Posted by eporter on May 19, 2026
Helping Mentors Keep Matches Engaged During Summer Break
As summer approaches, mentoring relationships often begin to change. During the school year, mentors and mentees may naturally connect through school schedules, afterschool programs, sports, or other structured routines. Once summer break begins, those built-in opportunities for interaction can disappear. Without the structure of the school day, many mentors begin asking an important question: “What should we do together?”
For mentoring programs, summer can become a challenging time to help matches stay active, connected, and engaged. However, the right resources can help mentors plan meaningful activities that strengthen the mentoring relationship and support positive youth development.
Moving Beyond Random Activity Ideas
While many programs provide mentors with general lists of activities to do with a mentee or local events to attend together, these resources may not always help mentors think intentionally about:
This is where a more purposeful approach to match activities can make a difference. Research suggests that mentoring activities that are collaborative, goal-directed, and relevant to the mentee’s needs can help strengthen mentoring relationships and support positive outcomes for youth.
Mentoring Central developed the Building Assets Together (BAT) Guide to help mentors move beyond random activity planning by providing a curated collection of purposeful, relationship-building activity ideas. The BAT Guide was specifically designed to address the recurring request mentors often make to program staff: “Can you give me ideas for things to do with my mentee?”
Instead of simply offering disconnected activity suggestions, the BAT Guide uses a person-centered, asset-based approach to mentoring. This approach encourages mentors to consider their mentee’s interests, strengths, goals, background, and individual needs when planning activities together.
Purposeful Activities That Support Youth Growth
The BAT Guide contains 10 core topics that align with different stages of the mentoring relationship, including initiation, growth and maintenance, and closure.
Each topic includes suggested activities for mentors and mentees, conversation starters and talking points, strategies mentors can use to foster positive youth development, and guidance for helping mentees build important personal assets and skills.
Topics include:
Helping Matches Stay Connected All Summer Long
Despite the challenges presented by lack of structure on school break, summer can create new opportunities for mentors and mentees to strengthen their relationship. Without the pressures of homework, testing, or school schedules, matches may have more flexibility to explore interests, try new activities, and have meaningful conversations. The BAT Guide helps mentors make the most of these opportunities by giving them practical, easy-to-use ideas that support both relationship-building and mentee growth.
Rather than wondering what to do together, mentors can focus on creating experiences that are enjoyable, intentional, and supportive of their mentee’s development.
Help Your Mentors Plan for Summer Success
As summer approaches, Mentoring Central’s Building Assets Together (BAT) Guide can help mentors maintain engagement, plan meaningful interactions, and continue building strong connections with their mentees, even without the structure of the school day.
Looking for ways to keep mentoring matches engaged this summer? Learn more about the BAT Guide and help your mentors build meaningful, growth-focused experiences all summer long: https://mentoringcentral.net/building-assets-together-a-guide-for-youth-mentors/.