As a mentor in our program, you are embarking on a journey to help youth develop the knowledge and skills they need to grow up successfully. Over the first year of your mentoring relationship, you are encouraged to do the following activities as often as you like with your Little.
SUPPORT
- Meet with your Little regularly and consistently
- Bring them to Volunteer Support Sessions
- Attend Match Anniversary Party
- Introduce your Little to resource bearing adults
- Partner with your Little’s parent/caregiver
- Encourage your Little to plan outings
- Talk about your hobbies together
- Discuss your Little’s goals
- Appreciate your Little
HEALTHY HABITS
- Engage in random acts of kindness with your Little
- Give your Little a responsibility, task or chore
- Help your Little identify & solve a problem and/or identify & make a decision
- Give your Little something to make and implement a plan
- Budget with your Little or do a financial literacy class
- Practice healthy eating with your Little
- Take the HEB Cooking Challenge
- Plan/Eat a nutritious meal together
- Exercise or engage in physical activity with your Little
- Attend the agency Flag Football Game
- Attend the agency Campout
- Attend the Annual School Success Celebration at BBBS
- Shoot hoops in the BBBS parking lot (or somewhere else)
- Do things outside when you can
- Garden
ACADEMICS
- Visit your Little’s School for lunch or to support their activities
- Meet your Little’s teachers
- Meet your Little’s classmates/friends
- Help your Little with homework
- Know your Little’s grades and help where applicable
- Discuss Enrollment, Enlistment & Employment
- Foster a love of reading for pleasure
- Read the same book as your Little
- Visit a library or bookstore
- Listen to books on tape
- Do the BBBS Summer Reading Challenge
RESOURCES
- Visit museums or sites in the community that will build your Little’s cultural competency
- Volunteer in the community together, including at:
- Expose your Little to civic activities such as:
- vote and/or register to vote
- community marches such as MLK March and Cesar Chavez March
- check out our partner Youth Do Vote about how to engage with civics before the age of 18, etc.
- Choose and/or support a creative hobby with your Little
- Support your Little’s participation in extracurricular activities
- Sign your Little up for another youth program opportunity such as joining the BBBS Girl Scout Troop or joining the YMCA
EMPOWERMENT
- Make sure to keep all of your commitments as a role model
- Introduce your Little to a variety of people and experiences
- Allow your Little to become active in their community
- Learn healthy habits
- Commit to learn
When you do these things, you are helping to develop their character, cultural competency, self-esteem, personal power, sense of purpose and positive view of their future.