Family • Play • Bonding • Memories
Adventure Guides
The Adventure Guides program provides fathers and their children the opportunity to spend valuable time together. As part of a larger group, both father and child create unforgettable memories playing games, spending the weekend at an overnight camp, family adventures, and much more. Program registration is now open, please see below for pricing and registration links.
2022-2023 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Program Registration:
The program registration fee cover expenses that are not covered by campouts or events. Program registration for the child is needed prior to registering for any campouts and events. This is a yearly fee that only needs to be paid once a school year. We do offer an additional child discount for multiple siblings in the same household please email aginfo@ymcadallas.org for this discount and we will credit your account.
If you're new to the Adventure Guides program and interested in leading a new group, please submit our New Group Interest Form.
This fee is included during the campout registration process. If you are new to the program or not ready to register for the campouts, please use the link below to pay for the registration fee.
Camping Events:
Each campout will serve specific YMCA Branch Service area(s). All campouts will be held at camps with cabins that includes A/C, electricity and bathrooms. More details on each camp can be found on their website and their links are under each campout description. Please be aware that we do not reserve cabins per group, all beds are on a first come, first serve basis, and all registrations are done by each family pair.
If you are new to Adventure Guides or have no YMCA affiliation, please Register for the program above and complete our New Group Interest Form. We will contact you to place your group in a campout.
FALL 2022 CAMPOUTS:
Below are the campouts for the fall as well as the registration link. Please note these are pair pricing, if you are bringing two children, there is a option for that during the registration process. Please note pricing is different per camp due to the cost the camp charges the Adventure Guides program. We try and keep cost as low as possible.
Breakfast Saturday and Sunday as well as lunch on Saturday will be provided at all camps. Activities at the camps include horses, archery, BBs, zipline, climbing wall, hikes and more! Specific detail on each camp will be updated a few weeks prior to the camp.
| Dates: | Location: | Branches: | Registration Link: | Campout Packets: |
| November 11th-13th | Collin County Adventure Camp | Kinder Campout (PL, WR, RD, MD) | $257/pair | Campout Packet |
| November 11th-13th | Camp Grady Spruce | Kinder Campout (SM, PL, WR, LH) | $257/pair | Campout Packet |
SPRING 2023 CAMPOUTS:
| Dates: | Camp: | Branches: |
| February 3rd-5th | Camp Classen | LH Guides, Additional Winter Campout |
| March 24th-26th | Camp Grady Spruce | Moody, PL 1st, RD 1st |
| March 31st-April 2nd | Camp Classen | PL 3rd, RD 2nd, Semones, FR |
| April 14th-16th | Camp Grady Spruce | Kinder Campout (RD, WR, FR, MD) |
| April 14th-16th | Collin County Adventure Camp | Kinder Campout (PL, Semones, LH) |
| April 21st-23rd | Camp Grady Spruce | WR,Semones ,LH Princesses |
| April 21st-23rd | Sky Ranch | LH Princesses, RD 3rd, WR, Coppell, CT, Semones, |
| April 28th-30th | Camp Grady Spruce | LH Guides, PL 2nd |
Additional Events:
Please check back frequently as we will be keeping this area updated with additional local events. We will try to offer locations around the service area to ensure everyone can make it.
New Participant Induction:
- When: October 19th at 6:30 PM
- Where: Brekenridge Park- Parking Lot C
- Why: It is a great way to see everyone from your group and get the kids excited about the program
What Else: We will have a Q & A portion starting at 6 PM if any new leaders/dads want to advice from dads that have done the program for years
Pumpkin Carving:
- When: October 25th at 6:45 PM
- Where: Richardson YMCA - Pool Deck
- What: Bring your own pre pitted pumpkin out to the Richardson Y for a pumpkin carving/painting contest. There will be some supplies available and awards and patches will be given out!
Group Leader Meetings:
These meetings will be available to all group leaders and will go over upcoming campouts and events. A meeting invite with the link to the meeting will be sent a few days before each meeting. Please make sure you sign up for the meeting you want to attend, this is the list we will use to send the links. If you are not on the group leader distribution list, please email Samantha Buehler at sbuehler@ymcadallas.org.
| Date | Time |
| September 20th- New Leader's | 5:15-6:15 PM |
| October 4th | 5:15-6:00 PM |
| October 25th | 5:15-6:00 PM |
| November 8th | 5:15-6:00 PM |
We are also hoping to get a few in person meetings at the branches to kick off the fall! More to come!
History
Adventure Guides began as the Y-Indian Guide program for fathers and sons in 1926. The program’s purpose was to support the father’s lead role in the family as a teacher, counselor, and friend to his son.
For 89 years, the Indian Guides program was the cornerstone for family programs in YMCAs across the country. Because of the changing world today, the YMCA adapted to the cultural sensitivity of Native Americans. Being a nationally recognized organization with the reputation of being respectful, honest and responsible prompted YMCA staff and volunteers to adapt the parent child program to be more susceptible to the changing world. Thus, the name Adventure Guides replaced the original, but the mission has remained the same.
Guides Resources
- LEADER'S MANUAL
- PARTICIPANT'S MANUAL
- CODE OF CONDUCT
- STORY TELLING
- GAMES
- RITUALS
- CIRCLE ACTIVITIES
- OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
- PHOTO GALLERY