What is the Y-Adventure Guide Program?
The Y-Adventure Guide Program is a part of the YMCA Parent/Child
Program. It is built on the foundation of building strong relationships with
"Father and Son", "Father and Daughter", "Mother and Son" and "Mother
and Daughter."
YMCA Adventure Guides is designed for a parent and his
or her 5- to 9-year-old child. In YMCA Adventure Guides,
the focus is on the parent’s role as a guide in a child’s life.
Parents lead, direct, supervise, influence, and teach while
presenting opportunities for children to explore the world
around them. They lead by example as they set their
children on a path through life. The program experience
begins as a side-by-side journey for a parent and child,
until the child is launched into more advanced,
independent activities.
In YMCA Adventure Guides, the journey happens within the context of a
small Tribe community. The Tribe is the program’s basic unit, providing a
structure, a sense of community, and support for all group activities.
Adventure Guides (parents) and Explorers (children) meet in Tribes
monthly and participate in Expedition adventures (e.g., overnight
camping) throughout the year.
What are the Program Goals?
Foster companionship and understanding; set a parent
and child.
  • Build a sense of self-esteem and personal worth.
  • Expand awareness of spirit, mind, and body.
  • Provide a framework to meet the mutual needs of
    parents and children for spending enjoyable,
    constructive, and quality time together.
  • Enhance the quality of family time.
  • Emphasize the vital role that a parent plays in the
    growth and development of a child.
  • Offer an important and unique opportunity to develop
    and enjoy volunteer leadership skills.
  • Program Purpose:  To foster understanding and
    companionship between parent and child.
What are the Program AIMS?
1. To be clean in body and pure in heart
3. To love the sacred circle of my family
4. To listen while others speak
5. To love my neighbor as myself
6. To respect the traditions and beliefs of all people
7. To seek and preserve the beauty of Our Creator’s work in forest, field, and
stream

What is Program Motto?
Friends Forever
What is the Program Theme?
At the forefront of the program are the compass points. The compass points lend an
inspiration for activities but also provide a framework from which to build an adventure
theme. The compass-points approach retains the program’s focus on strengthening
parent-child relationships through small Circle communities while participating in
activities that help meet the program’s objectives. The four main directional points on the
compass are the essential components of the program:
  • The Family is True North—the focal point
    of the program.

  • Nature and the camping experience are
    integral parts of the program.

  • The spirit of the program is experienced
    through belonging to a small community
    called a Circle.

  • Fun is the magic of the program.

The YMCA core values of caring, honesty,
respect, and responsibility make up the other
directional points.
Along the journey, adults should model, teach, and demonstrate these
values. They also should give children many opportunities to practice and
celebrate these values and to discuss behavior that is inconsistent with
the values. Initially, these values will provide guidance in helping children
select activities, make decisions, and decide on an appropriate course of
action, both within the program and in all aspects of their lives. Ideally, as
children grow, these values will become their own internal compasses.
Who can join the Y-Adventure Guide Program?
The program is designed for Children, boys and girls, Kindergarten through 3rd Grade and
Parents of any age. There is also a program called "Trailblazers" for Kids 4th Grade through
6th with their parents. The key to the program is that it's not just the child that is joining it's also
the parent.

Fathers and Sons, Grades K - 3
Fathers and Daughters, Grades K - 3
Mothers and Daughters, Grades K - 3
Mothers and Sons, Grades K - 3

Y-Discovery Guides - Parents and children, preschool age

Y-Trailblazers - Parents and Children, Grades 4 - and up
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
Simi Valley
Federation
Friends Forever  *  We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities  *  Friends Forever
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