medeiros recently wrote an article highlighting mental health resources available to students at Blue Mountain Union, including The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley!

We love seeing students help spread the word about the resources available to their peers and advocating for increased awareness for mental health supports. Having someone to turn to, whether it’s a counselor, mentor, or another trusted adult, can make all the difference. ❤️

A big thank you to Callie for including us and for bringing attention to such a critical topic!

📖 Read the full article at the link in our story.

10/17/2026

🎉🥳 We received an award from MENTOR Vermont recognizing innovative programming that helps build caring relationships!

We’re so grateful for this recognition and proud of the mentors, mentees, volunteers, and community members who make our programs what they are.

A big thank you to MENTOR Vermont for celebrating the work happening in mentoring programs across our state! 💙

10/12/2026

Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we recognize and celebrate the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, including the Abenaki people whose ancestral homelands include the Upper Valley.

We also recognize the importance of listening, learning, and honoring the Indigenous communities who continue to steward our region today. ❤️

10/09/2026

Pumpkins, pizza, and a fun afternoon together! 🍕🎃

Our mentors and mentees got together for some pumpkin carving, good food, and time to catch up. A big thank you to the local businesses and community members who helped make it happen!

🎃 Newmont Farm in Fairlee for donating beautiful pumpkins for everyone to carve. (Newmont Farm)

🍂 Elizabeth’s Park and the Bradford Recreation Department for providing the space for our gathering.

🍕 Colatina Exit for giving us a generous discount on pizza. (Colatina Exit)

❤️ And Anne for helping organize the evening and bring everything together!

We’re lucky to have so many people in our community who support The Mentoring Project. Thanks to everyone who helped out and everyone who joined us! 💙

10/04/2026

🍂 A beautiful day on Wrights Mountain!

Today, we hit the trail together for a fall hike on Wrights Mountain! 🥾🍁

Days like this are one of our favorite parts of The Mentoring Project: getting outside, spending time together, and making memories as a community.

Thanks to everyone who joined us and made the day so much fun! 💙 Here’s to more adventures together!

09/20/2026

We have some exciting news to share! 💙

Please join us in welcoming Melissa “Mel” Arnesen-Trunzo, the new Program Director of The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley!

Mel brings a wealth of experience in education, community building, and bringing people together. She currently teaches at Thetford Elementary School and has spent much of her career working with young people both here in the Upper Valley and around the world.

Mel believes deeply that “one caring relationship can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.” We couldn’t think of a better sentiment to begin this next chapter with.

💙 Help us give Mel a warm welcome in the comments!

Click below to learn more!

Melissa Arnesen-Trunzo is named program director for The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley, replacing outgoing director Anne Hatch.

09/20/2026

Did you know? Mentoring can support better school attendance.

Having a caring adult in your corner can make a difference, especially when getting to school feels hard.

Research on mentoring programs for students struggling with attendance found that several programs helped students miss 2–10 fewer days of school per year.

A mentor can be someone who checks in, listens, encourages, and reminds a young person that they have someone rooting for them. 💙

Sometimes, that extra connection can help make showing up a little easier.

Source: Middleton, A., Watson, M., & Anderson, J. K. (2026). “What school-based interventions work to improve attendance in secondary school students with persistent absence? A systematic review.” Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 4, 1603680.

09/16/2026

🍂 Fall in the Upper Valley is almost here!

Apple picking, hiking, baking, leaf peeping, pumpkin carving…there’s a lot to look forward to.

What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this fall? 🍎🏈🥾📚

Mentors, mentees, families, and friends, drop yours in the comments! You might just give someone else an idea for their fall bucket list. 💙

Address

PO Box 237
Bradford, VT
05033

Telephone

+18028660904

Website

https://www.mentoringprojectuv.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Mentoring Project of the Upper Valley posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.