Situational awareness is being fully aware of your surroundings at all times, allowing you to react effectively if a dangerous situation were to arise, and allowing you to remove yourself and/or your Little from potentially dangerous situations if warranted. It’s important to practice situational awareness at all times, no matter how seemingly harmless a setting may seem, as unexpected outcomes are possible at any given time. When things catch us off guard, it can impede on our decision making. Situational awareness helps us to be able to make informed and pre-emptive decisions about potential threats or harmful objects in our surroundings.

Ways to Practice Situational Awareness

1.  Identify objects around you. Each time you enter a new environment, take a moment to identify every object in your immediate vicinity. Chairs, tables, trash, even walls and doors should all be recognized. It should only take a few seconds to identify the objects around you, but looking at your surroundings with a discerning eye and acknowledging each item is a crucial step in developing a mindful attitude. When you’re aware of the things around you, you can effectively determine what can be used as a weapon and what will be a potential obstacle/hazard.

2. Notice other people. Watch out for nervous or agitated behavior in others, and keep an eye on people who seem to be moving outside the norm. The ability to detect inconsistencies or distress in other people can allow you to anticipate dangerous situations, giving you an opportunity to respond in the most effective way possible.

3. Identify entry and exit points. Every time you arrive at a new location, pick out all points of entry and exit. Should a dangerous situation arise, the most effective way to keep yourself and/or your Little safe is to remove yourselves from the situation and avoid engaging with any potentially dangerous people/objects.

4. Be mindful. Practice being in the moment– when you are cognizant of your surroundings, your senses are fully engaged. You can see, hear, and smell everything and react a lot quicker. This means limiting distractions such as earbuds, cell phones, etc., and always remaining vigilant.

5. Trust your gut feeling. Listen to your instincts. If you feel uneasy about someone or someplace, you can remove yourself from danger by listening to your gut. Your internal reactions can be a key element in pointing out danger, so don’t ignore your intuition.

Sourced from Krav Maga Worldwide & Advanced Tactical Resources.

 

 

Back-to-School season is here, and with it comes the final days of summer. If you and your Little are looking for fun activities as they transition back to class, we’ve got you covered!

Community Activities

New School Year Goals: It’s the start of a brand new school year! Help your Little write a list of a few goals they would like to work on this school year (i.e. read a book each week, join a club, organize backpack before bedtime, etc.)

Make Suncatchers: Brighten up your windows with homemade suncatchers! Learn to make handprint or leaf suncatchers.

Make a Gratitude Jar: Decorate and label a large jar together. Put notes inside with something you each are thankful for. Once the jar is full, take the notes out and read them together.

Create Your Own Board Game: Do you have a Little who enjoys playing board games? Grab some craft materials and work together to create your own fun board game!

Visit a Local Fire Station: Contact the fire department administration office to make an appointment for a station tour and chance to ask some questions about becoming a firefighter.

Make Book Covers: Purchase a couple of composition notebooks plus project supplies, and teach your little how to make fabric or paper book covers. Google instructions and get creative!

Create an “Animal Book”: Using a binder or folder with paper, research a new animal each time you get together. Write down interesting facts, try your hand at drawing, and include other creative ideas for creating your own book about animals. You can pick animals in alphabetical order or however you see fit!

Fly a Kite: Pick up a kite from the store or make your own. Then, help your little release it into the air at the beach, a park, or the backyard.

Learn How to Play Disc Golf: Go to your local park and play disc golf with your little! Click here to view the rules of the game!

 

Back-to-School Events

Back-to-School/Hope in the Park: August 4th from 5pm to 7pm at 1875 Nursery Rd, Clearwater, FL 33764 Join Clearwater First Church of Nazarene for our Back 2 School Bash/HOPE IN THE PARK (we will be in the Gym – in air conditioning this month!!), School Supplies (while supplies last – child MUST be present), Games, FREE COMMUNITY DINNER, FOOD ASSISTANCE (while supplies last; no documentation needed) and lots of Family Fun (Free Inflatable, Games in the Gym). This event is for ALL AGES! Invite a friend! Click here for more details.

Back-to-School Bash: August 6th all day at Clearwater Beach Retreat Complex (69 Bay Esplanade, 51 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater, FL 33764) Get pumped for going back to school by playing games, eating some delicious barbeque and listening to live music at Morningside Recreation Center. Click here for details.

Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway: August 6th from 10 am to 11 pm at 1510 NW 4th St Ocala, FL 34475 To prepare for the new school year, join the community as students are handed free drawstring bags filled with school supplies. Click here for more details.

