ABOUT

The Adventure Guides program:

Fosters companionship and understanding and sets a foundation for positive, lifelong relationships between parent and child.
Builds a sense of self-esteem and personal worth.
Expands awareness of spirit, mind, and body.
Provides the framework to meet a mutual need of spending enjoyable, constructive, and quality time together.
Enhances the quality of family time.
Emphasizes the vital role that parents play in the growth and development of their children.
Offers an important and unique opportunity to develop and enjoy volunteer leadership skills.

The Compass provides direction for the Friends Forever program.

The Family is True North – the focal point of the program
Nature and the camping experience are an integral part of the program teaching respect for nature and oneself
The spirit of the program is experienced through belonging to a small community of “circles”
Fun is the magic of the program
The Y’s core values (Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility) provide directions as parents guide children on their journey. Along the way adults should model, teach and demonstrate these values as well as give children many opportunities to practice and celebrate them. 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.

Guide & Explorer

These are the names for parents and children. Each person (dad & child) chooses an Adventure Guide name when joining the program. Coming up with an Adventure Guide name is one of the strongest memories of the program for parents and children. It may even take several months to come up with something appropriate and meaningful. Names should try to stay with the adventure or nature themes. Good examples of names include: Little Snow Bear, Shooting Star, Big Thunder Cloud, Mighty Oak or Little Running Bunny.

Circles

Circles are a group of Guides & Explorers. Typically Circles are made up of 5-12 families within a school or neighborhood, but not necessarily. Circle groups come up with a name that connects to nature, adventure or their larger Expedition. Good examples of names include: Wolfpack, Rangers, Mud Marlins, Mighty Mariposa or Daughters of Triton. Circles meet regularly, usually monthly, at homes or community locations to complete meeting items and work on the Adventure Guide Curriculum.

Expeditions

Expeditions are groups of Circles organized by gender (i.e. dad/daughter). Typically an Expedition is made up of 4-10 Circles. Expeditions have names also with the adventure or nature theme. Good examples of names include: Mighty Wilderness Expedition, California Wild Expedition, or Great Pacific Expedition. Expeditions host regular events, usually monthly, bringing all Circles together.