What is the YMCA Adventure Guide program?

The Adventure Guides programs, formerly Indian Guides,  have a long history of providing elementary school age children and their parents with opportunities for fun times, learning, and mutual understanding.

The Adventure Guide program at  the Ed Isakson,  Fowler, and Cowart YMCA’s is for Dads that want quality, planned, one-on-one time with their children. Membership in the program is open to every parent with a children in kindergarten to seventh grade.  For additional information please see the FAQ.

Participation in activities by both parents and child is a vital part of the Adventure Guide Program. Father and child share in events, games, crafts, outings, and campouts. The father observes their child’s relationship in the group, and see the child’s strengths and needs, affording a basis for helping the child to grow.  Likewise, the child observes the parent in action with other parents and kids. This provides the child with an important role model.

Program Organization
This Adventure Guide program is divided into “Excursions”. Excursions are small close groups that usually share a common neighborhood or school association and are segmented by gender and age. When the Excursions come together for a big event, it is called an Expedition.

The Cherokee Expedition currently has 10 excursions. Excursions are encourage to schedule additional events and home meetings to bring together the dads and kids in a tight unit. Typical excursion events include home meetings with crafts, bowling, sporting events, and camping.

What the Programs Do
Adventure Guide Programs are action oriented.  Members develop their own programs and traditions, elect their own leaders, take turns hosting meetings, and conduct the business of the group. Groups get together for campouts and family outings; visit historical sites and fire stations; take hikes to parks, zoos, and farms; and plan family picnics. Participants learn about core values of honesty, responsibility, caring and respect.

In addition to the activities of the each excursion, members participate in various Expedition events throughout the year. Expedition events include seasonal Campouts at YMCA camps and state campgrounds, Valentine Father-Daughter Dance, Pinewood Derby, and other fun events.

But best of all, Adventure Guide Programs are just plain fun for both father and child!

Benefits

Through the Adventure Guide programs, the YMCA provides the following benefits to both parents and children.

  • Foster companionship and understanding and set a foundation for positive, lifelong relationships between parent and child.
  • Build a sense of self-esteem and personal worth.
  • Expand awareness of body, mind, and spirit.
  • Provide a framework to meet a mutual need of spending enjoyable, constructive, and quality time together.
  • Enhance the quality of family time.
  • Emphasize the vital role that parents play in the growth and development of their children.
  • Offer an important and unique opportunity to develop and enjoy volunteer leadership skills.
  • Opportunity to meet other families with children the same age.

Organization
Fathers and their children form excursions. Excursions contain anywhere from eight to twelve families. One father is selected as chief, and the various excursion positions are delegated to the parents and kids. The excursion schedules meetings and special events or trips. Father and child attendance together is mandatory for participation in activities. But the informality of the program does not mandate attendance in all activities. The benefits come from attendance; there are no merit badges or required goals in the program.

The Expedition Council is the leadership organization that supports the program planning of the excursions and expeditions, coordinates expedition events, and establishes policies and standards.  Council members are elected from volunteers each year. The Cherokee Expedition Council includes a Expedition Elder, Sage, Recruiter, Tonka (Firestarter) , Historian and Web Spinner.