 

Community Events

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: July 25th-August 7th Purchase qualifying back-to-school supplies exempt from tax during the 2022 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. Qualifying items include- learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less; most school supplies selling for $50 or less; clothing, footwear, and accessories selling for $100 or less; computers and accessories (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use) selling for $1500 or less.

Tarpon Springs First Friday: August 5th from 6pm to 10pm at 324 E. Pine St Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 A free family event held the first Friday of the month- featuring art, food, shops, and music, with a fun theme every month!

Wawa Summer Fun Day at Bok Tower: August 4th & 5th from 8am to 5pm at 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales, 33853 Bok Tower Gardens, in association with Wawa, is offering complimentary admission on the first Thursday and Frida of August and September. Click here for more details.

St. Pete Second Saturday Art Walk: August 13th all day at 2955 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Every second Saturday of the month studios and galleries all over St. Pete swing open their doors, inviting anyone and everyone to check out their latest work for free! Meet the artists and gallery owners during this casual, festive evening as over 40 studios and galleries in the five Art Districts come together as one arts destination. Click here for more details.

 

Summer is here! Now that school is out, you and your Little have three whole months to fill with fun activities. To give you some help coming up with ideas, here are some awesome events and activities you can do with your Little this month! Whether you want to be in the air-conditioning or soaking up the sun, this list has you covered. Check it out and enjoy summer fun with your Little!

Indoor Activities

20 Summer Stem Activities

Summer is here and that means that you and your Little can take your learning outside with Summer STEM Activities! Steam Powered Family has an awesome list of 20 STEM challenges for the summer! Click here to view the list!

Learn Origami

Get an origami book and fun paper. Create animals and shapes. Give them to friends or family as gifts.

Read Your Way to the Ballpark

Since summer is here, now is a great time for you and your Little to do some reading together through the Reading With The Rays program! Click here for more details.

Get a Book of Riddles

Riddles are a great way to keep your mind sharp. See if you can stump each other, then write your own riddles!

Visit a Nursing Home or Retirement Community

Play games, sing songs or have lunch with the residents.

Easy DIY Tie-Dye T-Shirts | Grab some plain white t-shirts and tie-dye ink and make some rainbow-themed tie-dye t-shirts with your Little! Click here to see a fun video on how to make tie-dye t-shirts!

Outdoor Activities

Go Bird Watching

Take photos and keep track of your sightings. Use an app or guidebook to identify different birds.

Easy DIY Tie-Dye T-Shirts

Grab some plain white t-shirts and tie-dye ink and make some tie-dye t-shirts with your Little! Click here to see a fun video on how to make tie-dye t-shirts!

Have a Beach Picnic

The weather is nice and sunny! Go to the beach with your Little and have a picnic!

Collect Rocks and Paint Them

Turn them into pet rocks, garden ornaments, or gifts for others.

Play Sand Volleyball

Play at the beach or check your local parks.

Go Berry Picking

Enjoy fresh or bake them into a pie!

Make Paint Pouring Art

Learn how here

 

Juneteenth Community Celebration- June 18th

Juneteenth is the commemoration to celebrate the emancipation of slaves in the United States. Juneteenth is known to be a day of reflection and celebration as well as a time to come together and educate one another.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate “Freedom, Hope, and Opportunity.” There will be music, food, games, and free health screenings available for all who attend this free event!

For more details click here

38122 Martin Luther King Blvd, Dade City, FL

 

The Great Tarpon Springs Scavenger Hunt (City-Wide)- All month long

Hosted by Tarpon Springs Recreation, this is a month-long, city-wide event.

For more details click here

100 E. Tarpon Ave. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

 

Recurring Events

Yoga In The Park: Every Sunday at 10:30 am at Julian B Lane Riverfront Park. For details click here

First Mondays Presented by American Stage and Creative Pinellas: Starting June 6 through February 2024. A free monthly series of staged readings. For details click here

Children’s Board Free Tuesday: Free admission to Glazer Children’s Museum on the first Tuesday of every month, from 10 am—5 pm. For details click here

Fresh Market at Wiregrass: Select Saturdays each month (June 4th &18th ), featuring 70+ vendors on Paseo Drive at the Shops at Wiregrass. For details click here

Armature Works Run Club: Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, enjoy a scenic 5k run on the Riverwalk. All ages and experience levels are welcome. For details click here

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!  BBBSTB is proud to be an inclusive and diverse organization supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Should your Little come out to you during your match, it is very important to support and care for them through their journey as an ally. While you might not understand every aspect of being gay or transgender, all that matters is showing your Little that you are in their corner no matter what. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay has gathered some resources and tips for you, and your Match Support team is always a text or call away.

