On a recent snowy Saturday, 11 “Bigs” (adult mentors) and their “Littles” (mentees) from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut got together at the Mount Southington Ski Area in Plantsville for a complimentary day of downhill skiing, snowboarding and outdoor winter fun.

Participants included Big Sister Siobhan McGirl, right, an NBC Connecticut reporter from Norwich, and her Little Sister Jahyleeanne, left, from New London. The two have been matched for about two years.

The Mount Southington Ski Area has generously offered free admittance and free ski and snowboarding lessons to mentors and mentees in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut program for more than 20 years. Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut at ctbigs.org.

Friends & Neighbors is a regular feature in the Times. To contribute, email times@theday.com.