Share the celebration of summer with this 12-year-old boy

Summer in Minnesota is characterized by many things - sunshine, rain, hot afternoons, cool evenings, sparkling lakes, grass to cut and endless examples of what we fill these precious days with as we forget about the snow and cold days we experienced only months ago.

In this celebration of the outdoors, consider the special times you have spent as a child. Maybe memories of fish caught, learning to water ski, having someone teach you to start a campfire or hiking in the woods. Maybe it was simply an adult who taught you how to tuneup a lawnmower, showed you the secrets of planting a garden or setting up a basketball hoop.

These are experiences many of us take for granted, but there are children in our community who don't have the opportunity to learn and grow through experiences like these.

Mentoring is really very simple. As you venture out for a swim, attend an evening concert or shop for the perfect walleye jig, open your heart and include a child. By including a young person in our everyday lives or even our special occasions, we can impact their lives in a tangible way.

Ben is a 12-year-old boy on our waiting list who lives with his mom and sister and would very much like to have a male mentor in his life. He enjoys swimming, hiking, fishing, sledding and most every outdoor sport. When picking his favorite activities he also chose singing, cooking, painting, concerts, visiting museums and going to movies. What he is saying is "I just want someone in my life!"

Please consider helping to make a difference in Ben's life by taking the first step to becoming a Kinship Partner mentor. Call the office today at 218-829-4606 - outside the Brainerd area call (877) 730-5437 - or e-mail mentors@kinshippartners.org or visit www.kinshippartners.org.