Mentors for Kids

Sponsored by: Linking Learning to Life
Executive Director: Rich Tulikangas
Contact: Megan Johnston

Mentors for Kids is a school-based mentoring program that matches volunteer mentors with K-8th grade students in the Burlington School District. Mentors commit to spending one hour each week throughout the school year with their mentees enjoying a variety of activities during the school day or directly after school. Although the mentoring program is school-based, the focus of the mentor/mentee relationship is not on academics, but rather on building the self-esteem of the mentee, having fun, and establishing a quality relationship between the mentors and the mentees. In addition to the weekly meetings that take place on school grounds, mentors also have the opportunity to participate in group activities with their mentees. In recent years, these activities have included bowling, rock climbing, hiking, cookouts, apple picking and various gatherings with participants from other mentoring programs.

First Year of operation: 2000
Minimum age for mentor: 18
Minimum time commitment: 1 hour/week
Minimum length of commitment: one school year