Summit County Mountain Mentors is a well-established community-based mentoring program that matches caring adult volunteers with youth ages 6 to 16.

Mountain Mentors' mission is “to positively influence the youth of Summit County to lead healthy lifestyles, through a consistent one-on-one relationship with an adult.”

The Summit Daily News will feature a mentor every month to celebrate the dedication and diversity of Mountain Mentors volunteers and the impact they make on the youth in our community.

Q: What is one of your favorite things to do with the young person you are mentoring?

A: ED: Making dinner together and having her taste new foods

JEAN: Playing what Isabela calls “stand up” games (hide and seek, Mother may I, and red-light/green light) and hearing her giggle!

Q: Who is the most influential person in your life?

A: ED: My older sister, Gwen

JEAN: my parents (of course) and my mentor and friend, Dave

Q: Where is the most interesting place you have traveled and why?

A: ED: Slovakia, because it was the home of my grandparents. It was like going back in time 100 years.

JEAN: Landing on a glacier on Mt McKinley, because it made me realize I'm just a tiny speck in this great big world

Q: Share an experience that made an impact on you.

A: ED: I have many fond memories of camping, fly-fishing and just spending time with my very special grandfather.

JEAN: While in the Air Force, I was assigned to a contingency hospital in England during Operation Desert Storm. War was made real to me, and it was a frightening reality.

Q: What words of wisdom would you pass on to someone who is thinking about becoming a mentor?

A: ED: When you mentor, you are creating memories

JEAN: Mentees keep you young at heart

Decade born: ED: 40's JEAN: 50's

Born and raised: ED: born in Denver and raised in Derby (now Commerce City) Colorado JEAN: born in Memphis Tennessee and raised on the western slope of Colorado in Cortez and Delta

Music: ED: Folk or Country JEAN: Musicals

Favorite book: ED: anything by Grisham or Michener JEAN: To Kill a Mockingbird (great movie, too)

Hobbies: ED: fly-fishing, camping, hiking, biking, sculpting, kayaking, stock market JEAN: music, playing outdoors, reading

Passionate about: ED: nature JEAN: kids

Favorite outdoor activities: ED: watching wildlife JEAN: hiking