Pictured: City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities' mentoring program participants. Photo courtesy of City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.
Every afternoon in communities across the country, park and recreation centers fill with the energy of young people. Some come to play sports, others come to explore creative activities and some simply come to find a safe space to belong. What many people don’t realize is that these spaces are also powerful incubators for mentorship — spaces where trusted adults and volunteers help shape the confidence, resilience and futures of young people.
Park and recreation agencies reach more than 40 million youth annually through out-of-school time (OST) programs. As community-based providers of vital programming that supports youth development, park and recreation agencies are well-positioned to integrate evidence-based mentoring practices into these offerings to promote positive behavioral and social outcomes in communities where youth grow, live, learn, and play.
Across the country, park and recreation agencies are currently expanding their youth mentoring programs by utilizing NRPA’s suite of mentoring resources, including the Youth Mentoring Framework, and a strong network of peers. The unique part of mentoring is that it meets youth where they are, and where agencies are best suited to integrate principles. Park and recreation agencies are building youth mentoring into afterschool programs, sports programs, and as standalone mentoring programs, but the possibilities for integrating mentoring into parks and recreation programs are endless.
Over the past seven years, NRPA has supported agencies implementing mentoring programs with impacts, including:
- 92 percent of mentors feel they’ve had a role in the positive changes of their mentees
- 75 percent of mentees improved or maintained their grades in school
- 66 percent of mentees improved or maintained relationships with parents and caregivers
- 44 percent of mentees reported a positive increase in their mental health
Success from the Field
In Arizona, three teens from underserved neighborhoods stepped into a new mentoring program offered by the City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, unsure of what to expect. They had never participated in city-offered programs before and had faced challenges that made engagement difficult. But something clicked. Not only did they end up attending every day of the mentoring program, but they actively participated and became leaders — guiding discussions, mentoring younger peers and even exploring volunteer and job opportunities with the City of Mesa. Hear more from City of Mesa on this episode of Open Space Radio.
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Texas, saw success in their mentoring program by adding and implementing the Youth Mentoring Framework into the Opening Doors Teen Mentor Program. During the summer, agency staff focused on overall safety and being prepared for any type of natural disaster, teaching the teens how to be leaders in the community by stepping up in a time of need when adults may not be available (bridging the gap between youth and adulthood). During the year-round session, the program shifts to preparing teens for their futures, connecting them.to people who inspire them to become their best selves, explore careers and delve into professional development. Mentees and mentors have gone on college tours, volunteered at different city events and practiced for job interviews. The program team is looking forward to a spring event, “Empowered: Connecting College, Career, and Community,” which will be hosted at one of the Houston Community Colleges in partnership with Houston ISD and AT&T. The event will bring together companies and organizations from across Houston to engage with youth, offering them valuable insights and networking opportunities.
Western Wellness Foundation’s STRONGkids program in Dickinson, North Dakota, encouraged mentees to push themselves to step outside their comfort zone, leading to youth who were happy with the results. One girl, afraid of heights, tried rock climbing for the first time and was able to climb higher than she ever thought possible with encouragement from her mentors and peers. She said, “conquering my fear a little bit felt really good to do.” Read more about the STRONGkids program in this blog post.
In Alabama, the City of Huntsville Parks and Recreation Department successfully engaged parents and caregivers through their mentoring program. Agency staff shared that parents left the mentoring program’s kickoff session feeling encouraged, excited, and ready to contribute. A speaker presented on "Nurturing Family Bonds: One Moment at a Time," which was both inspiring and impactful. Parents shared their holiday traditions that promote family self-care, creating a meaningful dialogue. Additionally, a local Mathnasium branch awarded two free months of math tutoring to two parents for their sons. Several parents were also inspired to volunteer at a recreation center, wrapping gifts for families in support of the Male Mentorship program. Hear more from City of Huntsville on this episode of Open Space Radio.
Expanding Mentorship Opportunities
NRPA is committed to supporting and growing these powerful mentorship moments. The 2024 Out-of-School Time (OST) Youth Mentoring Program grant opportunity is designed to help park and recreation agencies expand high-quality, community-based mentoring programs. NRPA will host an optional office hour on February 5, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET to answer questions and provide guidance for applicants. Interested agencies should pre-register for the office hour.
Since 2018, NRPA has helped 55 agencies across the United States integrate mentorship into afterschool programs, sports, in-school initiatives and more. The results speak for themselves — more engaged youth, brighter futures and communities that rally behind their young people. Parks and recreation is the perfect place to make these moments happen.
This award is supported by Grant # 15PJDP-24-GG-03819-MENT awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.
Maureen Neumann (she/her) is a senior program manager at NRPA.