Skip to content

Adult volunteer — Session Supervisor onboarding

Role: Session Supervisor in the Junior Mentor Program

You are the responsible adult. High-school Junior STEM Mentors coach STEM tasks; you handle supervision, safety, attendance, and parent communication. HS students never count as a second adult.

Typical pilot session: you + 1–2 HS mentors + younger students in an open, visible space — see supervision model.

Policy (draft): Volunteer policy · Waiver: waiver & media release procedure

Application: Adult volunteer application template (fill locally — do not commit PII to git)

← Start here · Junior mentor onboarding (for HS students)


Before your first session

Team lead sends:

  1. Session dates, location, and expected headcount.
  2. Adult application completed + code-of-conduct acknowledgment.
  3. Sign-in/sign-out procedure (Sheet or paper → Drive Students/).
  4. Emergency contact for team_lead + mentor on duty.
  5. Backup adult on call — textable parent/mentor when you are the only adult in the room.
  6. Tool/safety limits — no shop/power tools solo; HS mentors do not run equipment alone.

Your responsibilities

You do Student mentors do You do not
Attendance, sign-in/out CAD, research, design help in open group Treat HS mentor as co-supervisor
Behavior and room safety Documentation, presentations (with your OK) Private one-on-one with any minor
Parent communication on session day Task tracking under Freedcamp Sponsor asks, money, CRM
Tool/safety gate for shop Testing support in supervised areas Transport students

Solo adult OK for small open-group sessions (cap headcount per program plan). Second adult preferred for shop, tools, large groups, and events — recruit parents when you can, not every week.

Never run a session with only HS volunteers and younger students — no adult in the room.


Week 1 checklist

  • [ ] Junior Mentor Program read (supervision model + vetting phases)
  • [ ] Application on file with team_lead (not git)
  • [ ] Waiver/code-of-conduct policy acknowledged
  • [ ] Backup adult on call identified for solo-adult sessions
  • [ ] Sign-in sheet access confirmed
  • [ ] No docs.apexstem.org login by default (volunteer policy)

Access & tools

Tool Default
Freedcamp Optional — session tasks only if team_lead assigns
Email / group thread Parent-visible team channel
docs.apexstem.org No (Year 1)
Roster, waivers, sponsor data No