Summit County Mountain Mentors has named Carolyn Skowyra its Mentor of the Month.

The community-based mentorship program matches volunteers with children ages 8-16 in an effort to help Summit County’s youth to lead healthy lifestyles through a consistent, one-on-one relationship with an adult.

For her part in the program, Skowyra was paired with a girl named Marina.

Skowyra moved to Summit County in 2009 from New Hampshire and currently coaches the Tsunami Swim Club at the Silverthorne Recreation Center while serving as the mayor of Dillon.

Since joining the mentors program, Marina has started making lists of new things the duo can do together, and Skowyra said it feels good to check off items from it.

“The most fun we have has been going out on the paddleboards,” Skowyra said. “Marina is fearless and loves adventure so exploring different parts of the lake is a win every time.”

Research shows these kinds of connections help young people overcome many of life’s challenges, as well as learn skills that prove valuable in the child’s development. For anyone who’s thinking about getting involved with the program, Skowyra would encourage them to do it.

“The kids just want to have a mentor,” she said. “You can still go out of town. You don’t really have to rearrange your schedule at all. It’s a few hours whenever you can work it in, and it really has been easy to add to my schedule.”

Many children in the county apply for a mentor but have to wait months before being matched. Anyone who’s considering becoming a mentor can go to CO.Summit.CO.US/332/Mountain-Mentors for more.