30 Years of Mentorship Through Bears and Cubs

For three decades, the connection between Bowdoin College and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick has been a shining example of what can happen when mentorship, community, and compassion come together.

This year, at the Big Night Out Celebration on December 5th at Lemont Hall in Brunswick, Bowdoin College and the McKeen Center for the Common Good will be honored with the Big Impact Award — recognizing their extraordinary, long-term commitment to local youth through the Bears and Cubs program.

Launched 30 years ago, Bears and Cubs is a student-led partnership that matches Bowdoin College students (“Bears”) with children in the Bath-Brunswick community (“Cubs”). The program provides friendship, guidance, and encouragement to young people while giving college students a meaningful way to engage in the local community.

Over the years, hundreds of Bowdoin students have taken part, balancing their busy academic schedules with weekly mentoring visits that have become some of the most meaningful moments of their college experience. From afternoons spent doing homework together to playing basketball, baking cookies, or exploring campus, the relationships built through Bears and Cubs have left lasting impressions on both Bigs and Littles alike.

“Bowdoin students bring incredible energy, empathy, and enthusiasm to their matches,” says a BBBS program director, Michael Czerpfanski. “They don’t just mentor — they show up, week after week, to be consistent, caring friends. That consistency changes lives.”

The Bears and Cubs program is coordinated through Bowdoin’s McKeen Center for the Common Good, which encourages students to connect academic learning with civic responsibility. Through this partnership, the McKeen Center helps foster a culture of service and reflection that extends far beyond campus — into schools, neighborhoods, and families throughout the Midcoast region.

Many alumni of the program recall their time as Bigs as one of the most transformative parts of their Bowdoin experience. And for the Littles, the impact is just as profound — a steady friendship that helps build confidence, curiosity, and hope for the future.

As Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick celebrates this remarkable 30-year milestone, we extend our deepest gratitude to Bowdoin College and the McKeen Center for their leadership, partnership, and unwavering belief in the power of mentorship.

Together, they have created a legacy of connection that continues to shape lives — one Bear and one Cub at a time.