During their elementary 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 come from, and why things are as they are. During this time, children tend to see us, their parents, as guides, teachers, and heroes. They start to understand that we protect and nuture them.
We have designed the YMCA Adventure Guides program to assist you and your child on your journey of discovery. While activities with the whole family are important, we see tremendous value in supporting and strengthing 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 you as a parent to "get to know your kid while your kid is still a kid."
The forefront of the YMCA Adventure Guides program is the Compass Points. These points are broad enough in scope to allow for variety and creativity in designing activities.
The four main direction 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, called a Circle.
Fun is the magic of the program.
The YMCA Core Values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility make up the other directional points. Faith has been added as the foundation of the Core Values program. Along the journey, adults should model, teach and demonstrate these values as well as give children many opportunities to practice and celebrate them.