LET'S PLAY BINGO!
Matches can explore the BBBS Little Big Virtual Academy by playing BINGO! Just go to our website Little Big Virtual Academy and complete the activities listed in the squares on the card below. It's a fun way to discover all the virtual activities and resources Little Big Virtual Academy has to offer! |
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Sledding: When the flakes fly, it’s time to head to the hill! Check out these local sledding hills for a full day of fun in the snow. It's a great way to enjoy the snow. Click here for a list of sledding hills.
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JANUARY 31ST IS BACKWARDS DAY!
January 31st honors everything backward with National Backward Day. The day provides an opportunity to reverse our ways, our direction or simply our shirt. Dessert for breakfast, perhaps? There are many ways to celebrate this fun day, so just let your imagination be your guide.
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GUCCI CHANGEMAKERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LITTLES
Here’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for Littles who are high school juniors or seniors and interested in the fashion industry—a chance to connect with one of the premier Italian designers, Gucci!
Jackson Lewis Lee, the 2021 Golden Globe Ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, is partnering with Gucci to spread the word about The Gucci Changemakers Impact Fund and Scholarship Program. The program is geared toward high school juniors and seniors who are interested in all aspects of the fashion industry, from design to fashion law, merchandising and other fashion related fields. But the deadline to apply is right around the corner, January 29, 2021. And on Monday, January 25, Gucci executives will host an exclusive Q&A session for Littles who want to learn more—and Jackson will join the call, too! If you know a Little who is a junior or senior who should be considered for this opportunity, contact De Anna Ward, deanna.ward@bbbsa.org.
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KIDS SHOE DESIGNER CONTEST 2021!
Merrell is running a shoe design contest for youth ages 11 and under. They are looking for a new shoe designer – and it could be you! Show them your best coloring work on the Nova 2 Kids shoe. Click here to download the Merrell Activity Sheet. The winner will have a shoe designed based on their picture, a free pair when available, and a $500 gift card.
Deadline to enter is February 8. Upload your finished pic with #futuremerrelldesigner and tag @merrell OR submit via email. More details can be found here, on how to participate.
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SCOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
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Scholarship recipients will receive:
• A scholarship of $10,000 per year for four years of college
• A pairing with an executive woman mentor for one year
• A KPMG Future Leaders Retreat that will focus on leadership training, career development, and the college transition.
Applications must be submitted by February 1, 2021. Winners will be selected and notified by April 15, 2021.
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2020-21 OPTIMIST ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
“Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism”
(sponsored by the Central MN Noon Optimist Club)
The contest is open to contestants under the age of 19, with the opportunity for local prizes, and a district scholarship. We will be providing the following prizes locally:
- 1st place $250
- 2nd place: $150
- 3rd place:$100
Our local contest winner will also be entered into an area essay contest (the Dakotas, Manitoba, Minnesota District of Optimist International) where the first-place prize is a $2,500 scholarship. Last year, there were only 19 contestants at that level.
The contest entry deadline is February 10, 2021.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Central MN
Attention: Aimee Minnerath
345 30th Ave N
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
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LITTLE BIG VIRTUAL ACADEMY
The purpose of the Little Big Virtual Academy is to keep Littles and Bigs connected during times of physically distancing. When matches might not be able meet in-person, they can continue to communicate and interact via phone and computer. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota team has compiled a list of fun and interactive activities and resources for Littles and Bigs to do together- click here to link to the website!
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The storming of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday was a shocking attack on an essential part of our democracy -- the peaceful transition of power from one president to the next. As Congress met to certify the 2020 electoral college vote, a protest outside the Capitol turned violent as the crowd unlawfully entered the building and temporarily disrupted the voting process.
While we adults continue to process the events from yesterday, kids are also trying to make sense of what they’re seeing and hearing in the news and on social media. To help, we’ve put together some age-appropriate questions and conversation starters that adults can use to navigate this tricky topic with the kids in their lives.
We hope these tools help you provide the care, comfort, and answers our kids and teens need during these challenging and unpredictable times. View article
More resources for helping kids understand the news:
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AROUND CLOUD TUTORS
Around Cloud Tutors is an online service, providing tutoring to St. Cloud area students at no charge. K-12 students and their parents may now sign-up at www.aroundcloudtutors.org for a one-on-one, 30-minute session covering math, reading, social studies, English/language arts, Spanish, and career and college advising.
