The Boys to Men Mentoring Network of Minnesota

"There is soul work here that I could have gotten no-where else." - J.T., St. Paul

"I never felt so alive." - J.M., Minneapolis

"I wish I had this when I was a kid." - C.B., St. Paul

"It’s the best thing I have ever done for myself." - L.S., St. Paul

"I know I'm making a difference now." - R.O., Minneapolis

Did you have supportive men in your life as an adolescent? Many of us did not. In recent generations, many men have not learned how to parent, support, and initiate our young men. The result of this neglect is evident. But the men are back!

You’ll get more than you can imagine from mentoring: Seeing your care make a real difference: ...access to fun & meaningful activities with our Journeymen …growing exponentially by facing the issues that come up as you face your inner teenager …powerful support from a clear circle that knows that your passage into mentorship is a gift for everyone, and ...friendship with great people.

There are many levels of time commitment made by men involved in Boys to Men. A mentor is a personal ally and supporter. A mentor is not a teacher or surrogate parent. Some young men think of them as uncles or big brothers. Boys to Men screens our volunteers carefully. We’re looking for good men who are already successful in their own lives. We also provide a powerful training for men called “Reclaiming Your Teenage Fire.” Then BTM shares what we know with our mentors: that young men are already excellent, and that mentors get as much as mentees from their friendships.

Minnesota Boys to Men offers lots of easy ways to Mentor based on your lifestyle and needs.

Some young men don’t want or need much, and some do. At the easiest level, you can just give rides to events or come play at activities with the journeymen. We arrange our One-to-one pairs based on common interests, location, and of course by matching needs with corresponding willingness.

Boys to Men is proud to offer what we believe is Powerful Training for beginning mentoring to help our mentors be ready to be with their journeymen in a good way. In our Mentor Training Weekend, “Reclaiming the Teenage Fire”, you’ll get a gift that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life. First we’ll take you back into your own hopes, fears, dreams, and experiences of adolescence. We’ll help you identify your own strengths and style of mentoring, and of course we’ll share what we know about how to be with journeymen in a way that will change their lives.

We need men to staff the Boys’ Rite of Passage Training Adventure weekends. There are games, activities, discussion circles, challenge events, and celebrations of victory. We’ll share the full agenda for the weekend with parents you come with your young man to register. We won’t tell the young men the specifics of the agenda since it would dilute the effectiveness of the processes. Integrated into the team & skill building we have opportunities for personal sharing amongst the young men. Often the young men open up their deep issues to find acceptance, witnessing, and support. At the end they are celebrated for their successes and asked to commit to their own path to manhood in a powerful way.

Any young man who has completed his Passage Adventure Weekend is called a Journeyman. We need men to be one of our group mentors at ongoing activities that include fun events, social service, and skill building. The one-to-one matches can be made on weekends, at activities or in a more private setting. Mentors are invited to attend activities as their journeyman and they are interested. Mentors who commit to spending more time are asked to have their own activities and phone relationships with their new mentees. Boys to Men has a mentor support person who will call you periodically to see how it’s going and offer options & support.

No, Boys to Men has no religious affiliation or religious teachings. Some chapters of Boys to Men do operate out of church facilities, but Boys to Men supports each young man’s individual spiritual tradition and journey. However Boys to Men does support values like truth, integrity, and responsibility.

There are few costs, and flexible arrangements to help cover the RYTF workshop if requested. Mentors pick up the costs of their transportation, and the things they do for and with their journeymen.

Do I pick the young man I want to mentor?

No, but you do have input. Your likes, lifestyle, age, location and personal preferences are all important parts of the match, but the matches are made by our mentor program coordinator. The coordinator will also be considering the likes, lifestyle, age, location, personal preferences, psychology and needs of our journeymen.

There are hundreds of mentoring programs operating in Minnesota. Some programs focus on group mentoring by having one adult to many kids, and some focus on making one to one match-ups. Boys to Men has three main program components, Rites of Passage, group mentoring at BTM activities, as well as optional one to one mentor match-ups.

At Boys to men, we are remembering how to initiate and support young men. Come remember with us. Let's give the young men in our communities the gifts we've received, for it will change their lives. Just click one of the links below to begin your journey!

Our Rite of Passage Training Adventure is magic for those who participate, young and old.
Let's give the young men in our communities the gifts we've received, for it will change their lives!

Easy Ways to Mentor
Mentor Training Weekend
Register to Mentor or Staff the Boys Adventure Passage Weekend

Call me today or contact us

Thanks,
Rick Gravrok
Mentor Program Coordinator, BTM-MN

Contact Rick
952-926-6655