Like this warm weather? Spring is the perfect time to get started mentoring!

Like fishing, swimming, and spending time outdoors?  Like you, many kids can't wait to get outside!  Be a friend to a child age 5-16 and include them as you do your hobbies and sports.  

Below is one child out of the 61 who are currently waiting for mentors with Kids 'n Kinship.

First name:  Jack

Age:  9

Interests:  Jack enjoys going to parks, swimming, fishing, legos, puzzles, and playing with dogs. He also likes building things, floor hockey, basketball, and football and is a Packers fan. He would also like to go to Grandslam or to volunteer at an animal shelter with a mentor.

Personality/Characteristics:  He is smart, fun to be around, and likes to make jokes. Jack lives with his mom, younger brother, & step-dad.  His biological dad is not in his life.  He is looking for an individual mentor preferably with a dog to spend time with him.

Goals/Dreams:  Jack would like to become a police officer.

For more information on Kids 'n Kinship, go to www.kidsnkinship.org.  We have volunteer applications, child profiles, success stories, as well as date of upcoming information sessions to learn more.  The next information session will be March 23, 6-6:45 pm at the Wescott Library in Eagan.  RSVP to Rita rykinship@aol.com

Excited for winter sports like sledding and skiing? So is Christopher!

A mentor match having a blast sledding together

Kids 'n Kinship matches volunteers with youth for fun and enriching activities like sledding, skiing, skating, and snowboarding and other fun outings.  Volunteers (individuals, couples, and families) meet weekly with a child and provide supportive friendship.  We currently have 63 youth waiting for a mentor. Are they waiting for you?

Here's one youth waiting for a new friend:

First Name: Christopher

Age:  8

Interests:  Christopher enjoys gym & sports (soccer, hockey, football, & lacrosse).  He also likes playing games, watching movies, doing math homework, scrapbooking, going to waterparks, skating, & skiing.

Personality/Characteristics:  He is friendly, talkative and active.  He lives with his mom and 4 other siblings, whom he admits he pesters and fights with.

Goals/Dreams:  His wish is for his very own Zamboni!  He would love to have an individual or couple mentor him so he can have fun.

Interested in finding out more about mentoring and Kids 'n Kinship?  Attend our next information session on Tuesday Dec. 9th, 6-6:45 pm at the Burnhaven Library in Burnsville.  RSVP to ihkinship@aol.com.  Learn more on our website www.kidsnkinship.org or by calling 952-892-6368.

Hot during this heat wave? Befriend Jake & have fun shooting hoops indoors, swimming & going places!

 A mentor family that enjoys playing basketball

With summer in full swing, kids are eager to get outside and to be active.  During this heat wave, there are many ways kids can still be active and yet cool off, like being indoors at a gym shooting hoops, going bowling, or swimming.  This is what 10-year-old Jake wants to do - get out and have fun in the community with a mentor!  Is he waiting for you?

First name: Jake

Age:  10

Interests:  He likes football, basketball and other sports.  He also enjoys all kinds of games, swimming, bowling, skating, and going places.

Personality/Characteristics:  Jake is a fun, positive kid.  In school, his teacher calls him a fact-master, though he gets distracted & frustrated at times. His single parent mom is looking for a mentor he can look up to and get out to do activities with.

Goals/Dreams:  He would like an individual or couple mentor to do fun activities with him.  Jake’s other wishes are for a new video game for his game system and a gift for his mom.

For more information: Jake is waiting for a mentor through Kids n’ Kinship. To learn more about us, contact Kids n’ Kinship at www.kidsnkinship.org or 952-892-6368. You can also attend an information session.  Our next one is Thursday, August 1st, 6:00-6:45 pm at Burnhaven Library in Burnsville. 

Like comic book superheroes & playing with Legos? Be a friend to Tony!

First name:  Tony

Age:  8

Interests:  Tony loves superheroes like Captain America & Superman. He also loves playing soccer & baseball, going fishing, being around animals, reading Magic Tree House books, and playing with Legos.

Personality/Characteristics: He can be shy at first but when he opens up, he’s fun-loving & active.  Tony is well-mannered & respectful of adults.  He lives with his mom and younger brother.    

Goals/Dreams:  Tony wants to be in the army when he grows up.  He also wants to be a policeman.  He is looking for an individual or couple to mentor him & have fun with him.