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BEING ANTIRACIST
To create an equal society, we must commit to making unbiased choices and being antiracist in all aspects of our lives. Here is a resource from the National Museum of African American Culture and History titled “Talking about Race”. This resource includes and highlights a variety of resources on topics such as bias, whiteness, becoming anti-racist, social identities and systems of oppression, historical foundations of race, community building, and more. Click here to for link to resource.
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CAMP-IN-A-BOX ACTIVITIES FOR MINNESOTA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FAMILIES |
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APRIL: MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD T-SHIRTS
Month of the Military Child T-shirts are available to purchase.
You can order your shirts Jan 7-March 16. Shirts will not be available after the March 16th deadline. The shirts are $20 (shipping included) and will be sent directly to your house. Link to order shirts:
POC: Laura Groeneweg, Lead Child and Youth Coordinator at (o) 651.268.8695,
(c) 651.242.6938
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PROGRAM STAFF CONTACT INFO |
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Please contact our staff if you have any questions regarding matches.
Ann Matvick, Program Director
Jamie Lodermeier, Program Coordinator
Kayla Meyer, Program Coordinator
Mary Bellefeuille, Lead Program Coordinator
Rebecca Fonss, Program Coordinator
Robyn Rieland, Program Coordinator
Tasha Bruns-Notsch, Lead Enrollment Coordinator
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Hey BIGS!! Do you know someone who would be a great mentor to a child in our community? Use the above Big Nomination graphic by sending it to them. You could message it, text it, print and hand deliver, or post it on their social media. Let them KNOW that you could see them as a BIG! We are now holding Info Sessions online via Zoom- let's create a waiting list of Bigs!
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NEW! Metro Bus - As of January 3rd route schedules have been modified. Click here for more information. Due to COVID-19 schedules and routes may be changed with short notice. Please check the Metro Bus website for the most up to date information on routes and schedules.
CLC Free Store: Meal, Cleaning, and Personal Care Kits are available. If your family is in need for one or all of these kits. There is no qualification required. Please contact us at by phone: 320-255-0488 ext 109 or email: CLCstore@celebrationlutheranchuch.com. Clink here for link to website.
CARE Free Food Distribution - COVID Food Assistance Program open to all households that are in need! Each household will receive Meat, Milk and Dry Goods. February 15th 11:00am - 1:00pm or while boxes last. CARE Parking Lot 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 56329. Please stay in your vehicle. Phone: 320-968-7848 or email: info@CAREelders.org
Metro Bus Training - Join Metro Bus Wednesdays at 11:15 AM for free, online travel training. No registration required! Learn How to: Read route maps and schedules, Plan your trip, Use the new fare system….And more!
Heating Assistance Available - The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) helps pay for home heating costs and furnace repairs for income-qualified households. If you or someone you know could use funding for their heating bill. Click here for link to website.
Crisis Text Line - Text MN741741 is Minnesota’s suicide prevention and mental health crisis texting service now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People who text MN to 741741 will be connected to Crisis Text Line. For callers who are the most in distress, average wait times for a response is only 39 seconds. Click here for link to website.
Job Search, Application and Resume Assistance - Career Solutions staff are at the St. Cloud Great River Regional Library Computer Lab from 2:30-4:30pm M-F. They are there temporarily until Career Solutions opens. Career Solutions staff are available to assist with Writing Resumes & Cover Letters, Resume Review, Online & Paper Job Applications, Employer Research, Interview Coaching, Job Search Websites, Community Resources, Labor Market Information, Employment & Training Programs and Job Search Workshop Referrals. Click here for more information on services.
Food Relief Bags - Catholic Charities Emergency Services continues to provide access to food to those in need. Food relief bags will be available for pick-up at the locations below.
United Way 2-1-1 Resource Hotline - United Way is encouraging anyone who may be in need of assistance accessing food, rent, mortgage, utility assistance or any other essential service, to dial 2-1-1 or text MNCOVID to 898-211. Click here for more information.
Local Business Information - Many businesses are closed or have reduced their hours. Some stores and restaurants are offering curbside pick up or delivery. Click here for more information.
Great River Library - The library is now open with limited hours and curbside pick up. Information on returning books, overdue books, registering for a library card and more! Click here for more information.
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