Blackburn Mentoring works with families and young adults in Boise and the Treasure Valley by video. Anyone in Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa or Star can be matched with one dedicated mentor, meet weekly or several times a week in Mountain time, and stay in touch by text and phone between sessions. Our team is based in Los Angeles.
A fast-growing valley
Over the last decade, Boise and its suburbs have grown quickly. Families have arrived from California, Washington, Oregon and beyond, drawn by outdoor life, lower costs than the coast and a slower pace. Meridian and Eagle have filled with new subdivisions, and schools have grown along with them.
For a family that just moved, the transition can be harder on the kids than anyone expected. A teenager who had a full life in another state may arrive in the middle of high school with no friends, no job and no sense of where they fit. A mentor offers a steady weekly anchor while the rest of life catches up.
Common situations in the Treasure Valley
- The new kid. A student who moved to Meridian or Eagle and is struggling to settle in. Goals might include joining one club, finding a first job or rebuilding a routine.
- The outdoorsy student who avoids the indoor work. Bogus Basin in winter, the Boise River in summer and the foothills year-round. A mentor helps fit schoolwork around the life the student actually wants.
- The young adult deciding whether to stay. Boise is growing, but housing costs have climbed too. Twenty-somethings weigh staying close to family against a bigger market elsewhere.
- The remote worker. Plenty of professionals moved here with jobs based somewhere else. Structure and isolation become real issues. See a remote work routine.
Thinking about life after high school
Idaho students have a wide range of paths: four-year colleges in state and out of state, community college, apprenticeships, the trades, the military and starting work right away. A mentor does not push one answer. The mentor helps a student look at real options, talk to people doing the work and make a plan they can explain. Our guides on trade school vs college and life after high school cover the basics.
Scheduling in Mountain time
Boise is one hour ahead of Los Angeles. A 4 pm session after school is 3 pm for the mentor, and early-morning slots before work are easy too. Sessions are 30 or 60 minutes on a weekly or monthly plan, and we always schedule in your local time.
- Take the five-minute assessment.
- Have a free intro call, with a parent included for any high school student.
- Get matched with one mentor and agree two or three goals.
- Meet by video, with text and phone check-ins in between.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor is a practical guide and accountability partner, not a tutor, therapist or admissions counselor. With permission, mentors share progress with parents and coordinate with professionals already involved. For teenagers, see mentoring for high school students; for young adults, see young adult mentoring. Everything about online sessions is on the online mentoring page.
Related
Common questions
Do you have mentors in Boise?
Our team is in Los Angeles. Mentoring in the Boise area happens by video, with text and phone contact between sessions.
We just moved to Idaho. Can a mentor help our teenager settle in?
Yes. A mentor gives a new student a steady weekly plan, small social and work goals and one reliable adult to talk to while the rest of life settles.
Can a mentor help a student decide between college and the trades?
Yes. Mentors help students explore options and make a plan, though they do not give admissions advice.
Get started
Want to talk about a student or young adult in the Treasure Valley? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.