Pete’s Pick: Outdoor Mentors Needed

Attention outdoor-loving folks. We need your help.

Roanoke Outside is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia for Year 2 of the Outdoor Explorers Mentoring Program. The program provides children in under-served communities with access to Roanoke’s outdoor community through activities and mentoring.

Mentors, or “bigs,” will get paired with a child from an underserved community and have opportunities to participate in group outdoor activities together once a month for a year.

The program includes a hiking, tubing, paddling, rock climbing, stargazing, or environmental education activity each month for children and their outdoor-minded mentors. BBBS needs new bigs that want to help mentor “littles” and take part in the wonderful outdoor activities Roanoke has to offer for this program.

The program is growing after its first year. Activities start in April, but the application process starts now. Fill out the form on the BBBS website to get more information and see if this is a fit for you.

VOLUNTEER NOW

Each activity will be planned and coordinated by BBBS and Roanoke Outside.

All it takes to participate is a love of the outdoors and willingness to share some of your time.

Want to know more?

I’ll be at the Deschutes Tasting Room on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 5 p.m. on and can answer questions. The Roanoke Outside Foundation is the beneficiary of the brewery’s Community Pints program this month, with $1 from every beer sold on Tuesdays being donated to help make the outdoors even better. (So come have a beer with me, and we can talk about any outdoors topic you like.)