Peer Education

What is Peer Education?

Facilitated by Bridgercare and Haven, the Peer Education team is a group of dedicated high school students. They meet weekly during the school year to learn about how to educate their peers and others about sexuality and healthy relationships in a way that is medically accurate and evidence based. Peer Educators are also trained to provide resources and referrals to their peers!

What are our Peer Educators trained to do?

Although they’re not staff, our high school Peer Educators are a vital part of the organization. They help Bridgercare provide education to youth and increase their comfort level in learning about sexual health and healthy relationships. They also encourage their teens friends and family to go to Bridgercare’s weekly Teen Clinic and sometimes accompany them.
Learn and Educate

Learn about the basics of topics like puberty, STIs, birth control, healthy/unhealthy/abusive relationships characteristics, consent, and sexual assault/coercion prevention, bystander intervention, and more in order to educate peers with accurate information!
Advocate

Provide advocacy when working with survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence. Learn to advocate for other important topics and groups such as destigmatizing sex and relationships for teens, and the importance of access to comprehensive and developmentally appropriate sexual education for all ages.
Empower

Refrain from giving their own opinion yet rather provide factual information that empowers everyone to make choices that align with their personal values and future goals. They also learn how to keep personal values out of conversations and provide facts rather than opinions to peers.
Refer

Studies show that teens are more likely to share information about topics such as sex and abuse with friends and peers rather than trusted adults. Peer Eders are trained to refer peers to appropriate services and maintain confidentiality in these situations. We also ensure that our Peer Eders know how to access their own support systems after these tough conversations.

The Application for Peer Ed is Currently Closed

The 2026-2027 cohort has already been set! Interested in next school year’s (2027-2028) cohort? Sign up to be notified when the application opens!

Testimonies From Previous Peer Eders!

I’m so lucky to have had Peer Ed during my high school years. It not only provided me with relevant and accurate supplemental education, but I was also able to meet new friends and learn diffrent perspectives. The vibe of the groups I like a big happy family and I am always excited for Tuesday nights! I encouraged anyone that is curious to come to an open meeting and apply!

-Grace, Peer Ed Alumni 2025
I have been in Peer Ed all four years of high school, and it has been such an impactful experience. Peer ed has taught me not only medically accurate sex ed, but how to navigate conflict, how to respectfully disagree with others, and most importantly how to stand up for myself. I have learned so much, and had fun while doing it! Peer ed has empowered me and brought me closer with the people around me. Peer ed is welcoming, safe, inclusive, and so much fun!

-Sam, Peer Ed Alumni 2025
Peer ed has been an essential part of my development into the person who I am now. It has made space for me to learn more than would have ever been possible, all while spending time with my friends! Applying to become a peer educator is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

-Quinn, Peer Ed Alumni 2025
Since leaving the Peer Education program I no longer have those structured lesson-like discussions with peers, but I've had a surplus of casual conversations with friends and peers about a variety of peer ed-related topics, including but not limited to contraception, safe sex practices, STI screenings, healthy relationship dynamics, advocacy, etc.

-Jodi*, Peer Ed Alumni 2022
Healthy relationships have helped myself and friends as we go forward in our college lives. It’s helped asses even friendships that I didn’t realize were toxic become identified immediately.

-Amar*, Peer Ed Alumni, 2023
Things that I learned in peer-ed gave me the skills to be someone that my friends feel comfortable disclosing to or asking questions. It also increased my confidence to make informed decisions about sex/consent/relationships in my own life.

-Cece*, Peer Ed Alumni 2022
There are a lot of questions that college students have about safe sex and I let my friends quiz me with all the questions they had about sexual health! I also recently joined the sexual health educator program at my school.

-Mazi*, Peer Ed Alumni 2023

Peer Ed Frequently Asked Questions

That depends!
This year: We have 10 Peer Educators graduating, 6 Peer Educators staying, and have capped it at 21 Peer Educators for the 2026-2027 cohort. So have spots for a maximum of 15 new people in 2026-2027!
We are looking for people who are excited to learn more about sexuality and relationship education! This can be people who are already passionate, curious newcomers to this information, or any mix. Peer Educators are all different, and we want people who ultimately can benefit from this program themselves or think their peers will.
No, teaching isn't required, but it is suggested.
Yes, being a Peer Educator is a great experience to put on college applications!
Meetings are almost every Tuesday during the school year from 6:30-8:30pm.
Every meeting starts with a silly check in question, shout outs, teaching or volunteer opportunities, committee's breakout, and then finally whatever content is planned for the night.
Peer Eders are a group of folks who are respectful, kind, and funny with each other. It is a fairly laid-back group, adult facilitators included.
Consent, active listening, LGBTQ+ history and rights, reproductive justice, and more!
Peer Ed is a two hour a week commitment for meetings during the school year, teaching or volunteering past that isn't required, but it is suggested.
- Bridgercare: Annual wellness exams, STI testing and treatment, birth control, infection checks, pregnancy testing, erectile dysfunction, menopause care, preconception counseling, behavioral health, Teen Clinic, youth and adult education
- Haven: 24/7 support line, text/website chat support, shelter, legal advocacy, support groups, counseling services
Yes, you will need at least one parent or guardian's permission to join if you are younger than 18!
Yes! We accept people who will be Freshman through Seniors during the coming school year.

Meet Our Adult Facilitators!

McKeely Shannon (She/Her)

LEAD EDUCATION SPECIALIST
Bridgercare
McKeely was an education and development intern at Bridgercare from 2018-2019 and is stoked to rejoin the team as an educator! Her mother has been a nurse for 40 years and provided age-appropriate sex education conversations throughout her childhood. She felt prepared and confident in making decisions about her sexual health due to this education, but also witnessed friends and classmates in college not having the same foundational understanding. As a nursing student, and then as a Community Health major McKeely became passionate about sexual and reproductive health.
When not teaching you can find McKeely reading speculative fiction, making tasty food, and spending time in the outdoors hiking, biking, and camping.
Kylie Bachich (She/Her)

EDUCATION SPECIALIST
Bridgercare
Kylie grew up in Bozeman, her involvement with Bridgercare started in 2017-2019 as Peer Educator for her classmates in the Gallatin Valley. She is beyond excited to join the team as an Education Specialist and continue to provide comprehensive sex education around the state. Completing a degree in Public Health at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Kylie is passionate about supplying people with the tools needed to make informed and empowered decisions about their reproductive health. Outside of work Kylie is likely hiking, camping, or doing some other variety of outdoor activity with friends and family.