 Welcome
to the Northwoods Federation
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What is YMCA Adventure Guides?
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. (FAQ)
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Why does YMCA Adventure Guides exist?
Who participates in YMCA Adventure Guides? What do YMCA Adventure Guide participants do? What is the YMCA Adventure Guides theme? Northwoods Federation Overview Spirit & Symbol Adventure Guides Participant Handbook (PDF file) Program Links
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- Why does YMCA Adventure Guides exist?
- 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.
YMCA of the USA has designed the YMCA Adventure Guides program
to assist parents and their children 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 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 parents 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 certain families, be flexible
and work with them to develop a structure within the program
that accommodates their needs. — TOP
- Who participates in YMCA Adventure Guides?
- We designed YMCA Adventure Guides for parents (or other significant
adults in children’s lives) and their children ages 5 through
9. (Some YMCAs also have programs for children
younger than 5.) An adult and child must attend program activities together.
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. — TOP
- What do YMCA Adventure Guide participants do?
- The YMCA groups parent-child pairs into "Circles" that
meet on a regular basis in each others? homes, usually 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.
— TOP
- What is the YMCA Adventure Guides theme?
- The Y-Adventure Guide Program has been developed
around an adventure theme. Like the epic voyage of
Lewis and Clark, program participants will enjoy
an adventure. Parent and Children will experience
new activities including events like roller-skating,
bowling, horseback riding, archery, canoeing, hiking
and more. With their circles they will experience
teamwork and adventure through campout activities,
soccer, hockey and circle meetings.
At the forefront of the program are the compass points. The compass
points lend an inspiration for activities and also provide a framework
from which to build an adventure theme. The compass points outline
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, the 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
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 Circle 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. — TOP
- Northwoods Federation
- The NORTHWOODS FEDERATION administers YMCA Adventure Guides programs
on behalf of the Upper Main Line YMCA. The Northwoods Federation
consists of five Expeditions: three Parent/Daughter Expeditions
(Corps of Discovery, Challenger, and American) and two Parent/Son
Expeditions (Daniel Boone and Safari). The townships and surrounding
areas within our Federation are Radnor, Newtown, Tredyffrin, Lower
Merion, Easttown, Goshen, Willistown and parts of several other
villages. Members may live in any town, village or unincorporated
area. The Federation provides centralized program coordination
and event planning for its member Nations. The Federation helps
each Nation deliver a robust set of parent-child activities. — TOP
- Northwoods Federation: Spirit & Symbol
- The Northwoods Federation is named after the preserved woodland on
the property of the Upper Main Line YMCA. The name also is linked
to the great swath of boreal forest that extends over the northeast
United States and Canada. It was from the Great North Woods that
many of the famous frontier explorers, such as Lewis & Clark
and Daniel Boone, began their great treks into the wilderness.
The spirit of the Northwoods Federation is symbolized by the moose,
the largest animal found in the Great North Woods of North America.
The world’s largest deer was named by the Algonquins, Native
Americans who lived throughout the northeast regions of the United
States and Canada. The Algonquins called this strange looking creature
mooswa, meaning "twig-eater". A full grown moose can weigh
up to 1,800 pounds and stand 7 feet tall at the shoulder. They can
run 35 miles per hour, can easily swim 10 miles, and can dive underwater.
Despite their size and strength, moose tend to act very kindly toward
their environment and is often referred to as the guardian of the Great
North Woods. It is in this spirit that the Northwoods Federation chose
the moose as its symbol.
Visitors can see the Northwoods Federation Moose in the Adventure
Guides room (Room 1) of the Upper Main Line YMCA’s Mansion.
If you are a participant of the Adventure Guides program, please
submit your idea for a name for our Moose to brian.raicich@umly.org.
— TOP
- Federation Calendar – Coming Soon — TOP
- Member Handbook – available to download
(PDF) — TOP
- Program Links:
- National YMCA Adventure Guides Web Site: http://sierra.lscheffer.com — TOP
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