What It Means to Be a Big
Every young person deserves someone in their corner
Volunteer as a Big and show up for a young person in the Black Hills. It takes about four hours a month and a willingness to listen and be yourself.
Our Community-Based Mentoring program pairs kids and teens with caring adult volunteers who meet with them regularly: at the mall, the park, over a meal, or wherever conversation flows easiest. These matches build trust over time, giving young people a consistent, positive relationship outside of school and home.
Bigs help Littles build confidence, make good decisions, and see more possibility for their own future. What it looks like:
- Matches meet for about four hours a month based on shared interests
- Mentor on your own as a Big, together as a Big Couple, or as a Big Family
- A one-year commitment
- Bigs are interviewed, pass background and safety checks, provide references, and complete training before being matched with a Little
Take the First Step
Fill out the application and our Match Support Specialists will contact you about next steps.
What Others Are Saying
"When I signed up to be a Big, I didn't think that I would find a Little like Roman. He is family. It is a brotherhood created by friendship."
— Jeremiah, Big Brother
"I was fortunate enough to grow up in a great family and wanted to be able to share some of that with someone. I researched Big Brothers Big Sisters and the rest is history."
— Carla, Big Sister
"Being a Little in Big Brothers Big Sisters gave me a new direction and purpose when I was a kid. To this day I still talk with my Big Brother John."
— Jacob, former Little Brother and BBBSBH board member
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about being a Big? Call us at 605-343-1488 or email info@bigmentors.com.
Our Bigs come from diverse backgrounds just like our Littles. They are regular people, just like you. You don't need any special degrees or job skills. You just have to want to positively impact a young person. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit.
As a Big/Little team, you decide together what you want to do and then your Little gets approval from their parent or guardian. We recommend that you keep a consistent schedule of outings and get together on a regular basis. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Black Hills staff will provide guidance and support on outings. The outings will also depend on the comfort level of your Little's parents, your Little, and you.
The quality of the time you invest with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. That's why we don't encourage spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is to help your Little see the world through a different lens so you can inspire your Little to become something they never thought possible. If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning. Play a game together, or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Black Hills offers donor-supported events and activities that are a great way to meet other Bigs and Littles. As a Big, you may also receive notices for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for you both to enjoy.
Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about. Go to the library, check out a book and read together. Buy a comic book to read together. Play a board game. Go on a nature walk. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the local driving range. Take a ride in the car with the radio on and talk about the music you like. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. For children, playing can be learning. Most important: keep it simple and enjoy yourselves!
In the beginning it's most important for you and your Little to get to know each other. This can happen best on a one-to-one basis. However, over time it's also valuable for your Little to get to know the people who are important to you. Just keep in mind that if you're spending lots of time with others, your Little may begin to feel jealous or neglected. The main focus is the friendship you develop with your Little.
Once you are matched with your Little, one of our Match Support Specialists will be in regular contact with you to provide assistance and give feedback. Any time you are unsure about what to do or how to handle a situation, you will have a Match Support Specialist there to help. Our staff will help you with ideas for activities, guidance for handling possible difficult situations, and feedback on how you are making a difference.
No, Littles have a parent or guardian in their life already. What they need is a Big to spend quality, one-on-one time with them. Someone to have fun with, someone they can confide in, someone like you!
Other Ways to Get Involved
Let's create more opportunities for young people together.
Partner With Us
Contact us to partner with your business on match activities or to have us speak at your workplace.