Helping Services For Youth & Families

ERASE Coalition at Fall Fest
2021-09-09 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Northeast Iowa Community College, 1625 IA-150, Calmar, IA, 52132, United States
Come visit NICC’s Fall Fest Event and check out the ERASE Coalition!
The Coalition will have a ‘Hidden In Plain Sight’ mock teenager bedroom set-up for parents/adults to walk through and learn about trending drug/alcohol/vaping paraphernalia and what these items look like. There will also be educational escape rooms for youth. The ERASE Coalition will be providing resources for parents/caregivers to start talking to their kids early about the dangers of alcohol and other substances.
Fall Fest will be on NICC Calmar Campus on September 9th, from 5-8 PM with fireworks to follow!

Tasty Thursday-You could be a STAR!
2021-09-09 17:30 - 18:30 | The Landing Market, 211 College Drive, Decorah, IA, 52101, United States
Come one and all! Mentors, mentees, parents, family members, and potential mentors/volunteers are invited to this very special TASTY THURSDAY event! Here is what is in store for you:

We will be creating our recruitment video. You could be in it and share about your experience or just be part of the crowd!
Free ice cream will be served compliments of the Sugar Bowl.
You could complete your mentor, parent, and/or mentee survey to help Youth Mentoring share more about the impact of Youth Mentoring!
As a parent, you could fill out a year-long permission slip so you do not have to complete one for EVERY event. You could also update your child’s medical form.
You could come and explore the world of mentoring and get a taste for what it is like.

RSVP’s are welcome but are not required. We sure hope you will join us!

Mississippi River Museum Event
2021-09-18 12:00 - 15:00 | National River Museum & Aquarium, 350 E. 3rd Street, Dubuque, IA
Photo Credit: Dirk Hansen
Mentoring program participants from Allamakee, Delaware, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties will enjoy a fun-filled day of exploring at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. Will the otters be your favorite animal? Will you be inspired to care for the river as it nurtures us? Will you travel back in time to board a ship from long ago? Will you marvel at the life of penquins in the IMAX Theatre? All these things could happen as mentors, mentees, Mentors For A Day, and some of our waiting youth will enjoy a meal together and then explore exhibits at the museum and seeing an IMAX movie. Please RSVP to your assigned mentoring coordinator by Monday, September 13. Mentors For A Day are needed. *
PLEASE NOTE: The times listed are the times that participants will be in Dubuque. Check with your mentoring coordinator for times for your location to travel to the restaurant prior to the museum and museum/movie times.
*What is a Mentor For A Day? They are a volunteer who is assigned to be with a youth for an event that fits their schedule. Find out more at: www.helpingservices.org/mentoring

Pronouns 101 Training
2021-09-23 17:30 - 18:30 | Zoom
What are personal pronouns? How should I use them correctly? What is the differences between gender identity and sex? How can I start a conversation with someone who is questioning their identity? How can I support my trans, cisgender, and non-binary friends and family members?
All these questions and more will be explored during this fact-based virtual training being presented by Pronoun & Gender Educator, Madi Brauer (they/them). Madi’s credentials include:

Luther College graduate-major in social work and a minor in dance.
Worked with refugee populations in San Diego, CA and people experiencing homelesssness in Chicago, IL.
Began the Pronoun Education Project through the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center in Decorah
Worked as a Family Educator at Helping Services for Youth & Families in northeast Iowa.
Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Coordinator at Iowa Safe Schools in Des Moines.
Created their own LLC to provide education on gender identity and pronouns so they can do their part to make spaces more inclusive for all people.

You are strongly encouraged to pre-register at bit.ly/PronounsReg for this training. When you pre-register, you will receive resources prior to the training that others do not receive. You can also submit your questions to the presenter when you pre-register. Mentors, parents, grandparents, health professionals, college students, law enforcement, clergy, youth leaders, and friends of mentoring are all welcome to attend.
Be prepared to have fun, come away with new understanding, and learn new skills! Join us on Zoom at: bit.ly/PronounsLink

Fishing and Hiking at Backbone State Park
2021-10-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Backbone State Park, 1347 129th Street, Dundee, IA, 52038, United States

Tasty Thursday at Sugar Bowl (Downtown)
2021-10-14 17:30 - 18:30 | Sugar Bowl, 410 W. Water Street, Decorah
What is better than ending your Thursday with some ice cream? Come and enjoy some great conversation, a treat, and some fun times. Mentors, mentees, family members, Steering Committee members, Mentors For A Day and prospective mentors, volunteers, and mentee families are all invited to attend. An RSVP is appreciated. Please meet at the Sugar Bowl’s downtown location on Water Street. Thanks to Sugar Bowl for paying for everyone’s treat at Tasty Thursday!!

Pinter's Pumpkin Patch Group Mentoring Event
2021-10-16 10:00 - 13:00 | Pinter’s Pumpkin Patch, 2475 IA-9, Decorah, IA
There will be so much fun at Pinter’s Pumpkin Patch when mentors, mentees, waiting youth, and Mentors For A Day enjoy time in the fall weather together! There will be time for a hayride, corn maize, pedal go karts, big slides, life-size chess, a jumping pillow, wiggleville, hook and ring, sand tire hilll, farm animals, and much more. Each participant will get to take home their own small pumpkin! A meal will also be enjoyed. Please RSVP to your assigned mentoring coordinator by Monday, October 11.

