Our Programs
The Community-based Program
One-on-one mentoring between an adult volunteer and a youth in our community. Buddy Pairs in the Community Program meet three to four times a month to spend one-on-one time on their own, doing something they both enjoy or engage in a variety of free Buddy Pair Activities and special opportunities that are organized by Buddy Program staff. This program is available to youth aged 6-18 living in the geographic area of Aspen to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Mentor one youth, and change two lives.
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All our volunteer mentors go through mandatory screening and training before being matched with a Little Buddy.
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Mentors, youth, and families receive coaching and support from a Mentoring Program Coordinator throughout their entire relationship. The Buddy Program stresses to Big Buddies the importance of consistency in building and maintaining a mentoring relationship.
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The Buddy Program offers over 30 activities and special opportunities each year for Buddy Pairs in the Community Program. These free activities help Buddy Pairs to engage in creative, fun, and educational opportunities, as well as experience new things together and take advantage of all our area has to offer!
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The Mentoring Program team also offers guidance and resources each month through our Mindful Mentoring newsletter. In addition, mentors are invited to bi-annual Mentor Forums where they can connect and enhance their mentoring skills.
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The Buddy Program partners with local businesses to provide discounted products and services to our Buddy Pairs when they are out together.
For more information on this program please contact
Ainhoa Bujan, Mentoring Program Director at ainhoa@buddyprogram.org
GET INVOLVED
What mentors, youth and parents think about this mentoring experience:
The School-based Program
In this program, each adult volunteer mentors a student in one of our local schools. They meet once a week at school for an hour for the entirety of the school year.
This program is available in the Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs Schools.
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The Big and Little Buddy spend time together eating lunch, playing games, doing arts & crafts activities, and getting to know each other.
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Similar to our other programs, our volunteer mentors are screened, trained, and supported by a Mentoring Program Coordinator through their mentoring relationship.
Lea la Guía del Buddy Program para los Padres
For more information on this program please contact
Ainhoa Bujan, Mentoring Program Director at ainhoa@buddyprogram.org
GET INVOLVED
The Peer-to-Peer Program
In Peer-to-Peer, high school student volunteers are matched 1:1 with elementary and middle school students in a mentoring relationship. Peer-to-Peer operates at Aspen Elementary School/Aspen High School, Basalt Middle School/Basalt High School, Crystal River Elementary School/Roaring Fork High School, and Sopris Elementary School/Glenwood Springs High School.
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Buddy Pairs meet on the school grounds for one hour per week throughout the school year, under the supervision of Buddy Program staff
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Typical activities include participating in interactive activities designed to build connections, playing games, and doing art projects.
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School counselors and school district staff report happier, more engaged, better-focussed students. Looking to get involved? Talk to your School Counselor, or reach out to our staff (contact info below)!
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This relationship benefits both parties immensely, as the younger student has a caring, consistent mentor, and the high school students learn the importance of community stewardship and gain relevant real-world experience to apply as they enter the workforce or college post-high school
GET INVOLVED
For more information on this program please contact
Brooke Bockelman, Assitant Director at brooke@buddyprogram.org
LEAD PROGRAM
LEAD programs are group, experiential mentoring programs designed to help Aspen to Glenwood Springs, and Rifle, teens in grades 6-12 develop a sense of community engagement and the following life skills: teamwork, communication with peers and adults, decision-making, goal-setting, leadership, confidence, and trust. Youth participate in a group setting where they achieve personal growth while supporting their peers to do the same.
LEAD PROGRAMS INCLUDE
HIGH SCHOOL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP CLASSES
High School Outdoor Leadership is a year-long, school-day course designed and taught by Buddy Program LEAD staff members at Basalt, Roaring Fork, Glenwood Springs, and Rifle High Schools. Thirteen students annually at each school spend 300 hours developing leadership skills as well as skills for successful outdoor travel and exploration and participating in community service projects. Single and multi-day field trips include hikes, camping trips, hut trips, rock climbing, snowshoeing, and service projects, and students earn dual high school and college credit via Colorado Mountain College as Buddy Program course instructors are accredited CMC instructors.
MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
Middle School Outdoor Leadership at Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs - River View School, and Rifle Middle Schools is a year-long, extracurricular opportunity where thirteen 7th and 8th grade participants at each school engage in nearly 100 hours of leadership skills development and outdoor activity. Students participate in 3-day trips in the spring and fall to locations such as backcountry huts, the Colorado National Monument, and Sylvan Lake State Park. Students focus on life skills development through the lens of backcountry travel, teamwork, and individual reflection (“solos”) while in the field, and stay connected between trips via monthly meetings at school.
YOUTH CAMP (Grades 9-12)
Each June, Youth Camp engages 30 high school youth for 5 days and 4 nights in a journey to Moab, Utah. Participants camp overnight in the La Sal Mountains and experience “challenge by choice” via rock climbing, canyoneering, hiking, rafting, team building, and living in a respectful camp community.
DREAM DAY CAMP (Grades 6-8)
Each late July/early August, Dream Day Camp engages 20 middle school youth for 5 days of exploration around the Roaring Fork Valley. Activities include environmental stewardship projects, art projects, outdoor activities such as rock climbing and low and high ropes course initiatives, team-building games, art projects, an overnight camping trip, river rafting, and participating in a respectful camp community.
SCHOOL YEAR ACTIVITIES
LEAD provides opportunities for teens to try new hands-on experiences and stay engaged across the school year via a variety of events. Activity offerings include art classes, auto mechanics workshops, cooking workshops, camp reunions, outdoor excursions, and more.
GET INVOLVED
For more information on this program please contact
John Brasier, LEAD Program Director at john@buddyprogram.org
Other Services
Youth engaged with the Buddy Program have access to:
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Empowerment Scholarships: a twice-a-year opportunity to apply for $100 of support with extracurricular activity costs
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Counseling Fund: financial support for counseling and therapy sessions
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Partnership programs: Buddy Program staff refer youth and families for scholarships with Student Diplomacy Corps, Colorado Outward Bound School, and Holiday Baskets coordinated by St. Peters Episcopal Church