  

For more information: Tony is one of 45 children ages 5-16 waiting for a mentor through Kids n’ Kinship, a private non-profit agency which has served children in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville & Rosemount for 41 years. To learn more about mentoring, attend an information session Tuesday July 9th, 6-6:45 pm at Wescott library in Eagan.  To RSVP or for more information, contact Kids n’ Kinship at www.kidsnkinship.org or 651-686-0990.

Can't wait to spend more time enjoying the outdoors? Neither can Eddie!

Eddie is 8 years old and he enjoys being outdoors fishing, swimming, bike riding & playing football and soccer.  He also likes movies, video games, board games & playing the drums.

Eddie is friendly and talkative and eager to have fun with a mentor. His lives with his mom whose medical issues prevent her from doing as much as she’d like to with him.

He would like a mentor who loves animals, the outdoors & sports.  His wish is that world would have no more bullying!
 

Could you be the mentor for him?  To learn more, go to www.kidsnkinship.org or attend an information session.  Our next one is Tuesday April 9th, 6-6:45 pm at the Burnhaven Library in Burnsville.  RSVP to ihkinship@aol.com or 952-891-3885.  More dates listed on our website. Training & support provided.

Spend time outdoors with Sean!

On this beautiful day after so many days of heavy deluge and humidity and heat, I am reminded of the joys of spending time outdoors this time of year.  I can't wait to head out myself this afternoon!  Time outside is so rejuvenating and refreshing, especially for children who so often are cooped up indoors.  Statistics are scary about how much screen time today's children have.  They need more time in nature!  If you value this too, please consider sharing your time outdoors (whether it's a walk in a park, throwing a frisbee/baseball/football, or going boating or any other sport or hobby) with a child waiting for a mentor, like Sean here: 

 

Name: Sean  

Age:  13

Interests:  Sean enjoys being out in nature, biking, skateboarding and football.

Personality/Characteristics:  Sean is talkative, polite, intelligent and inquisitive.  He is a wonderful young man who is a big helper at home with his single parent mom and young sister ; he has also helped a teacher and neighbors. He is alone a lot and does not have the opportunity to do activities.  

Goals: Sean says he would like to get to know a mentor and learn from him.  Sean will be in 8^th grade this fall.

For More Information: Sean is one of almost 50 children waiting for a mentor through Kids ‘n Kinship, a private nonprofit serving Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount in Dakota County for 40 years. If you're interested in becoming a mentor, you're invited to attend an information session from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. Wednesday July 11th at the Burnhaven Library in Burnsville. Mentors can volunteer as individuals, couples, or families for weekly fun and enriching activities at home or in the community on their own schedules. Contact us at 952-892-6368 or go to our website www.kidsnkinship.org.

Enjoy sports and being outdoors? Share them with a boy in your community!

Below is a profile for one of the almost 50 children waiting for a friend right here in Dakota County.  Chips is typical of the boys in our program in that he lives with his mom, has little if any contact with his dad, and is desperate for a chance to get outside and do guy stuff with someone.  Could that someone be you?  Please consider befriending a boy through Kids 'n Kinship!  We provide orientation, training, and on-going support and all it takes is an hour or two a week of doing what you already do (i.e. going to parks, sports, grilling, working on the car, landscaping, etc.) with a boy this summer.

First name:  Chips
Age:  9
Interests:  Chips likes playing basketball, football, and baseball as well as skateboarding, swimming, & bowling.
Personality/Characteristics:  He is active and eager to go places and spend time outside this summer.  He lives with his single parent mom and his younger brother. Chips is in 3rd grade and likes math in school.  
Goals/Dreams:  His wish is for a mentor who can take him places and have fun with him
Looking For:  He and his mom would like a male mentor or couple who can meet with him, getting together for outdoor activities, sports, and games.
For More Information: Chips is one of almost 50 children waiting for a mentor through Kids ‘n Kinship, a private nonprofit serving Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount in Dakota County for 40 years. If you're interested in becoming a mentor, you're invited to attend an information session from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesday June 12th at the Wescott Library in Eagan. Mentors can volunteer as individuals, couples, or families for weekly fun and enriching activities at home or in the community on their own schedules. Contact us at 952-892-6368 or go to our website www.kidsnkinship.org.