February 17, 2014 at 12:59 p.m.
Big Brothers Big Sisters program has a positive impact on kids, adults
Big Brothers Big Sisters program has a positive impact on kids, adults
By Kayla Thomason-
"I believe that working with the Littles encourages me to expand my own horizons and search out new things to explore," said Karen Schluter, a Big Sister for the last two years.
Schluter has watched her mentees explore things they may not have tried on their own. She has seen their self-confidence bloom and has offered support when her young friends need to air mtheir frustrations to someone who isn't their parent.
Some of the activities Schluter and her "Little" of two and a half years, Christine Senski, have done include the 5K Color Run in Milwaukee, scrapbooking their adventures, making Christmas cookies and wreaths, and taking downhill and cross-country skiing classes at the North Lakeland Discovery Center.
"I try and do as many outdoor activities with her as we can. Working with her on how to downhill or cross-country ski, snowshoe, hike and bike different trails and run, or build bat houses and gardening organically fosters an appreciation of the outdoors and the food we eat starting at a young age," Schluter said.
Christine enjoys the activities she and Schluter do together.
"Karen, she takes me downhill skiing and I think that's really fun," Christine said.
Christine has been in the program since kindergarten. She is now in fifth grade.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is now available to Oneida, Vilas, Price and Taylor counties.
Children who have any sort of adversity in their lives are welcome to become a little brother or little sister. The adversity can range from being bullied and needing extra support to having a single parent.
BBBS runs an intensive background and reference checks, and trains the mentors before they are introduced to their child partner.
Adult-child pairings are required to spend at least one hour together each week for a year. Studies have shown that one hour is the minimum amount of time to see a prolonged positive effect on the child's life.
Potential little brothers and sisters can be referred by parents, counselors, teachers, doctors and the children themselves.
"Our outcomes show the power of mentoring and the difference it can make in a child's life and we know that kids set higher goals than they would have on their own because of having a Big Brother or Big Sister," said Craig Monson, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin. "It changes what they think is possible in life, what they think they can do. A lot of them realize they can achieve higher levels of education successfully."
Research has shown on a national and local level 60 to 70 percent of the Little Brothers and Little Sisters do better in classes and continue on to higher education.
Christine said there are plenty of kids waiting for mentors.
"A lot of my friends want to [be in the Big Brother Big Sister program]," she said.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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