Area group begins to mentor boys 6th grade-18 years old
By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – It has often been said that many of the problems in today’s society can be traced back to boys growing up without fathers.
In the United States in 2021 it was estimated there was a total of over 19 million fatherless children. That long-standing problem led to the start of a small organization in Dallas, TX, in 2009 that targeted junior high and high school boys who were growing up without a strong, male leader in the home.
Truth in Nature began over a decade ago and has now grown to 10 states, including southeastern Louisiana where a new chapter has been started in Pearl River to serve this entire region, including Slidell.
Dane Kennedy, 60, said he watched a Truth in Nature chapter in Bush for years that was headed by the son of his friend, then in the past year began to believe his next venture in life would be to start a Truth in Nature chapter here.
That began in July and the group is now accepting applications from boys who have no father in the home, or even boys who are living with a deployed military father who can’t spend the time at home that he would like. To be eligible you must have finished fifth grade, up to those who are 18 years of age.
Additionally, Kennedy said, the Pearl River Truth in Nature chapter is also accepting applications from men who would like to serve as mentors in the organization. The group has a stringent vetting and qualification process that includes interviews and background checks.
Truth in Nature connects Christian men to the young boys who become members of the group, and along with a monthly outdoors activity of some kind that the entire group goes on together, the mentors also spend other time staying in touch with the boys they link with.
“The organization has an incredible track record of helping these boys know they have a strong, Christian man they can count on for everything from spending quality time outdoors with them, to helping the family in other ways,” Kennedy said.
The group had its first activity already, which included a fishing outing and an overnight camping event that gave boys a chance to sit around a campfire and talk about issues of all kinds.
“It was incredible to already see how these boys talk about things that are bothering them, and there are not only men there to help, but other boys who can share similar situations they have gone through that can help,” Kennedy said. “I’m very excited that we are bringing this community resource to this area. I’ve seen what a difference the program can make to help these boys and that’s why we are now reaching out to anyone who wants to join.”
Kennedy was born in Covington and moved around the country for various jobs before returning to settle in Pearl River 22 years ago. While he is still working today, he said that as his four children grew up and left home, he began to seek God about what he could do as a personal ministry of good for the community.
“Michael Rivers is the son of a friend of mine, and he became involved with Truth in Nature, and now is the regional director for our area,” he said. “That’s how I knew so much about what the group was doing, and I saw how much they are helping these boys. It’s really a great organization with a great mission of helping.”
Kennedy already had professional experience with his Behavioral Science college degree that led him to run a boys home in Washington Parish for 25 years, so he clearly had the experience to direct a Truth in Nature chapter.
“I had the seed planted for a long time of working with kids one day,” he said. “I had been praying for a while and I felt like God was showing me to do something different. I was led to a new church and then felt this year that it was time to take this on.”
All the services and outings for the boys are free, thanks to generous individual and business donors that the directors like Kennedy solicit. But the new Pearl River chapter is already off and running with strong financial support after Kennedy made some calls to individuals he knew.
He said the boys in the group will be taught many “life skills, like how to put air in a tire, how to run a bank account, and the importance of service to others. We will do community events where we volunteer to mow grass for old folks or do repairs at their house. This group is fun for the boys for sure but will also teach them about being a responsible person who serves others.”
While there are plans for normal outdoor activities like fishing, hunting and camping, Kennedy said nobody will be forced to do something they are not comfortable with.
“Some parents don’t want their kids to shoot guns so maybe he comes on our trip and cooks, or hikes. One thing I love about the group is that every chapter has its own personality, and every mentor will have a different personality to fit with different kids. We adapt to the boys in every situation,” he added.
Kennedy said they have five boys and five mentors as they are just beginning, and recently asked the boys what other activities they might like to do.
“Some of them said things like go to a Saints or LSU game, and then we mentioned going to car races—this group can do whatever it wants, and I can guarantee you, the boys will enjoy being part of this,” Kennedy said.
Men who become part of the mentor group will also offer ways to help single moms by calling or texting them to see if there is a way the organization can help them through challenging times.
“Each mentor connects with the boys in a way that they can call if they need something, or they are struggling,” Kennedy remarked. “It’s really more than a once-a-month outing. We want to stand in for these fatherless boys and give them someone they can lean on for anything. This doesn’t just help the boys; it is also a great ministry for men to be involved with.”
Kennedy said his group has connected with Sportsmen’s Warehouse in Slidell which is a sponsor in the annual Pearl River cleanup that his chapter of Truth in Nature will take part in.
If you are interested in having a boy become part of the program, or in becoming a mentor, or would like to be a sponsor, call Kennedy at 985-960-0500.