GEAR Up Mentoring:

YES! GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a free program that helps students succeed in school. It helps families and students learn about choices for education after high school and how to pay for it. GEAR UP believes that every student should have the opportunity to go to college if they work hard, take the right courses and stay in school.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff houses the GEAR UP coordinators at Sinagua High School who helps the GEAR UP students succeed. GEAR UP Coordinators make arrangements for services to help students succeed academically, such as mentoring with a Big Brother or Big Sisters, tutoring, study skills workshops and summer enrichment programs on college campuses. Bigs can choose to mentor these youth in a group lunch time setting, or in a one-to-one Community Based style match.

Volunteers must meet the following criteria to be matched with a child in our GEAR UP program:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be open to being matched with a student in need of a positive adult friend in their life
• Be able to commit to a 1 year relationship, meeting at least 2 times a month (NAU students can be matched if not a full time Flagstaff resident)
• Have reliable transportation and have valid DL and proof of insurance and/or identification card
• complete enrollment, interview, and orientation with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff

If you feel you meet the criteria above and are ready to get started please call (928)774-0649 to speak with an agency staffer, or fill out our Online Interest Form.