Skip to main content

Mentoring Program for Youth and Young Adults in Maple Ridge

KidStart is a one-to-one mentoring program for teens and young adults in Maple Ridge and other areas of Metro Vancouver. The young people in our program in Maple Ridge are typically transitioning to independence after having been in care, are on a youth agreement, or are facing challenging life circumstances such as having brushes with the law or family breakdown. Mentorship can play a life-changing role in their growth, and we rely on volunteers like you to provide this critical support.

Ready to become a mentor?

What We Do

We recruit, screen, and train caring adult volunteers to mentor young people on a one-to-one basis. Our mentors model positive behaviours and spend time developing supportive relationships with their mentees, encouraging them to participate in activities that allow them to experience success. Because consistency is key to developing an effective relationship with youth, we ask mentors to devote approximately three hours a week for a minimum of one year.

Maple Ridge Mentorship Needs

We currently have 6 young people in Maple Ridge who are paired with a volunteer mentor. But we have 8 teens and 2 young adults waiting to be matched.

If you live in or near Maple Ridge and are looking for a volunteer opportunity that allows you to make a positive difference in the life of a young person, apply today!

Training Provided for Mentors

Once approved, our mentors receive extensive training to help them in their role, including first aid, trauma-informed practice, how to write effective case notes and more. This training makes KidStart a great program for post-secondary students planning a career in social services; you give back to your community and get practical experience at the same time.

Support for Mentors in Maple Ridge

Each mentor and mentee pairing gets support from a dedicated volunteer coordinator. For Maple Ridge, this is Michelle, who has worked at KidStart for over 15 years and is a Maple Ridge local who knows the community very well.

Free Mentorship Program in Maple Ridge

KidStart is funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), which means it is provided free of charge to those who need it. MCFD is also the gatekeeper to our services; we’re only able to accept referrals from probation officers and MCFD social workers.

Mentoring Program for Youth and
Young Adults in Maple Ridge

KidStart is all about creating positive connections with the local community to enhance the well-being of young people who may not have enough stable adults in their lives. Here are a few indoor and outdoor activities in the Maple Ridge area that are popular with our mentors and mentees. We provide mentors with $40 each month to help towards any costs that come with doing these activities.
Indoor Activities
Outdoor Activities

Indoor Activities for
Mentorship in Maple Ridge

Depending on the interests of the young person you are paired with, the season, and the weather, you may prefer indoor activities. There are plenty of indoor activities in Maple Ridge, ranging from sports and leisure to education and everything in between.

Active & Sports-Based Indoor Activities for Young People in Maple Ridge

Rev’s Bowling

Bowling is a great low-intensity activity that offers a fun way to spend a couple of hours. The relatively slow pace and turn-taking nature of bowling makes it easy to maintain a conversation with your mentee without the focus being entirely on them.

View Website

The Rock Wall Climbing Gym

Rock climbing is an excellent activity for youth to build resilience and confidence. Aside from improving physical strength and coordination, it also challenges youth to step out of their comfort zone in a safe environment and develop patience and planning skills as they learn to choose their routes.

View Website

Planet Ice

Drop in for some ice skating with your mentee to get your heart rate elevated and exercise while having some fun zipping around the rink!

View Website

Maple Ridge Leisure Centre

Go for a swim in the indoor pool, play some basketball, have a match of squash or racquetball, or introduce your mentee to the importance of a cardio and weight training routine at the fitness centre.

View Website

Arts & Culture or Education-Based Indoor Activities for Young People in Maple Ridge

The ACTS Art Centre

Explore exhibitions from local artists or attend a dance, comedy, or musical performance. Exploring the creative arts is a great way to help young people explore healthy opportunities for self-expression.

View Website

Maple Ridge Public Libary

Public libraries are an incredible source of free educational and entertainment resources as well as a safe place for young people to spend time outside their living environment. Explore all the free resources available to young people, including computers and internet access, videos, music, books, and magazines.

View Website

Maple Ridge Museum

Learn about the history of Maple Ridge through exhibits, events, and talking with a local historian. If your mentee is originally from Maple Ridge, perhaps they may be interested in exploring the local archives to look up events or people.

View Website

Meadowtown Cinemas

Everyone loves a movie! Give your mentee a positive and fun experience by seeing a movie of their choice and talking about it afterwards.

View Website

Outdoor Activities for
Mentorship in Maple Ridge

Situated in the lap of the Golden Ears mountains and next to the banks of the Fraser River, Maple Ridge is surrounded by natural beauty. With a variety of parks, lakes, and nature trails to explore, there is no shortage of outdoor activities for youth in Maple Ridge.

Active & Sports-Based Outdoor Activities for Young People in Maple Ridge

Hiking

Maple Ridge is blessed with a huge network of parks and trails. Stroll through Kanaka Creek Cliff Falls and visit the Bell-Irving Hatchery to learn about BC salmon. Take in scenic views of the Fraser River in Kanaka Creek Regional Park, hike to Mike Lake or Alouette Lake, or explore one of the other parks in the city.

View Website

Maple Ridge Golf Course

If golf is something you do on your own, perhaps you can share your experience and knowledge with your mentee by introducing them to golf.

View Website

Komoot Cycling Routes

Explore the best bike rides around Pitt Meadows to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful natural scenery of the area while strengthening the connection with your mentee. Simply choose a route that fits your time and energy level and go!

View Website

Arts & Culture or Education-Based Outdoor Activities for Young People in Maple Ridge

Hopcott Farms

Learn how cranberries are grown and harvested with a cranberry tour on a real working farm. Stop by the Bistro for a snack made from local ingredients and learn about the importance of local food production.

View Website

Raptor’s Ridge

Meet hawks, owls, and falcons up close and learn about their importance to the ecosystem and conservation efforts. Have the opportunity to hold a raptor on your fist while walking through the rainforest.

View Website

Maple Ridge Walking Tours

Did you know that Maple Ridge has one of the oldest continuously operating cemeteries in the Lower Mainland? Join a local historian for a free walking tour of the cemetery or downtown to see your local area through fresh eyes.

View Website

See why both our volunteers and mentees love being a part of our mentoring program in Maple Ridge!

A wonderful service. Great staff and enthusiastic volunteers.

– KidStart referrer

This program has helped me become more responsible for myself and helped me live independently.

– KidStart participant

Meet a Maple Ridge Volunteer Mentor

“I find that the more time I spend with my mentee, the more she opens up and lets herself be a kid. In today’s day and age of having to grow up as soon as you can, it can be a breath of fresh air when kids can be kids.”

Loren has been a mentor with KidStart in Maple Ridge since January 2025. She is a university student who balances a part-time job with volunteering and spending time with family and friends. She wishes she had a strong role model when she was a kid to help her through some challenges she faced, including having parents who struggled with substance use. Her history and her fondness for spending time with kids led her to become a mentor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old are KidStart participants?

KidStart participants are between the ages of 13 and 23 years of age.

How old do I need to be to mentor?

Mentors need to be 21 years of age or older, in a stable routine and able to commit three hours a week to mentor your mentee.

You Can Be a Mentor With KidStart!

If you are at least 21 years of age, in a stable routine, and are willing to commit three hours a week for a minimum of one year, you can be a mentor with KidStart. Join us in assisting young people in Maple Ridge to develop the resilience they need to overcome the risk factors they face and to make good choices despite challenging circumstances in their lives.

Apply Here!
Skip to content