What is the YMCA Adventure Guides program?

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, we will be flexible and work with you to develop a structure within the program that accommodates your needs.

Who participates in YMCA Adventure Guides?

We designed YMCA Adventure Guides for parents (or other significant adults in childrenâ€^TMs lives) and their children in grades K5-5th. 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 this program appeals most to father and son or father and daughter, but this does not mean we discourage moms from joining. Any parent connection is welcome. The parent/son program is referred to as Indian Guides while the parent/daughter program is Indian Princesses.

What do YMCA Adventure Guides do?

Adventure Guide tribes meet monthly or bimonthly, depending on the tribe, at the home of a member. During these meetings tribes work on crafts, play games, sing songs and enjoy time together. Occasionally, several tribes come together to participate in larger activities such as campouts, parties and other special events. These outings are called Expeditions.

How do I join a tribe or create my own tribe?

Contact Gary Lash with your request to join a tribe or create a tribe and he will either get you in touch with a local chief or send you the material to create your own tribe. Many tribes are based around school or neighborhood groups.

Contact Information: Gary Lash, CEO
Phone:  (318) 318-674-9622
Email: garyl@ymcanwla.org