Spring has Sprung!

Spring is in the air (at least we hope) so it's time to get outside and get active with your Little. To help you along, we've added a list of spring & summer activities for you to enjoy!

1. Walk the trails
2. Get an ice cream cone
3. Wash your car
4. Plant a garden or flowers
5. Volunteer at your community garden in Waterloo or Waverly
6. Go to city parades, concerts, and other events
7. Watch a movie outdoors during Cedar Falls' "Movies Under the Moon"
8. Make bubbles
9. Fly a kite
10. Go fishing
11. Rollerblade
12. Check out all the different parks
13. Have a picnic
14. Attend your Little's baseball, softball or other summer games
15. Visit the library on a rainy day
16. Explore the nature trails at Hartman Reserve
17. Visit the Arboretum
18. Visit a Farmer's Market and introduce new fruits and vegetables to your Little
19. Play catch
20. Make your own smoothies or popsicles
21. Read under a tree
22. Get creative and paint rocks, draw with sidewalk chalk or visit Pursuing Picasso
and paint pottery (remember to use your Big Card for a discount)
23. Build a birdhouse, Lego creations, boats to race, sand castles and forts
24. Volunteer
25. Visit the museums
26. Jump rope
27. Have a lemonade stand
28. Roast hog dogs or marshmallows
29. Visit the Sunrise Petting Zoo in Waterloo
30. Go swimming
31. Feed the birds and ducks at a pond or lake
32. Look at the clouds and pick out different shapes
33. Go to a Buck's baseball game
34. Paint your nails
35. Hula hoop
36. Catch butterflies and insects
37. Go to a fireworks show
38. Throw a Frisbee
39. Hopscotch
40. Visit the local Farmers-Markets
41. Visit the Resource Room at Big Brothers Big Sisters and check out the following items to use:

• Sidewalk chalk
• Basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, footballs, kickballs, baseballs
• Wiffle bat and ball
• Tennis rackets and tennis balls
• Ladder Golf
• Frisbees
• Board games
• Paint & craft materials
• Hula hoops

March Matches and April Anniversaries

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

Jordan Baker and Travez
Sarah Mallen and Bryndle
Dan McKenzie and Camden
Abby Souhrada and Nicole


CONGRATS to the following matches reaching their anniversary during the month of April:

One Year:
Amanda Borglum and David
Kendra Giardino and Ahlivia
DiAndra Strelow and Lauryn
Cassie Upshaw and Maria

Two Years:
Natasha Chughtai and Shaniyah
Rick Gorman and Zach

Three Years:
Katie Klein and BreAnna
Dan Schimerowski and Chryshaun
Brad Timmerman and Ethan

Four Years:
Bob Hoffman and McKenna

Five Years:
Carol Houk and Nakia

Six Years:
Howard Craven and Marquese

In the News...

Take time to catch up on all the recent happenings at Big Brothers Big Sisters...

Big Casino Night Raises Nearly $15,000 - click here to read

Bigs of the Year Honored - read the article here and watch "Someone You Should Know" segment featuring Community Based Big Sister of the Year, Lara Guay,  here

2013 Magic Makers featured here

Check out the Winter Newsletter here

February Matches and March Anniversaries

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

Allison Bogdan and Alana
Danielle DeLange and TeAsia
Stephanie Hurlburt and Jade


CONGRATS to the following matches reaching their anniversary during the month of March:

One Year:
Elias Escobedo and William
William Henninger IV and Lincoln
Courtney Kleese and Vaneia
Kirsten Olson and Katie
Denise Paul and Isabella
Liz Rucker and Bailey
Brittany Schmitt and Mackenzie
Eddie Wichman and Jackson

Two Years:
Lara Guay and Tiffany
Danielle Wagner and Rosalyn
Cory Young and Sabastian

Three Years:
Jaclyne Heller and Santana
Cindy Patten and Kaylynn

Four Years:
Shalee Boyles and Syleena
Dan Grosser and Brandon

January Matches and February Anniversaries

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

Erin Bird and Quinton
Perla Quintanilla and Emily


CONGRATS to the following matches reaching their anniversary during the month of February:

One Year:
Thom Boerigter and Max
Emily Borcherding and Kaitlyn
Edward DePaepe and Keenan
Naila Graper and Kayleigh
Jessica Kautzer and FaLeShia
Reed Mick and Noah

Two Years:
Megan Britt and Jordan
Pam Novotny and Sofia
Steffanie Schilder and Deven
Ellie Wymore and Katelyn

Three Years:
Dan McKenzie and Darin
Shirley Saland and Simone

Four Years:
Mary Hatala and Kieran
Jennifer Pothast and Kelsey

Five Years:
Whitney Joachim and Raelynn

February Match Spotlight: Ed and Keenan

Even though Ed and Keenan are just coming up on their first anniversary together, they have gotten off to a terrific start! Ed came to Big Brothers Big Sisters with a desire to have a positive impact on the life of a child. Ed volunteers for various community organizations and enjoys traveling with his wife. Because of this, Ed felt getting matched in the School Based program would be a perfect fit with his schedule.

                Keenan’s father died a few years ago and he has limited male role models in his life. The staff at Kittrell felt that Keenan would benefit from positive one to one time with an adult, in an attempt to get him more focused in school. Keenan has a lot of energy and benefits from having someone that he can trust, talk to, and have fun with. Ed and Keenan were fast friends, with Ed showing interest in many of the activities that Keenan also enjoys to do.

                Keenan and Ed formed a wonderful relationship over the last few months of the 2012-2013 school year and really missed seeing each other over the summer months. Upon returning to school, they began to talk about changing their match to School Based Plus, which would allow them to spend additional time together outside of school and participate in activities that they had not been able to do prior. Keenan, his mom, Ed, Keenan’s teacher, and the Staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters had a meeting to discuss how we wanted to see the relationship grow. Working as a team, a great plan was developed to help Keenan succeed.

Now, when Keenan does what is asked of him at school, he is able to earn points. Upon earning enough points, he is able to get the reward of a fun activity with Ed. This plan gives Keenan a positive motivator to do what is asked of him at school, all while benefiting from getting to do more activities with his mentor, Ed. They went sledding on their first out of school activity over winter break this year and have already come up with a list of more fun activities to do in the future.

 Ed was willing to go the extra distance to do what was in the best interest of Keenan. So far, Ed has certainly had a positive impact on Keenan, as well as that of Keenan on Ed. We can’t wait to see what the next year has in store for this great match!

 

 

 

Bremer County Big of the Year

Big Brothers Big Sisters honors Carol Hoffman as the

School Based Big of the Year!

 

Carol Hoffman has been a Big Sister since October 2012 when she was matched with her Little Brother, Matt, in the School Based Program.  Many of the first visits that Carol and Matt had together consisted of playing games, reading books and eating lunch together.  Their visits have changed somewhat over the past year, as now a lot of their time is spent conversing about Matt’s academics, family life and behaviors – all in a fun, safe environment.

Matt was enrolled into the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in hopes to better his attitude toward academics, understand what it means to be a friend and have a consistent, positive adult role model in his life.  Carol has provided Matt with all of these things and more. 

Matt’s classroom behaviors have improved tremendously this school year, and school personnel credit Carol for much of this.  Matt looks forward to their weekly visits and always has great things to say about the time that he spends with his Big Sister. Through Carol’s consistent visits and genuine care for Matt, their relationship has developed far beyond the expectations of the program.

 

Congratulations Carol!