For over 50 years the YMCA's Adventure Guides have been connecting kids and dads across the Northshore. We're excited to support active Guide families from Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Evanston, Skokie, and northern Chicago, as well as start new groups in our local communities.

NSYMCA Adventure Guides is a family program designed to strengthen the relationship between parent and child through a journey that occurs within the context of a small group community. In NSYMCA Adventure Guides, parents lead, influence, and teach while presenting opportunities for children to explore the world around them.

Adventure Guides (parents) and Explorers (children) meet in Groups and participate in Expedition adventures (e.g., overnight camping and/or lock-ins) throughout the year. The group is the program’s basic unit, providing a structure, a sense of community, and support for all group activities.

Be as active as you, your child and your fellow parents want to be: come to one event or come to them all, be a leader or be a participant, stay with a smaller group or jump into the crowd; it’s up to you!

For parents with children grades Kindergarten through 5th grade, each event is managed by volunteer parents in coordination with the North Suburban YMCA team.

Family fee cost covers food, activities, and bunks.

To create a new Group, contact Alex Klitz.