Fishing, hiking, bike riding, rafting: sound like fun? Partners, a one-to-one youth mentorship program serving Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties, offers it all.

Since 1994, Partners has been connecting Ridgway and Ouray kids with adults, providing adventure days and life-skills workshops.

Currently, 11 local kids have senior partners who help them with homework, take them out for a movie or do whatever they feel like doing. Former senior partner Mike Pennings and his junior partner often spent their time together checking out the surrounding mountains. Pennings said he has “fond memories of our exploratory hikes.”

In recent months, Partners has offered rafting trips down the Gunnison River, a weeklong Art Camp near Hotchkiss, and fishing during “Huck Finn Days” at the Ridgway State Park. Upcoming activities include mini-golf and swimming, said Ridgway/Ouray case manager Paul Quintana.

The idea behind Partners emerged in the late 1960s when a group of seminary students decided they wanted to make a difference in the lives of juvenile offenders, and test their belief that quality time with positive role models could help the kids avoid getting into trouble again. Their vision worked and, over the years, the program expanded and evolved.

Now, any youth age 6 to 17 who could benefit from spending quality time with a caring adult is eligible for the program. Generally, references come from teachers, counselors or community members who see that a child might need a little extra help. Adults volunteer their time, committing to a minimum of three hours a week for a year with their junior partner.

Partnerships often last much longer than the initial one-year contract. Several friendships have continued through college and even for a lifetime. Ridgway resident Kevin O’Brien and his junior partner Rob R., originally matched over five years ago, renew their commitment to share time together each year. Kevin carves time out in his busy life to help Rob with homework and to take him bike riding, bowling, fishing, rafting or to a movie. Both have benefited from the partnership, O’Brien said. It “has been great watching him get better at the things we do, biking, fishing or whatever.” They spent five days together rafting the San Juan River in June and “had a great time,” said O’Brien. For Rob R., his senior partner is a friend he can trust and confide in, and he “doesn’t have to worry about someone coming down on him hard,” O’Brien said.

Partners has three major components: a “Nexus” program, “One-to-One” mentoring and “Art Partners.” Recently referred youth take part in monthly Nexus activities, meeting other kids and having fun until they are partnered with an adult.

In the One-to-One program, screened adult volunteers are matched with referred youth, based on their interests and compatibility. During their yearlong commitment, a case manager regularly checks in with the senior partner, the junior partner and their family, as well as teachers and counselors, to ensure the match is working smoothly. If tough issues arise, the case manager helps guide the way through any difficulties.

Art Partners, a similar program, matches adult artists with youth interested in artistic endeavors. In this program, adult volunteers commit to three hours a week for three months teaching a youth their art skill. It can be anything from painting, sewing, cooking, photography, woodworking, to playing an instrument or singing. Youth in Art Partners are typically older, from 12 to 17 years old. They typically seek out the connection and commit themselves to a year in the program, ideally rotating through three different art expressions with different senior partners. The culmination of their year is a gallery show featuring their work.

Artist John Clark has been a senior Art Partner over several years. One of Clark’s previous partners, a high school student who graduated this year, exhibited several pieces they had worked on together at his senior art show. When The Ouray County Watch asked John what was the best thing about his time as a senior partner, he responded, “You can get incredible personal growth out of trying to teach something you personally are passionate about to a young person. You may have been doing it for years and not realized how hard it is to learn.”

Clark and his current junior partner spend time working on fused glass projects, but they also “talk about art, design, politics and being a teenager in a small public school system.” Clark, who works alone much of the time, has found that he enjoys sharing his studio with another artist. He has found that much of the time, teenagers who don’t want to hear advice from a parent may be receptive to hearing it from another source – one with whom they may also be willing to share more openly than with a parent. For him, it has been rewarding to “help a young person find their way without having the added baggage of the dynamic of another relationship thrown in,” said Clark.

Partners, a non-profit organization, is supported by donations, grant monies and annual fundraisers. Last month’s annual golf tournament was a great success. Executive Director Gayle Davidson said “it was a blast.” Previously a sanctioned PGA tour event, it now is a “scramble,” with teams or individuals competing for fun.

The next fundraising event is the annual Partners Challenge Bike Ride, to take place September 20-21. This ride is a weekend getaway for bike enthusiasts. The first day of the ride is approximately 59 miles long, climbing from Cerro Summit up and over Owl Creek Pass with its beautiful fall colors and fantastic backdrops. Riders descend into Ouray for a night’s rest, where they soak at the hot springs and get dinner. Day two takes them through Ridgway, up over Log Hill and back down into Montrose for a 45-mile scenic day. The ride is fully supported with sag wagons and party events along the way.

For more information, call the Partners office in Delta at 970/874-4661, in Montrose at 970/249-1116 or in Ridgway at 970/626-9861.