Volunteer & Mentor
Make an Impact. Be a Mentor. Inspire Potential.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio, there is more than one way to make a difference in the life of a young person.
Our mentoring and youth development programs connect caring adults with young people through one-to-one relationships, STEM exploration, leadership development, and summer enrichment opportunities.
Whether someone is looking for a long-term mentoring relationship or an opportunity to share their time, experience, and talents with a group of young people, there is a place for them at BBBSNWO.
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Community-Based Mentoring
One relationship can make a lifelong difference.
Community-Based Mentoring is our traditional one-to-one mentoring program, matching a caring adult volunteer (Big) with a young person (Little). Bigs and Littles spend time together participating in activities they enjoy while building a consistent, supportive relationship.
Through regular interaction and professionally supported mentoring, Bigs help young people build confidence, strengthen social and life skills, explore new opportunities, and recognize their potential.
STEM Club
Exploring possibilities through science, technology, engineering, and math.
The BBBSNWO STEM Club provides young people with hands-on opportunities to explore STEM concepts, careers, and real-world problem solving.
Volunteers and community professionals can support the program by sharing their expertise, leading activities, introducing youth to STEM careers, or helping participants discover how innovation and technology shape the world around them.
Youth Ambassador Club
Developing today's young people into tomorrow's leaders.
The Youth Ambassador Club gives young people opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills while using their voices to positively impact their communities.
Youth Ambassadors participate in leadership development, community service, prevention education, public speaking, and peer-led initiatives. Adult volunteers and community partners can help guide, mentor, and create meaningful experiences that prepare participants to become confident and engaged community leaders.
Empowering Future Leaders Summer Program
Building life skills, leadership, and confidence beyond the classroom.
Empowering Future Leaders is our seven-week summer youth development program centered around four core areas: Life Skills, Leadership Development, Cultural Competence, and Career Development.
Participants engage in interactive lessons, career exploration, guest presentations, field experiences, team-building activities, and mentoring opportunities. Community volunteers and professionals can participate as guest speakers, career presenters, activity facilitators, mentors, and community partners.
Steps to Become a Big
- Inquiry
- Information Session
- Return application
- Background checks
- Volunteer training
- Waiting list
- Pre-match
- Match
Match Supervision
- The caseworker will contact the parent/guardian, child and volunteer monthly for the first year of the match.
- The client, parent and volunteer will contact their caseworker on a monthly basis to keep them Informed.
- All parties will meet to conduct an Annual Match Evaluation at the year anniversary date.
- All parties will meet to officially close the match and a letter will be forwarded to confirm
Volunteer Responsibilities
- Be a positive role model for the child
- Follow all safety regulations and update driving information annually
- Participate in developing goals for the match
- Maintain consistent contact with the parent, child and caseworker.
Parent/Child Responsibilities
- Child will ready and dressed appropriately for planned activities
- Participate in developing goals and activities for the match
- Restricted contact with the volunteer should not be used as a form of discipline
- Maintain contact with the volunteer and caseworker
- Parent will be supportive of the match relationship