Volunteer to be a BOAST mentor
The purpose of the mentoring component
is to provide the University of Illinois student and/or community volunteers
with the opportunity to build a strong and lasting relationship with
a BOAST participant. In addition, the mentor and mentee will engage in
hands-on minds-on science and/or technology activities during their weekly
meetings.
The Mentor Component of the BOAST Program was started in the Fall of
1997 in response to the suggestions of the BOAST volunteers who wanted
additional opportunities to work with the BOAST participants. The component
is housed at Kenwood
Elementary School, part of the Champaign
Unit 4 School District, since many of the BOAST participants are
enrolled there and a mentoring program had already been established there.
Each U of I student and/or community volunteer mentor meets with his
or her "mentee" a minimum of one hour per week during the academic
school year at Kenwood
Elementary School. During this time, volunteers and children work
on projects and other activities that correlate with the BOAST after-school
program and the hands-on science lessons. Volunteers and children learn
together and often build lasting relationships. In addition to these
activities, the BOAST staff meets with the volunteer mentors for an hour
about once a month to discuss upcoming activities, and talk with the
mentors about their mentoring experiences.
Sign up to be a BOAST mentor here or contact Bobbi Trist to learn more.