YMCA ADVENTURE GUIDES

The YMCA Adventure Guides program assists you and your child on a journey of discovery. While activities with the whole family are important, we see tremendous value in supporting and strengthening the ability of a father 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 father to “get to know your kid while your kid is still a kid.”

Your local YMCA branch will assign you to a small group of father–child pairs called a Circle who meet on a regular basis, usually biweekly or monthly. Occasionally, several Circles 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 Circle and Expedition meetings and adventures. Typical activities include ceremonies, games, crafts, songs, stories, skits, and outdoor pursuits such as camping, hiking, and swimming. The purpose is to help children and their father’s to spend time learning and growing together.

We designed YMCA Adventure Guides for fathers or other significant male 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.) The father and child will attend program activities together as a pair. In YMCA Adventure Guides, the parent is the Guide, the child is the Explorer, and everyone has fun! Contact your local YMCA branch to join the YMCA Adventure Guides.