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Common Questions
About Becoming a Big
There is no magical talent or educational degree that makes you the right Big. Anyone who wants to make an impact in a young person’s life is the right kind of Big.
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In community based you must be 18 years old and have reliable transportation along with car insurance. Relationships are most impactful when they last beyond one year so we are looking for Bigs who feel confident they have at least one year to give.
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In Bigs in School, you must be 18 years old and available to meet weekly during the lunchtime. Since matches do not meet in summer, we look for matches to last two school years.
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All applicants, no matter the program you select, must pass our series of background checks.
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All applicants must reside in Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, or Waupaca counties. This is our service area.
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Littles are between the ages of 6 to 17. They come from a wide range of backgrounds and have a plethora of different interests. Some youth have two parents at home while others have a single parent household. Some youth live in poverty. Some youth have many siblings and some are only children. Some youth are white and others are nonwhite.
The youth on our ready-to-be-matched list both want and need a mentor. They are excited (and a little nervous) for their friendship with you. Their parents/guardians want the best for their children and believe in the power of mentoring.
You are not just matched with the next waiting Little. We make thoughtful match selections based on your background and interests. We also consider travel time to and from your Little’s house. During your interview, we will get to know you and what your goals are for this experience.
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Community based Bigs and Littles get together 2 – 4 times a month. Some matches meet once a week while others like to do a couple of Saturday afternoons together. It can vary based on the activities you plan.
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Bigs in School is a program where you meet with your Little once a week at their school during lunch and recess. You do not meet in the summer.
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You can plan activities at your home after a 3-month wait and you will also need to have a home assessment with your program coordinator.
We stress low-cost activities. This is not about spending money; rather, it is about investing in quality time. Keep the outings low cost, especially in the beginning. You will receive information about local businesses who partner with us to offer discounts. We often get free tickets to sports games and festivities. There is always a free monthly match activity as well.
Some favorite match activities include bike rides, nature center visits, hiking, parks, fishing, cooking, grilling out, baking, free library programs, playing sports, going to sporting events, building things, crafty things, festivals and farmer’s markets, board games and cards, and trips around town. Do things where you can talk and get to know one another. Bring your Little to things you normally do. Let them see what your life is like and help them feel included in it.
Two weeks after your Make Match, your program coordinator checks in to see how things have started off. Then each month your program coordinator schedules your match support calls. You will talk about what you have been doing, discuss activity ideas if you need them, talk about problems and get help solving them, general information on youth development if you need it, and talk about the overall relationship that is being developed. You should always feel like you have help and you can reach out anytime to celebrate a win or discuss a problem. We are here for you.
The Big Duo is a pair of adults that choose to mentor one Little together. It can be spouses or partners, best friends, two adult family members or relatives, and so on. Each volunteer goes through the enrollment process separately. Once you are matched, you can plan outings with all three of you together as well as tag team your outings with one Big at a time. It works great when juggling busy schedules or just wanting to give your Little exposure to lots of different hobbies and interests between the two of you.
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Yes, we love getting out in the community and talking about mentoring. We do presentations at workplaces, churches and faith communities, professional groups and volunteer organizations, and colleges and school districts. We know that people need to hear about us a few times before they take action and apply. Sometimes they need a nudge from a friend too. Who can you nudge about becoming a Big?
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Contact Jill Grambow to discuss scheduling a presentation at jgrambow@bbbsecw.org or call or text 920-383-4904.
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