Summer Fun in the Sun!

The winter cold is behind us and the sun is ready to shine.  For those of you who may be in a new match or anyone looking to add some new activities, we are here to help.   Below are just a few activities you can do with your Little to keep you busy all summer long! 

Summer Activities to Share

*Create your own designs with sidewalk chalk

Fly a kite

Walk the trails

Participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters Mini Golf Madness on June 7th

(find more information here)

Bike the trails

Participate in Movies Under the Moon series at Overman Park in Cedar Falls

Play a few rounds of yard games:

*Ladder Ball, *Wiffle Ball, *Frisbee, *Catch & Toss, *Kick Ball

Go Disc Golfing

*Basketball

*Volleyball

Use your BIG Card and visit the following locations:

Palmer's Golf - Food- Fun, Four Queens, Moo Roo, Hansen's Dairy, Cold Stone

Have a picnic in the park

Rollerblade

*Tennis

*Hula Hoop

*Soccer

Attend community festivals and parades

Make your own bubbles

Plant flowers

Volunteer at a community garden

Visit the Arboretum

Try new fruits and vegetables

*Play a board game in the park

Read a book under a tree

Walk around the local college campuses

Help prepare for Driver's Ed

Build and launch a rocket

A-Z activities - plan a visit around each letter in the alphabet, for example: choose "C" and make cupcakes, play croquet and learn how to crochet

*All the items with an asterisk are available at the Big Brothers Big Sisters office to check out.  Our office hours are M-F 8-4:30.  Can't make it during hours - let us know and we can make other arrangements to fit your schedule!! 

Keeping Kids Safe

Keeping up with the ever-changing world of technology can be a daunting task.  Today, youth can access the Internet in a variety of ways and social networking sites are all around us.  Whether it be Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or the countless networking sites available, we must stay informed on how to keep children safe.

We are excited to have the opportunity to invite you to, "Keeping Kids Safe in Cyberspace"  hosted by Allison Area Foster Group. 

Mike Ferjak, lead investigator for the Federal Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Iowa, will share his expertise on familiarizing yourself with social networking sites. You will also learn the basics of predator tactics and prevention techniques to reduce the possibility of victimization.

"Keeping Kids Safe in Cyberspace"

May 15, 2012

 7-9pm

Vineyard Community Church

319 W. Bremer Ave Waverly, IA 50677



April Matches and May Anniversaries

Big Brothers Big Sisters would like to WELCOME the following new matches made in April:

Natasha Chughtai and Shaniyah
Ingrid Carlstein-Reyes and Alissa
Morgan Corwin and Shalayjha
Chelsea Jones and Anna
Will Kurtt and Camden
Rick Gorman and Zach


CONGRATS to the following matches reaching their anniversary in the month of May:

One Year:
Patty Hoffa and Tanner
Dave Condon and Amari
Abbie Smith and Bobbie
John Dow and Carlos
Steve Kingsley and Jeremiah

Wordless Wednesday: End of the School Year Party

A big thanks goes out to Maple Lanes Bowling Alley for helping make this year's end of the school year party a great success! 

THANK YOU MAPLE LANES!

Big Brother Wins Award

Congratulations to Adam Standiford for receiving the "Outstanding Emerging Volunteer Award" at the 2012 Mayor's Volunteer Award Ceremony hosted by the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.

This award recognizes and honors the accomplishments of community individuals ages 19-35.  All nominees have excelled in service contributions.  Adam has done just that, you may recall reading about his match with Little Brother, Justice, here.

Congrats Adam - you deserve it!  We look forward to the years ahead...

UNI Fun Night

Big Brothers Big Sisters would like to send a thank you out to the University of Northern Iowa's Multicultural Teaching Alliance (MTA) for hosting the annual UNI Fun Night for the children on the waiting list.  Thanks to MTA and all the volunteers for a fun filled night at the Wellness and Recreation Center.  The Littles kept busy playing ping pong, swimming, climbing the rock wall, playing racquetball, and basketball.

It is because of groups like MTA that make events like UNI Fun Night possible.  Giving a chance for our Littles to have some fun and experience new opportunities while they wait to be matched with a Big Brother or Sister.

Match Spotlight: Whitney and Raelynn

This month's match spotlight highlights Whitney and Raelynn's match from the perspective of Raelynn's mother:

Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization that is near and dear to my heart.  As the mother of a Little; Miss Raelynn, I have gotten to watch her grow and step out of her shell over the past couple of years as she and Whitney have become very close friends.  Whitney is able to spend quality one on one time with her doing things both of them enjoy, leaving me with a little time also to have those much needed Mom moments.  Some of the things that Raelynn and Whitney have done together include swimming, movies, playing board games and Wii, attending community events together, such as Christmas on Main and Halloween on Main, and Raelynn's favorite, bowling.  Whitney has also gone with us to watch some of Raelynn's school programs and special events. 

Raelynn and Whitney spend between 6 and 10 hours together each month.  I have seen Raelynn turn into a young woman who wants to be involved in community events; for example, she is going to be with me to do the Passion Play at our church this year.  Raelynn is becoming a leader in her class because of the positive example she has seen through her relationship with Whitney.   Raelynn and Whitney’s relationship has been a great fit.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has more than just an impact on the child and mentor, it has an impact on the entire family.  I know I have grown over the past two years as  I have been able to watch my child grow and mature.  My son has also seen the positive impact his sister’s relationship has had on us, we feel like Whitney is a part of our family.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story and please consider making an impact on the lives of many families.