YMCA Adventure Guides is a program for parents and children designed to help foster a lifetime of understanding and companionship through outdoor adventure activities, camping trips and monthly events that strengthen the relationship between parent and child.
The program operates with one adult and their child or children registering to participate. Please note that events are only open to those registered in the program and not the entire family. We host a couple of family events during the program year. During these events, we allow other family members to sign up. We will place parents and children registered for the program into a 'circle'. Other parent and child pairs, similar in age, grade, and school, comprise the Circles. Cicles will usually plan a monthly meet-up for an outing, activity, craft, etc.
The YMCA plans events and camping trips that take place over the program year, from August to June.
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EARLY BIRD PRICING 6/1-6/15:
MEMBER $90/Family
NON-MEMBER $130/Family
PRICING 6/15:
MEMBER $110/Family
NON-MEMBER $150/Family
Program fee covers start-up costs. Each activity/event will be an additional cost.
Families come in all sizes and shapes and so do YMCA Family Programs. Our programs strengthen family ties by offering a safe, welcoming environment for kids and parents to communicate, cooperate, and have fun.
The YMCA Adventure Guides program is designed to assist a parent and their child on a journey of discovery. We see tremendous value in supporting and strengthening the ability of a parent and child to communicate at an early age in ways that are caring, honest, respectful, and responsible. Together you will learn about nature, about history, about yourselves, but most importantly, about each other as you grow and learn together. Don’t miss out on this amazing once in a lifetime opportunity.
YMCA Adventure Guides is for parents and their children, ages 5–11. The adult and child must attend program activities together as a pair. In the YMCA Adventure Guides, the adult is the Guide, and the child is the Explorer. Adventure Guides are divided by gender into parent-daughters or parent-sons. The core of the program is Circle and Expedition meetings and adventures.
YMCA Adventure Guide Activities – Circles and Expeditions
A small group of father-child pairs called a Circle, meet on a regular basis in each other’s homes or other local establishments. The frequency and dates of these meetings vary from Circle to Circle. Typical activities include ceremonies, games, crafts, songs, stories, and skits.
Several Circles come together to participate in larger activities called Expeditions. These include activities such as campouts, parties or parades.
The Y-Adventure Guides program will:
- Foster companionship and understanding and 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 the framework to meet a mutual need of spending enjoyable, constructive, and quality time together.
- Enhance the quality of family time.
- Emphasize the vital role that parents play in the growth and development of their children.
- Offer 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 provide direction 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.
Core Values
- Caring
- Honesty
- Respect
- Responsibility
Join the YMCA as a family—you'll be glad you did!
For other questions, please contact Tori CusackIliff at 818.707.9622 ext. 5013 or email at vcusack@sevymca.org.
TENTATIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Adventure Guides & Trailblazers 2024/2025 - *subject to change*
MONTH | DATE | EVENT |
August 2025 | Sunday, 8/16 | Welcome BBQ @ Yarrow Family YMCA |
September 2025 | Sunday, 9/14 | Adventure Guides & Trailblazer @ Golf n Stuff |
September 2025 | Friday 9/26-Sunday 9/28 | Trailblazers @ Catalina |
October 2025 | Friday 10/17 - Sunday 10/19 | Adventure Guides @ Leo Carrillo |
November 2025 | Sunday 11/9 or 11/16 | Community Service Project: Plant Restoration |
December 2025 | Saturday 12/6 | Family Event: Descanso Garden Lights |
January 2026 | TBD | AG & TB Icoplex |
January 2026 | Friday 1/23 - Sunday 1/25 | Winter Camp Weekend 1: Big Bear |
February 2026 | Friday 2/6 - Sunday 2/8 | Winter Camp Weekend 2: Big Bear |
March 2026 | Sunday 3/15 | Pinewood Derby |
March 2026 | TBD | TB @ TBD |
April 2026 | Sunday 4/24-4/26 | @ El Capitan SB |
May 2026 | Friday 5/1 - Sunday 5/3 | TB @ Kern |
June 2026 | Friday 6/12 - Sunday 6/14 | Family Camp @ Lake Casitas |