What We Do
Get to know your kid,
while your kid is still a kid!
YMCA Adventure Guides – Building Strong Bonds Between Dads and Daughters
The YMCA Adventure Guides program is designed to strengthen the unique and important bond between fathers and their daughters through shared experiences, outdoor adventures, and meaningful time together. In today’s busy world, it can be hard for dads to find dedicated, distraction-free moments with their children. Adventure Guides creates that space, offering opportunities for dads and daughters to grow closer while learning, exploring, and having fun as a team.
Through camping trips, group activities, service projects, and community events, Adventure Guides encourages connection, communication, and the building of lifelong memories. Dads get the chance to step away from work and daily responsibilities, while daughters experience the joy and security of having their father fully present. Together, they form friendships with other families, develop new skills, and create traditions that last a lifetime.
The program isn’t about being perfect or knowing all the answers—it’s about showing up, being present, and making time for the relationship that matters most. For dads, it’s a chance to grow as a parent and a role model. For daughters, it’s a gift of love, confidence, and cherished memories with their dad.
Goals & Benefits
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 inthe growth and development of their children.
Offer an important and unique opportunityto develop and enjoy volunteer leadership skills.
Foundation & Values
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 Adventure Guides program provides opportunities for families to engage in activities that promote nature, family, fun, and community.