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MATCH SUPPORT
Match Support is an integral and required part of all of our programs. It focuses on child safety, relationship building, and fostering a sense of community with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Match support is your opportunity to share with BBBS staff any observations, challenges, and positive experiences you've had in your match. We will be able to provide resources and coaching that will help everyone involved in the match work through any challenges as they arise. Our Program Specialists will explain the requirements of Match Support during your interview and will work with you throughout your time in the program to ensure contacts work with your schedule.
DISCOUNT LIST
Our matches spend a lot of fun, quality time together. Big Brothers Big Sisters works hard to provide as many opportunities for our matches to share experiences as possible! We work with area businesses to offer discounts for matches to use on outings together. When you are matched, you will receive a Big Benefit card endorsed by a BBBS staff member that may need to be presented to receive a discount.
The discounts offered are renewed annually and are up to date through the end of 2024.
* indicates that offer is not exclusive to BBBS 7 Rivers Region
WISCONSIN LOCATIONS
La Crosse 99 cent kids meal with adult entrée Sundays - 4pm - close
La Crosse Buy one admission, get one free.
La Crosse 10% off entire order
Holmen Free kid's meal with adult entrée Sundays - 4pm - close
La Crosse BOGO of equal or lesser value on any entrée with or without a side (includes wings, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, & salads)
Onalaska 99 cent kids meal with one adult entrée Tuesdays
La Crosse 10% off of regular merchandise Cannot be combined with other offers
Holmen Buy one stick of jerky, get one free
La Crosse BIGS get in free as "service providers"; Little's rate of $7/hr
La Crosse 25% off escape room experiences for Matches. Code: bigbrothersbigsisters25
La Crosse Buy one grandstand seat, get one free
Onalaska Kids eat free on Tuesdays with purchase of an adult meal
La Crosse 10% of entire order
La Crosse & Onalaska 50% off regular menu prices for a Match
MINNESOTA LOCATIONS
Winona Free Lemonade with purchase of a half hoagie
Winona Buy one 8 oz. soup, get one free
La Crescent Buy one ice cream cone, get one free
Kellogg Little's game of mini golf is free with purchase of Big's game of mini golf
Winona 10% off entire order
Winona Kids eat free on Tuesdays with purchase of an adult meal
Winona Half price admission for Big, free admission for Little
Activity Ideas
FALL ACTIVITIES
- Visit an apple orchard - Go to a corn maze - Visit a pumpkin patch - Carve or paint pumpkins - Go to a haunted house - Attend trick or treating events - Scary movie night with popcorn - Make caramel apples - Make halloween costumes - Rake leaves for a neighbor - Collect leaves and identify the trees they fell from
SPRING ACTIVITIES
- Create Greeting Cards for “May Day” or “Easter” - Plant flowers or other plants - Visit a community garden and volunteer - Create sidewalk srt with chalk - Color together outside - Pick up litter for Earth Day
ANYTIME ACTIVITIES
- Go for a walk to collect interesting rocks - Learn and play card games - Play badminton or croquet - Go on a scavenger hunt - Visit a pet store - Start a scrapbook - Read a book - Go bowling - Go to a roller rink - Play a board game - Visit a museum - Ask to visit a local fire or police station - Visit the humane society; offer to walk the dogs - Play video games together - Shop for and cook a meal - Bake a tasty treat - Learn to do something difficult - Paint portraits of one another - Start a new hobby - Start a collection - Build a model car, plane, or rocket - Start a book club for you and other matches - Visit the public library - Work with clay or paper mâché - Research your family tree - Attend your Little’s school play of sporting event to cheer them on! - Start a tv show together - Do a science project using household products - Make a volcano - Go to a trampoline park - Watch a local sports team - Help your Little with a school project - Take your Little to your place of employment - Have a fire and roast smores - Create or paint pottery - Try an escape room - Go stargazing - Make a log cabin out of popsicle sticks - Try out a new restaurant - Try a new food together - Go to the movie theater - Do a puzzle - Play at an arcade - Tiedie t-shirts - Go to the YMCA - Teach your Little a valuable life skills, including maintaining a bicycle, doing an oil change, changing a tire, tying a tie, etc. - Ask your Little teach you something - Volunteer together - Visit a planetarium - Visit a new coffee shop - Go shopping - Do a get to know you game/competition - Go to goodwill and thrift an outfit for one another - Attend a BBBS REACH event - Make a calendar to schedule your outings together - Start a journal for your outings - Make friendship bracelets - Visit a local courthouse - Make paper airplanes - Try out a ropes course or rock climbing - Go to a gem and mineral show - Create a puppet show - Create a movie or trailer - Run errands with your Little and teach them about budgeting - Write a letter to your Little on your match anniversary sharing what you have learned about them in the last year - Learn a new language - Look up new words in the dictionary - Plan for a money-earning project and save money for a special event - Practice completing job and college applications - Learn and play a musical instrument - Visit a college campus - Teach your Little good phone etiquette - Take a first aid class - Build and bury a time capsule - Paint a fence or room - Go to a dance performance, concert, or art show
Be Patient
- Big Sister Lexi
“My biggest advice to a new big is to be patient and go in with an open mind, I truly can’t emphasize it enough. I wish I went into my match with more of an open mind.
I thought it was going to be easy from the first time I met her, and to be honest it wasn’t. I had to show her that I was someone she could trust.
Having a Little is not always easy and it’s a very big responsibility. But, through patience and an open mind it will be one of the best experiences you will have. BBBS is an amazing opportunity, one that not everyone gets to participate in.
Always remember to be patient, kind, and have fun. You are going to make such a difference in a child’s life”.
WINTER ACTIVITIES
- Bake & frost christmas cookies - Make a gift for someone special - Go to the Rotary Lights - Watch a holiday movie - Try ice skating - Go caroling - Build a snowman or snow fort - Go sledding - Go skiing or snowboarding
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
- Fly a kite - Feed ducks at a park (if allowed) - Have a picnic - Make a bug cage - Visit a zoo/petting zoo - Go mini golfing - Build and decorate a birdhouse - Learn how to rollerblade/skate - Host an at-home car wash - Go for a bike ride - Go to a circus, county fair, or carnival - Go to the farmers market - Watch a parade - Go horseback riding - Go for a hike - Explore the bluffs - Watch a fireworks show - Go swimming at a pool - Play in the sprinkler - Go to a splash pad - Explore a new park - Play frisbee golf - Play basketball, volleyball, or soccer - Go go-karting - Blow bubbles - Start a lemonade stand - Have a water balloon fight - Create an obstacle course - Visit a farm - Go to a beach and build a sandcastle - Mow a neighbors lawn - Go fishing - Go tubing, canoeing, or rafting - Go bird watching - Pick strawberries or raspberries - Plant a tree - Go to a horse, dog, or cat show - Geocaching (“Geocaching” free on app store)
Don't Get Discouraged
- Big Brother Logan
“It’s tough at first. It’s a tough adjustment to be able to work into your Match. It’s difficult to get started because you don’t necessarily know where to start.
Just be confident in yourself and know that whatever you’re doing is making an impact. Taking small steps is the first thing that you can do. Eventually, those will grow into bigger things. Small changes and small moments can really make big differences later. Don’t get discouraged”.
Show Up
- Big Sister Jazlynne
“Don’t get discouraged. It’s likely that your Little has had someone betray their trust or just doesn’t feel comfortable opening up to a stranger. That’s okay!
Make sure to let them know you’re always around when they’re ready to talk. I like to share stories with my Little about things I struggled with at her age, such as making friends or focusing on schoolwork, as a reminder that I was once eleven too. It’s okay if you don’t have all the right answers.
You just have to show up”. Being persistent in your relationship with your Little will show that you’re not just around when they’re at their best.
Sometimes all they need is someone that will stay connected no matter the season of life they’re in."