Mentee takes on his mentor at the ping pong tables

Communities In Schools of Renton found this mix and brought it all together for their recent Mentor & Mentee Fieldtrip, AKA “Extreme Games 2010”. Held once a year, the field trip allows mentors and mentees to get together at the end of the school year, have some fun, and take part in half a day of activities. And for some young mentees, beating their mentor in foosball was the icing on the cake of a year-long relationship.

The fieldtrip was held at the Highlands Neighborhood Center, located in the heart of Renton. But the event didn’t always have the neighborhood location. According to Erin Iverson, Mentor Program Coordinator, the event had previously taken mentors and mentees to locations outside the city, causing many to have to miss the fun. Communities In Schools of Renton kept it within the community for the first time last year, and the community took in the event with open arms. Donations came in from all parts of the community, and this momentum hasn’t stopped.

Jessica Adam plays cards with mentor Erica Wright while showing off her freshly crafted picture frame.

“There’s nothing greater,” offered Tim Williams, Recreation Director for the city of Renton, “than the feel of a room full of kids!”

Give your time, Mentor a child, Make a Difference

National Mentoring Month is the time each year when our nation officially puts the spotlight on the importance of mentors and the need of every child to have a caring adult in his or her life.

Think of the mentors in your life – a neighbor, a teacher or coach, a parent – and consider how they helped you be a better person. Take the time to thank them, and then think about who you could mentor in your community.

There are lots of young people – all around us – who don’t have a healthy relationship with a caring adult, and they need YOU. Click here to learn how through Communities In Schools you can make a difference in a child’s life.