Community-Based Bigs
Bigs-Only Events
- Join our new Bigs-Only Facebook Group! It's a great place to share Match Activity ideas, post photos, and connect with one another! https://www.facebook.com/groups/341227398126672/
Updates and Notes
Updates and notes will be posted here as available!
Upcoming Group Match Activities
Please contact your Match Support Specialist for more information and to RSVP for any of the following activities. We will provide more details once you RSVP!
- Thurs, July 7: Box Seats at Reno Aces Game vs Tacoma Rainiers: 6:35 PM, box seat tickets available for up to 10 matches, RSVP ASAP, first come first serve! (Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Ave, Reno, NV 89501)
- Sat, July 9: BBBS Garden - Make signs and trellises to organize our growing garden!: 10:00 AM – noon, bring your gloves, hats, water bottles, and any seedlings you have to plant! (Kiwanis Bike Project's Community Garden, 5305 Mill Street, Reno, NV 89502)
- Wed, July 20: BBBSNN Summer Match Picnic: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM, RSVP by July 12 to your Match Support Specialist, Includes volleyball, soccer, yard games, bounce house, picnic, and more! Each match will be asked to bring a food item, refer to your Match Support Specialist in the list below for what to bring. (Hidden Valley Regional Park, Vista Picnic Pavilion, 4740 Parkway Dr, Reno, NV 89502)
- Betty's matches: Cut up fruit
- Emily's matches: Side salads
- John's matches: Cut up veggies
- Mandy's matches: Bags of chips
- Mariela's matches: Desserts
- Wed, July 27: Service Project at BridgeWire Makerspace: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, matches are needed to spruce up their meeting space with a fresh coat of paint! Please help us give back to BridgeWire for the monthly activities they host! (1055 Industrial Way #20, Sparks, NV 89431)
Community Events
- Mon, July 4: 4th of July Parade and Craft Fair: 10:00 AM – noon (McKinley Park, 925 Riverside Dr, Reno, NV 89503)
- Thurs, July 7: MidTown Art Walk "Dancing in the Streets!": 4:00 – 9:30 PM, six outdoor stages will be set up with different music genres! Experience street performers, flash mobs, dance lessons, and food trucks! https://www.renomidtown.com/artwalk
- Sat, July 9: Hands ON! Second Saturday at the Nevada Museum of Art (FREE admission): 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, "Go With the Flow," dance ribbon and flow painting, https://www.nevadaart.org/event/hands-on-second-saturday-12/ (Nevada Museum of Art, 160 W. Liberty Street, Reno, NV 89501)
- Sun, July 10: Sierra Nevada Lavender and Honey Festival: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, https://www.lavenderandhoneyfest.com/ (Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Dr, Reno, NV 89509)
- Sat, July 16: Treasure Chest Kit Workshop at Reno Lowe's: 9:00 AM – noon. Reserve your spot at https://www.lowes.com/events/register/arrr-treasure-chest-kit-workshop (Reno Lowe's, 5075 Kietzke Lane, Reno, NV 89511)
- Daily, throughout July: Artown Events: https://artown.org/default.asp?date=07/1/2022
- Sundays: "Makebreaks" Classes at Michaels (FREE admission): 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Michaels craft stores, https://www.michaels.com/instoreevents#id=sunday-makebreak-small-macrame-holder-li-bayshore
- July 3 - Felt Flag Keychain
- July 10 - Beaded Glass Jars
- July 17 - Geometric Art
- July 23 - Sensory Demo feat. Slime!
- Washoe County Library Summer Reading Challenge, Oceans of Possibilities: https://www.washoecountylibrary.us/summerreading/index.php
Activity Ideas for Community-Based Bigs
*Locations with an asterisk are in Carson City.
Games & Sports
- Play board games
- Go bowling
- *Carson Lanes
- High Sierra Lanes (Click here to visit Kids Bowl Free and register for your Little to receive free bowling this spring and summer!)
- GSR Bowling Center
- Learn a magic trick
- Go miniature golfing or to the driving range
- Learn bike safety and repair
- Watch a sports game at the high school your Little will attend
- Attend a UNR or TMCC sports game
Arts & Crafts
- Watch a theater, dance, or music performance
- Take a class or workshop together
- Visit a museum
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math)
- Walk through a hardware store and learn the function of various tools
- Do a simple chemistry experiment
- Show your Little how to maintain a vehicle, like washing the car or changing a tire
- Complete a Citizen Science project to teach your Little more about the environment
- Visit a museum or planetarium
Reading & Writing
- Write and illustrate a short story or comic book together
- Read the same book then discuss it
- Check out the "Just for Teens" activities through the Washoe County Library System: https://washoecountylibrary.us/teens/index.php
- Visit a library or bookstore (many offer free activities for all ages!)
Community, Activism, & Culture
- Visit local farmers’ markets, parades, or festivals
- Volunteer together with a local charity
- Write to the President and ask for a photo (You’ll probably receive one!)
- Use a map to learn about where friends and family live, where you have or would like to travel, and where current events are occurring
- Learn to count to 10 in a foreign language
- Write a letter to your Congressional representative(s) regarding an issue important to both of you
- Look around an antiques store and compare things of the past with things of the present
- Visit a local historic location
- Learn safety skills like using a fire extinguisher or performing CPR
Nature & Mindfulness
- Go for a walk or hike
- Fly a kite
- Start a rock collection
- Make a gratitude journal
- Kayak or paddle board
- Visit the zoo
Food
- Take a picnic lunch
- Try a new food
- Visit a coffee shop
- Starbucks (BBBS National Partner)
Seasonal
- Go ice skating
- Help your Little make holiday cards for their family, friends, and teachers
- Visit a farm or pumpkin patch
- Andelin Family Farm (fall, spring, and summer activities)
- Ferrari Farms (fall, spring, and summer activities)
Match Memories
- Create a scrapbook with photos and mementos of the things you’ve done together
- Write a letter to your Little on your match anniversary telling them what you’ve noticed about them in the last year
LOCAL DISCOUNTS FOR MATCHES
- Free admission for Littles at The Discovery: Littles get in free with the paid admission of their Bigs any day except Wednesday. On Wednesdays, the museum is open late and from 4:00-8:00 PM, all admissions are 50% off. To take advantage of the discount, Bigs need to show their ID card or otherwise identify as a Big at the time of transaction. Click here to learn more about The Discovery.
- Free studio fees at The Playful Potter: The Playful Potter in Sparks is offering free studio fees for matches that come in to paint pottery. Click here to learn more about the Playful Potter.
- Free admission for Littles at the National Automobile Museum: Littles get in free with the paid admission of their Bigs! To take advantage of the discount, Bigs need to show their ID card or otherwise identify as a Big at the time of transaction. Click here to learn more about the museum and their special events.
- Free ride wristband and $5 game card for Littles at the BoomTown Fun Center: Littles coming with their Big get a free ride wristband and $5 game card to enjoy the Fun Center! To take advantage of the discount, Bigs need to show their ID card or otherwise identify as a Big at the time of transaction. Click here to learn more about the Fun Center.
- Free admission for Littles at the Enchanted Cat Café: Littles receive free entry when accompanied by their Big Brother or Big Sister. Bigs, simply identify yourself as a Big with BBBSNN to redeem.
- Reduced membership for matches at BridgeWire MakerSpace: Half price deal for Bigs to join ($35/month) and you can take your Little (age 12+) for free. This is best suited for older matches who want to make working on projects their main focus. An orientation (at an additional one-time fee) is required of the Big (only) to introduce you to the building and all of the equipment available for use.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MATCHES
- Immunize Nevada: Email [email protected] for more information about current volunteer opportunities.