The Magic of Mentorship

Kyle and his younger sibling entered foster care last year and spent their first few days at the Landing. His sibling, full of energy and charisma, quickly became the life of the party. Kyle was quieter and more hesitant to open up. The team at the Landing worked really hard to make him feel included and cared for during that first weekend in care. 

After several months in foster care, with support from Skookum staff, their mother completed treatment and was ready to welcome Kyle and his sibling back home. While Kyle was glad to be home, he rarely left his room. He struggled to keep up with schoolwork, and his mom worried about him socially.

After a year full of hard transitions, what Kyle really needed was a caring, reliable friend.

Mike’s application to be a Skookum mentor had just come in, and he was soon matched to spend time with Kyle each week after school.

This past summer, Kyle’s entire family joined us at Camp Skookum. Being a teenager, Kyle wasn’t exactly thrilled to attend, and, knowing this might be a tough weekend, Mike cleared his schedule to join us at Camp for a day as well. 

At first, Kyle found it hard to connect with the other teens there. Many of them had been to Camp before and already knew each other. But everything changed on the second day when Mike pulled out his deck of cards.

Now, here’s the thing about Mike: he’s an amateur magician with a knack for card tricks that leave everyone amazed. His tricks fascinated the group, and suddenly, the ice was broken! By the end of the weekend, Kyle was laughing, connecting, and feeling like part of the group.

Since Camp, Mike and Kyle have continued to meet weekly. Their time isn’t filled with grand gestures; it’s simple but meaningful. They talk about school, video games, or life in general. They grab a bite to eat or take a walk.

Another moment stands out: on Kyle’s birthday, Mike showed up with pizza for the entire family. It wasn’t just about celebrating Kyle—it was about creating a moment of connection and joy for everyone in the household.

Families in recovery like Kyle’s don’t always have the traditional support systems you and I might have. Many are rebuilding their lives and have had to leave behind old connections. Often, the majority of the people in their lives are there because it’s their job, like social workers and case aides. What this family has in Mike isn’t someone doing a job, but someone being a friend. 

This is the magic of mentorship at Skookum Kids—not in grand gestures, but in consistent, everyday acts of kindness and care.

Sometimes it’s pizza. Sometimes it’s card tricks. And always, it’s one person showing up for another.