BIG Discounts & Activity Ideas!

Welcome to your One Stop Activity Shop!

Explore the calendar below to discover BBBS SLMR Sponsored Match Outings and exciting community events!

Scroll down for a full list of local businesses where you and your Little can enjoy exclusive discounts.

We’re always working to create more partnerships, so be sure to check back often for updates.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on your inbox for our monthly newsletter, Just for Bigs, where we share special match outing opportunities!

Bookmark this page or leave it open, but remember to refresh it each time you visit for the latest updates.

JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH!

🌟 Thank You to Our Amazing Bigs! 🌟

We want to take a moment to celebrate each and every one of you who dedicate your time, energy, and hearts to making a difference in the lives of your Littles. Your commitment to being a guiding light, a source of encouragement, and a friend is truly invaluable. Because of you, lives are changed, confidence is built, and dreams become attainable. 💙

As a small token of appreciation, we’re thrilled to announce that throughout January, every Friday you can enjoy a free tall (12oz) beverage of your choice at participating Starbucks locations!

Participating Starbucks:
☕ Cassopolis Street in Elkhart
2911 Cassopolis St, Elkhart, IN 46514

☕ Elkhart Rd. in Dunlap
4580 Elkhart Rd., Elkhart, IN 46517

👉 Be sure to present your Big ID card at checkout to receive your free drink.

Thank you for everything you do to brighten the futures of your Littles. You are truly making the world a better place, one connection at a time. 💕

Enjoy this treat—you deserve it!

BBBS SLMR Calendar

Take your Little on a fun outing and present your Big ID card at any of these local businesses to enjoy discounts!

Food

Island Nutrition
1675 Moreland Ave., Valparaiso, IN
Matches get 20% off smoothies with Big ID card.

Museums

Ruthmere Museum Campus
302 E. Beardsley Ave.,
Elkhart, IN

Ruthmere Campus consists of the Ruthmere Mansion, Havilah Beardsley House, Beardsley Carriage House, Arts Reference Library and gorgeous garden. There are community events offered all throughout the season. Bigs can enjoy a fun and educational experience at the Ruthmere for FREE! Present your Big ID card for you and your Little to take a free tour of the Ruthmere Museum Campus.

Hall of Heros: Superhero Museum
1915 Cassopolis St.
Elkhart, IN

Hall of Heroes - the COOLEST museum for superhero fans - will allow Bigs and Littles to enter for the discounted rate of $6 per person.

Curious Kids' Museum and Discovery Zone
415 Lake Blvd.
St. Joseph, MI

Curious Kids' Museum and Discovery Zone will permit Little to enter for FREE when accompanied by their Bigs. Regular admission to the museum is $8. Regular admission to the Discovery Zone is $6.

Activities

Green Acres Ranch
55001 Bittersweet Rd.
Mishawaka, IN

Green Acres Ranch has partnered with BBBS SLMR to provide our matches with the hobby farm educational experience at a discount of $15 (special events excluded). Reserve your spot with Janet to help out on the farm, hang out with the chickens, ponies, and livestock dogs. Celebrate the end of a fine day's labor with a BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic 😊) at the Covered Wagon!

Everyone has to fill out a waiver. Click HERE to print out a special waiver that is for both you and your Little. You'll have to ask your Little's parent/guardian to sign for them prior to the visit. You only have to fill out and sign the waiver once - then you're good to go as many times as you and your Little would like for an entire year!

Reserve a time to visit the farm by calling Janet at 574-807-4942.

The Post
301 E. Lincoln Ave.
Goshen, IN

BBBS SLMR has partnered with The Post in Goshen to provide matches with the opportunity to attend the club as a fun, indoor option for activities! The Post offers a cools space to hang out, play games, or play basketball! For FREE! If you and your Little would like to attend The Post, please print out THIS WAIVER and ask your Little's parent/guardian fill it out. Take it with you to The Post and have a blast!

Ninja Golf
12080 IN-23
Granger, IN

Embark on an ADVENTURE with your Little at Ninja Golf! They not only has meticulously maintained mini golf course, but they also have Throwing Star Challenge (12+), and a Lazer Maze! Matches enjoy BOGO (buy one get one FREE) on EVERYTHING at Ninja Golf. If you purchase a round of golf, snack, drink, etc. your Little gets one FREE!

Endeavor Escape Rooms
51160 Bittersweet Rd. Ste 10
Granger, IN

Do you and your Little enjoy solving mysteries? Put your heads together and try to escape out of one of three rooms at the Endeavor Escape Rooms location in Granger. Matches are offered a 10% discount on tickets!

More Activity Ideas

Subscribe to our agency's Google Calendar

Check out the BBBS SLMR Agency Sponsored Match Outings & Community Events Calendar for a quick reference on community events and Agency Sponsored Match Outings. Click HERE to access and subscribe!

This calendar is a collaborative effort. Please feel free to add events for our BBBS community to see! We intent to share this with other matches, parents of our Littles, and parents of the children on our waiting list.

So Many Things to do with Your Little Worksheet

Check out ideas for both Community/Site Based Plus matches and Site Based Matches: So Many Things to do with Your Little

SUGGESTION: Sit down with your Little and rank the activities you'd like to do on a 1-3 scale. Then decide what to do together. If you feel like you are always deciding what you do together, this will help spark conversation with your Little about activities they enjoy. It could also help them build confidence in decision making and advocating for themselves.

The public libraries, county parks departments or local newspapers event pages are also great resources to find fun and affordable activities.

Here is easy access to the parks departments in a few of the counties we serve:

Remember: You are ALWAYS welcome to reach out to us between your Match Support Calls if you need budget friendly ideas for activities...or anything at all!

Suggestions!!

Where do you and your Little frequently visit? We will reach out and try to create a partnership so your match and all the other matches in our program can enjoy a special discount! Click below and share your ideas! You can also share when works best for you and your Little to attend BBBS SLMR Agency Sponsored Match Outings!

Click HERE to share your ideas!

Thank you!!

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

We have heard many Bigs share that they would like to volunteer with their Little to show them that giving back to the community is a meaningful experience.

Click here to fill out a form that shares with us some of you and your Little's interests and we can get you some information on how to sign up for a volunteering experience.

Here is a list of places we have researched based on your requests. Please call to ask about specific volunteering opportunities based on the age of your Little:

South Bend Area:

Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend: https://www.potawatomizoo.org/support-the-zoo/volunteering/

If you have additional questions, please contact the Volunteer Manager at – (574) 235-9070 or by email at volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

Elkhart/Goshen area:

Opportunities for volunteering with animals:

Elkhart Humane Society (volunteers must be 16 or older)

Opportunities for volunteering to serve elderly and/or disabled people:

REAL Services

Opportunities for volunteering to serve homeless people:

Faith Mission

Click on the link below for a list of Elkhart County Libraries and call to learn about opportunities to volunteer at one of their branches.

Elkhart County Libraries

Potential opportunities to volunteer in construction or building. Potential opportunities to work in the Habitat ReStore:

Habitat for Humanity Elkhart County

Click below for a list of Elkhart County Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens for opportunities to distribute and/or serve food to guests:

Elkhart County Food Pantries

Contact Information