YMCA Adventure Guides is a family program designed for a father and his 5- to 9-year-old child. In YMCA Adventure Guides, it is understood that the parent serves 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. In the early years, the program is a side-by-side journey before children are launched into more advanced, independent activities. In the YMCA Adventure Guides program, the journey occurs within the context of a small Circle community. The Circle 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 Circles twice a month and participate in Expedition adventures (e.g., overnight camping)
throughout the year. The goals, purpose, aims, motto, pledge, activity, leadership, structure and theme are listed here.

Program Goals
Foster companionship and understanding; set a foundation for positive, lifelong relationships between 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