YMCA Adventure Guides is a program offered in YMCAs across the country designed
to strengthen the relationship between a parent and a child. Included here is
detailed description of the program purpose and elements.
During their elementary school years, children learn rapidly, becoming much
more aware of the world around them. They begin to see things differently and
ask questions about who they are, where they came from, and why things are
as they are. During this time, children tend to see their parents as guides,
teachers, and heroes. They start to understand that parents protect and nurture
them. Ideally, during this period, we learn how to talk with our children more
than at them. A strong relationship is based on our ability to ask open-ended
questions that help our children think and move beyond simple yes or no responses.
During these years, we strive to invite our children to accept challenges and
opportunities, celebrate accomplishments, and face fears.
We have designed the YMCA Adventure Guides
program to assist you and your child on your journey of discovery.
While activities with the whole family are important, we see
tremendous value in supporting and strengthening the ability
of a parent and his or her child to communicate at an early age
in ways that are caring, honest, respectful, and responsible.
We seek to encourage you as a parent to "get to know your
kid while your kid is still a kid."
For these reasons, we have designed the program
for one parent and one child to participate together for most
activities. If this dynamic is not practical for your family
or others in your group, be flexible and work with your YMCA
leaders to develop a structure within the program that works
for you.
Your local YMCA will assign you to a small group of parent-child pairs called
a Tribe who meet on a regular basis in each others' homes, usually biweekly
or monthly. Occasionally, several Tribes come together to participate in larger
activities such as campouts, parties, or parades. These outings are called
Expeditions. The core of the YMCA Adventure Guides program is these Tribe and
Expedition meetings and adventures. Typical activities include ceremonies,
games, crafts, songs, stories, skits, and outdoor pursuits such as camping,
hiking, and swimming.
The program focus is the adventures of a parent and child and of their Tribes
and Expeditions. At the forefront of the program are the Compass Points, which
give members a sense of direction and an inspiration for activities. These
points are broad enough in scope to allow for variety and creativity in designing
activities.
The four main direction 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 Tribe.
* 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 as well as give children many opportunities to practice
and celebrate them. Adults should also point out and discuss
with children any behavior that is inconsistent with these values.
Initially, these four values provide guidance in helping children
select activities, make decisions, and choose appropriate courses
of action-both in the program and in their lives. As children
grow, these values become their own internal compass.
The Compass Points allow you and your Tribe
members to personalize rituals, activities, and events. You can
develop Compass Point activities relevant to your own town and
your own common experiences. For example, a group in Texas may
build a theme around Texas explorers and pioneers, while a group
on the coast may use a scuba or water exploration theme. In each
case family, fun, nature, and community might take on a slightly
different meaning.
We designed YMCA Adventure Guides for parents or other significant adults in
children's lives and their children ages five through nine. (Some YMCAs also
have programs for children younger than five to give children an earlier start
in the program.) An adult and child must attend program activities together
as a pair. In YMCA Adventure Guides, the parent is the Guide, and the child
is the Explorer. Typically, YMCA Adventure Guides programs appeal most to fathers
and sons or fathers and daughters, although some YMCAs have had success with
mother-son or mother-daughter programs.
