About Our Program

The mission of REACH one is to build relationships with youth that meaningfully imbed opportunities and experiences that help prepare them for life. The REACH One mentoring program looks to foster supportive relationships by providing each child with consistent and
positive support, guidance, and friendship through a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult volunteer. This supportive relationship models empathy, compassion and acceptance.

REACH One now offers two different ways to mentor a youth in our community!

Lunch Buddies - A site based mentoring opportunity, where the mentor meets with their mentee during the child's lunch and recess time at school. Lunch Buddies focuses on relationship building between the mentor and the student to develop social and emotional skills through conversation and other activities. This is a great program for those individuals who want to give back, but don't have many hours to give during nights and weekends. If you have a flexible work environment, you can give less than an hour a week meeting with a student and making a positive impact. This program is run during the school year only, and mentors and mentee's do NOT have contact outside of school. 
MVP - Lunches run between 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
RRIS - Lunches run between 10:45 am - 1:30 pm
Jr HS - Lunch runs from 10:55 am - 11:25 am
Sr HS - Lunch runs between 11:35 am - 12:40 pm
SAGES - Lunch runs between 11:20 am - 12:00 pm

To apply to be a Lunch Buddy Mentor, fill out the application here. 

Community Kids - This program allows the mentor and mentee to meet community-wide, focusing on community and career exploration. The mentors and mentees in this program spend time with one another outside of school hours exploring the local communities, and engaging in experiences that help prepare them for life. Together, the match will spend time doing simple every day activities, and simply enjoy one-on-one time together a few hours a month. This program is great for someone who has been looking to mentor, but is unable to do so during the day or right before/after school. The mentor is able to schedule match meetings with their mentee's parents/guardians for whenever they have the free time.

To apply to be a Community Kids Mentor, fill out the application here. 
Mentor Eligibility Policy: It is the policy of REACH One that each mentor must meet the defined eligibility criteria. 
  • Be at least 18 years of age and reside in the Waupun area
  • Be willing to adhere to all REACH One Mentor Program policies and procedures​
  • Agree to a one-school year commitment to the program 
  • Lunch Buddies - Commit to spend one lunch meeting a week with your mentee
  • Community Kids - Commit to spend 4-5 hours a month with your mentee
  • Agree to communicate regularly with program coordinator, relevant school staff, and submit weekly meeting and activity summary
  • Complete the screening procedure, submit to a background check, and agree to attend mentor training as required 
  • Have never been accused, arrested, charged, and convicted of child abuse or molestation 
  • Not be a user of illicit drugs 
  • Not have any physical or mental illness that could prevent participation in the program 
  • ​Not have falsified information during the course of the screening process ​​
Mentee Eligibility Policy: It is the policy of REACH One that each mentee participant must meet the following defined eligibility criteria.
  • Be 6–17 years old and reside in the Waupun Area School District or attend a school in the WASD or CWC.
  • Demonstrate a desire to participate in the program and be willing to abide by all REACH One policies and procedures 
  • Be able to obtain parental/guardian permission and ongoing support for participation in the program 
  • Agree to a one-school year commitment to the program
  • Complete screening procedure 
  • Participate willingly in all REACH One group activities

Application Procedures

Vertical Divider
For Mentors: 
  • Complete the mentor application for the specific program.
  • Fill out the background check permission form, which will be emailed to each applicant.
    • Lunch Buddies will also have to complete a school district background check, which can be found here. 
If the applicant passes the background check and is deemed right for the program, REACH will:
  • Check your references
  • Conduct a one-on-one interview with the applicant
  • Schedule a mandatory large-group training
Once all the steps have been completed, a match will be made based on personality, hobbies and interests, and time availability. 
For Mentees: 
Students in our program are typically referred to REACH through the school's. Although anyone may apply, REACH does set a priority to which students will get matched first. 

Mentor Testimonials

" I love children & was excited to become part of REACH. When I meet once a week with my mentee I feel blessed by her. I enjoy being there for her, but she makes my day happy & I always get a big hug!  Who does not love hugs!!" - Paula Dobbratz

The best part of being a mentor is "Knowing I'm being someone [my mentee] can count on. For me, it's always nice to have someone "so happy" to see you! I chose to become a mentor to bring stability to a child in knowing that there is someone out there who cares about making a commitment to be there every week." - Gini Ellens
"I became a mentor to give a child some inspiration to be strong and learn to help others. To help someone who needs it or just to be there to listen to them. I really enjoy spending time with [my mentee]. She is such a sweet girl with a good heart.I love to see her smile and know I help put it there. It's not hard to be a mentor you just have to make the commitment to your mentee that you will be there for them." - Carla Wojahn

"Best part is my mentee simply wants to play with me. He doesn't care that I am 56 and a school principal. He simply desires my attention. It can take a hectic, issue filled day and I can release all those things that were not as important as he is." - Mark Buteyn

A look at REACH One

Address

PO Box 302
520 E Main St.
Waupun, WI 53963

Telephone

REACH Office 920.325.2011

Email
Executive Director - info@reachwaupun.org
Mentor Program Coordinator - reachone@reachwaupun.org