Below are some helpful tips on how you can respond:

1.  Acknowledge your own feelings (internally!)

2. Thank them for disclosing to you.

3. Reinforce that you are trustworthy (acknowledge the risk they are taking by confiding in you.)

4. Tell them that you care about them.

5. Ask what you can do to support them.

6. Ask who else knows. You do not want to accidentally “out” them.

7. Keep it private and confidential. Again, do not “out” them.)

If you are unsure of how to respond you can say, “Thank you for sharing this with me. This is new to me but I care for you and I will continue to be here for you.” 

Our partners at Metro Inclusive Health in Tampa and St Petersburg offer youth socials, hangouts, and summer camps.   Youth Programs at Metro Inclusive Health are designed to support the social and emotional empowerment of youth and young adults.

Click here for additional information and resources for LGBTQ+ Youth and Friends/Supporters.

 

June is Pride Month and it is a time for celebrating the things that make us each unique. This month, we acknowledge those who have advocated for equality and equity for all people. LGBTQ+ people have historically faced many challenges and, although there have been great strides in the past few decades, many people are still fighting to protect their rights. Take time this month to learn about the people who pioneered the LGBTQ+ Pride Movement and those who continue the fight.

All kids can benefit from having a defender of potential, and it is important to acknowledge those who are willing to help others around them find success. This month Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay will highlight members of the LGBTQ+ community who have helped others reach their full potential. Find out how you can become a mentor and defend the potential of all youth in your local area by becoming a Big. 

Bayard Rustin

One of the most influential civil rights activists of the 1960s, Bayard Rustin fought for the rights of all citizens. As a close friend and advisor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he became the main organizer of the March on Washington and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Rustin was a fierce advocate of racial equality, but he was also a member of the gay community and spent his life contributing to the gay rights movement. Although he was jailed in 1953 for being gay, he never stopped working to guarantee equal rights for all people.

When Rustin died in 1987, he left behind a legacy of peacefully protesting for equality. In 2013, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for his efforts and was pardoned of his conviction in 2020.

Janet Mock

New York Times best-selling author Janet Mock has made history over and over. As a transgender woman of color, Mock has broken through countless barriers to become one of the most influential people in the entertainment industry.

In 2018 she was the first transgender woman of color to write and direct a television episode. Additionally, she signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix, becoming the first transgender woman of color to sign a deal with a major content company.

A native of Hawaii, Mock received her master’s degree in Journalism from New York University, going on to write for People Magazine and Marie Claire before publishing her best-selling book Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More.

She has since gone on to be an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and was a speaker for the 2017 Women’s March on Washington. Mock hopes her work will “empower people and equip them to tell their own stories.” She will continue to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized communities, using her influence to ensure all people are equal.

 

Carl Nassib

Carl Nassib grew up playing football with his father and brother in his home state of Pennsylvania. He later played defensive end for Penn State before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2016. He quickly became a starter, playing 14 games as a rookie. After his time with the Browns, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two seasons as a starter for 17 games. He was then traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 where he became the first active player in NFL history to publicly come out.

During Pride Month 2021 Nassib released a statement on his Instagram account coming out as gay, and his jersey quickly became the top-seller in the NFL. He also pledged $100,000 to The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth with crisis intervention and suicide prevention services. By the end of that week, The Trevor Project had received over $225,000 in donations.

Since then, Nassib has received support from the NFL, his teammates, and the entire Raiders organization. He continued to play for the Raiders and made the game-winning strip-sack in his first game as an openly gay player. Nassib remains an advocate for LGBTQ players in sports, hoping that one day it won’t make headlines when players come out.

Jane Castor

As the 59^th Mayor of the City of Tampa, Jane Castor has made history countless times. After growing up in Tampa, Castor played basketball and volleyball for the University of Tampa and was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame. She has since gone back to school, earning her master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy University.

After graduating with a degree in criminology Castor joined the Tampa Police Department and became its first female Chief of Police in 2009. After serving in the police department for over 30 years, Castor decided to run for mayor. When she was elected mayor in 2019, she became the first openly lesbian Mayor in city history.

Castor is a former Big Sister and has participated in the Over the Edge fundraising event, demonstrating her commitment to help the city of Tampa reach it’s full potential. She continues to work tirelessly for the city, ensuring that Tampa is a city of equality and equity for all.

 

 

Additional Learning Resources

• Pride Reading List | Brightly.com has curated a list of 30 age-appropriate books for kids and teens about Pride. Click here to see the list.