Programs

Boys to Men Mentoring Network of Virginia (BTMVA) offers young men a safe place where they can talk about what is really going on in their lives, as well as a community of mentors and peers who listen, believe in them and help them make better choices

Site Based Programs:

Boys To Men Mentoring Network of Virginia (BTMVA ) in and after school mentoring program is an exciting new mentoring model focused on middle school and high school boys identified by school administration to be at risk of academic failure. Every week, groups of dedicated Boys to Men mentors show up at middle schools and high schools to give these at-risk boys a community of mentors who listen, encourage and accept them.

This approach is drawing high praise from school principals, administrators and teachers for its documented ability to improve participant’s grades, reduce discipline issues and keep boys from dropping out of high school.

Teenage boys make decisions every day that may affect them for the rest of their lives. BTMVA give boys a community of mentors who listen, encourage and guide these young men to make better choices. When we invest in our boys, and support them at this critical time, the payback will last a lifetime! The mentors don’t help boys with their homework, lecture them when they are in trouble or tell them to stay in school. Instead of telling teenage boys what to do, BTMVA mentors build a connection and trust by sharing the mistakes they made when they were teenagers and the lessons they learned from those mistakes.

The mentors and boys talk about their accomplishments and struggles, sharing what they are proud of (and not proud of) and support each other. The boys quickly start to trust, tell the truth, admit when they screw up, take responsibilities for their actions, and encourage and support each other through these often difficult adolescent years. This approach gives the boys permission to talk openly about the challenges in their lives.

Rites of Passage Weekend (ROPAW):

This 3-day training is led by experienced facilitators and trained staff, and provides a 2:1 ratio of men to boys.

During the weekend, boys are challenged and supported through a series of carefully facilitated activities designed to help boys cope with the ordeals they will face during adolescence. They learn about integrity. They bond with a tribe. They learn about mission and service.

Our boys and Mentors spend more time together on this weekend than a typical mentor program provides in six months.

Each day has a specific intention:

• Friday: WHO I AM NOW?

• Saturday: WHO DO I WANT TO BE?

• Sunday: CHOOSING THE MAN I WILL BECOME

This weekend is a life-changing experience boys never forget.