Trampoline Park Group Mentoring Event
2021-11-06 11:00 - 14:00 | Jump Start Adventure Park, 3939 Co Rd B, La Crosse, WI
Let’s JUMP!
Youth Mentoring will be going to Jump Start Adventure Park in La Crosse, WI to have some bouncy fun times! Prior to going to the trampoline park, we will enjoy a meal at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, MN. Our delicious meal will be catered by Wings Supper Club in Dorchester, IA.
Those leaving from Decorah will board a Townline bus and leave promptly at 10:15 a.m. Those driving to Eitzen can jump on the bus there to travel with others to La Crosse. We will enjoy a large jumping area, ninja course, wall trampoline area, air bag jumping pit, nets course, basketball slam dunk, dodgeball areas, and more for one hour! All jumpers (youth and adults) MUST complete an on-line waiver form to be allowed to jump. For those who do not wish to jump, there is plenty of space to cheer them on as they jump!
Mentors For A Day are needed. Please hop to it and get your space reserved by contacting Kathy or Colinne by Monday, November 1.

Mentoring Social
2021-11-09 17:30 - 19:30 | T Bock’s Sports Bar & Grill (Upstairs), 206 W. Water Street, Decorah, IA
Bob, Izaak, and Reg get ready to enjoy an IMAX movie at the
September group event at the Mississippi River Museum.
Come one, come all! Meet and socialize with men and women who mentor or want to find out more about mentoring. Tuesday, November 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at T-Bocks Upstairs; Youth mentoring is hosting a Mentoring Social.
Have you thought about becoming a mentor? This is the perfect event to attend to find out more about how YOU can become involved. Mentors will informally share stories about the impact mentoring has on their youth and them as an adult, the dire need for boys to have male role models, and the ways you can get started so that you are comfortable with being a mentor.
Mentors, steering committee members, Mentors For A Day, and supporters of mentoring are invited to come and connect with others about mentoring. It is the event to invite or bring that person you know who will make a great mentor.
Everyone will enjoy socializing and free appetizers. Drinks will be available for purchase.This event is open house style. Come and stay the whole time or come for a portion of the time.
Youth Mentoring has a place for you! For more information, please contact Colinne or Kathy at me*******@*************es.org, 563-387-1720, or visit www.helpingservices.org/mentoring

Tasty Thursday
2021-11-11 17:30 - 18:30 | Culver’s, 904 Short Street, Decorah, IA, 52101
It’s time for some deliciousness! Come and enjoy a tasty treat, great conversation, and have some fun!!
Mentors, mentees, Steering Committee members, mentoring families, and those wanting to know a bit more about mentoring are invited to Tasty Thursday.
Youth Mentoring is excited to share a new location for the event-Culver’s in Decorah! RSVP’s are not required, but are appreciated.
Mark your calendar to attend!

Binge Drinking: Live Above The Influence
2021-11-18 17:30 - 18:30
On Thursday, November 18, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. an important training about binge drinking will be hosted as an in-person training and on a Zoom link. The training has been developed and researched by five Luther College senior nursing students. Topics being discussed are the definition of binge drinking, how it is prominent in northeast Iowa, how youth are involved, what we can do if we are worried about someone we care about, and how each of us can be advocates for being healthy related to alcohol use.
Attendees should pre-register at bit.ly/RegisterAboveTheInfluence. For those wishing to attend in-person, the host site is at Luther College’s Baker Commons. For those wishing to enjoy the training from their home, go to this Zoom link. This training will be very worthwhile!

SNEAK PEEK: Walk-The-Lights Night Holiday Lights 2021
2021-11-24 17:00 - 19:30 | Pulpit Rock Campground
This is your ONLY chance to walk through the lights!

Holiday Lights OPENING NIGHT 2021
2021-11-25 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground
Hi folks! Welcome to Holiday Lights! Look for Santa on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in December (last Santa night is Dec. 19th). Santa is also making a special appearance at our Walk Through Night on Wednesday, November 24, the night before Thanksgiving.
Don’t forget the fireworks on Dec.14th! They can be viewed from the Decorah Hight School Football stadium. Stadium opens at 6 pm and the fireworks start at 6:30 pm. THANK YOU to our AMAZING VOLUNTEERS. Let’s make this the best season ever! – The Holiday Lights team

Holiday Lights, Friday 11/26/21
2021-11-26 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Saturday 11/27/21
2021-11-27 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Sunday 11/28/21
2021-11-28 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Monday 11/29/21
2021-11-29 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Tuesday 11/30/21
2021-11-30 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Wednesday 12/1/21
2021-12-01 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Thursday 12/2/21
2021-12-02 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Friday 12/3/21
2021-12-03 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Saturday 12/4/21
2021-12-04 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

The Sound of Music Mentoring Group Event
2021-12-05 12:30 - 18:30 | La Crosse Community Theatre, 428 Front Street S, La Crosse, WI
La Crosse’s Community Theatre is presenting the classic Rogers and Hammerstein play The Sound of Music. Mentors, mentees, waiting youth, and Mentors For A Day are invited to attend this wonderful play. Famous songs from the play are “Edelweis”, “My Favorite Things”, and “So Long Farewell”. The story involves a widower who finds a governess for his incorrigible children and finds love in an unexpected person. Youth Mentoring will leave Decorah by Townline Bus at 12:15 p.m. We will attend the 2:00 p.m. performance and return to Decorah by approximately 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP to your assigned mentoring coordinator by Monday, November 29.

Holiday Lights, Sunday 12/5/21
2021-12-05 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Monday 12/6/21
2021-12-06 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Tuesday 12/7/21
2021-12-07 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Wednesday 12/8/21
2021-12-08 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Thursday 12/9/21
2021-12-09 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Friday 12/10/21
2021-12-10 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground

Holiday Lights, Saturday 12/11/21
2021-12-11 17:00 - 21:00 | Pulpit Rock Campground
