Youth Programs
The BCBB mentoring program serves youth age 8 to 18 whose parents have graduated from the Breaking Chains Building Bonds program as well as youth who currently have an incarcerated parent.
Mentors meet with their mentees in one on one or small group mentoring sessions in the youth’s school or community. Mentoring sessions occur twice a month for two hours per session for a total of 4 hours per month. Youth will be provided with a mentor for at least one school year and have the option to continue mentoring each school year until they reach the age of 18 or graduate from high school.
The BCBB mentoring program aims to interrupt the cycle of youth violence, substance misuse, and mental illness by providing youth with a skills based mentoring program designed to increase emotional regulation tools, provide a trusted adult to support the youth as they grow and heal from the experience of having an incarcerated parent, help the youth to set goals, and offer opportunities for the youth to explore their hobbies and interests.
Youth Mentoring and Leadership
“This summer would have been so boring if all I did was stay at home!”
Outdoor Adventure Camp
The Storytellers Project Outdoor Adventure Camp is a summer camp for the youth of BCBB families and children of incarcerated parents. Youth have the opportunity to explore the outdoors through hiking, fishing, rock climbing, archery and so much more.
Throughout their camp experience youth learn the 7 leave no trace principles and explore careers in the outdoors. The Outdoor Adventure Camp is designed to increase youth mental and emotional well-being through physical activities in nature, a sense of belonging, and increased self-confidence. Youth ages 14 and older may earn a stipend as a summer intern.
