Y Adventure Guides

The YMCA promotes programs that build strong families. The Adventure Guides Program provides opportunities to build strong and lasting relationships between fathers and children. Through various activities, fathers and children spend quality time together and build memories for a lifetime. Together, through the YMCA Adventure Guides Program, father and child become "Friends Forever."

The theme of the YMCA Adventure Guides is that life is a journey that anticipates challenges and choices. Parents serve as primary "guides" to help children navigate known obstacles.

Kindergarten through Grade 4 with Fathers.
( Father/Son or Father/Daughter)

At the center of YMCA Adventure Guides is the image of the compass. The four main directional points on the compass are the essential components of the program, with true North, the focal point of the program, being the family. The three other directional points are Community, Fun, and Nature. The YMCA Core Values; Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility complete the YMCA Adventure Guide compass and provide direction as the parent guides their children on their journey. As children grow, these values will become their own internal compass.

The father and the child become members of small Circle communities. Each Circle community consists of ten to twelve Guide & Explorers (parent/child pairs). The individual Circle community has meetings or conducts outings that incorporate a variety of recreational and educational activities. These Circles have their own Navigator (leader) who will guide them through meetings and activities, following the compass as a tool to navigate the journey.

Clusters of these Circles make Father/Son Expeditions or Father/Daughter Expeditions. These Expeditions that participate in our NSYMCA Adventure Guides combine to form a Federation. The North Suburban YMCA is the Great Northern Federation.

For information about this program, please call (847) 272-7250 and ask to speak to our Y Adventure Guides Coordinator.