By Randi Burdette
The outdoors has always mattered to Montanans, especially in the Bitterroot Valley. Anyone who has grown up here has had the pleasure of having the Rocky Mountains be their backyard. Most children are fortunate to have opportunities to explore their surroundings. But for those who don’t, they can find the opportunity through the B.E.A.R. program in Hamilton.
The B.E.A.R. program, standing for Bitterroot Ecological Awareness Resources, was established in 1993, which eventually became a summer outdoor program in 1998 (bearmt.org). The programs evolved from school-centered presentations to summer programs to, in 2008, a year round mentoring program.
The mentors at B.E.A.R. work in both groups and one-on-one with the kids. The mentoring happens in a few different ways, says Executive Director Diane Olsen. The goal is to get the kids to interact with nature through walks to the river, skiing, hiking, backpacking, or and even skateboarding.
B.E.A.R. has many different programs including year round and summer programs. Both are designed to facilitate BEAR’s core beliefs, building up and supporting children in their strengths and potential. The idea is to “do outdoor based mentoring through three types of programs: mentoring, summer camps, and a guest facilitator program,” says Olsen. “Our staff is able to go into schools and facilitate teamwork and environmental education activities with the teachers.”
The mentors – one male, one female – who work at B.E.A.R. are trained individuals who want to help the youth in the Bitterroot valley to succeed. The mentorship is built on the referral system in order to see what each specific child needs, including working out a schedule for the program. Each mentorship is specifically created for what that child needs, whether it’s a group mentorship, a one-to-one mentorship, or a monthly day-long activity. It offers youth an opportunity to get involved in an extracurricular activity that they might not otherwise have the chance to get involved in.
B.E.A.R. works with counselors and social services to get referrals for group and one-on-one mentorships. One such program is within Hamilton Middle School, where B.E.A.R. has helped with the “Shooting Stars” program. The middle school started the program that girls can go to for mentorship and B.E.A.R. became involved last year. The program is focused on in school hours mentoring. This program is also being replicated by Corvallis and Victor middle schools.
This year B.E.A.R. is sponsoring a Martin Luther King Jr. Day recycling pick up on Saturday, January 16. It is a chance for the community to get involved in B.E.A.R. The day will be a national day of service, celebrated across the country (for more information go to http://www.nationalservice.gov/mlkday). January is also National Mentoring Month, which fits hand in hand with B.E.A.R.’s outreach program. B.E.A.R. is partnering with the recycling center at Woodside. The kids and staff will meet at the B.E.A.R. offices, 1105 Main Street, Hamilton, at 9 a.m. and then head out to pick up recyclables throughout the community and then take them to the center and sort them. Afterwards there will be a lunch for those involved.
If you’d like to attend the event or if you are interested in signing up for a free recycling pick up on Saturday, January 16, contact Val Aerni at 363-5410 or email val.aerni@bearmt.org. There are a limited number of slots available for pick-ups on Saturday, so be sure to reserve your pick up early. For more information or to see a detailed schedule, visit the special events page at bearmt.org or phone 363-5410.
