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Bringing fathers & kids together

YMCA ADVENTURE GUIDES

Join the YMCA Adventure Guides program to foster meaningful parent-child connections through engaging activities that emphasizes the pivotal role of fathers in their children’s lives.

About YMCA Adventure Guides

The YMCA Adventure Guides program was founded in 1926 with the intent to promote parents actively raising their kids. The program was modeled on the Native American culture of dignity, patience, endurance, spirituality, feeling for the earth, and concern for family.

We all seem busier and busier, and the YMCA Adventure Guides program provides the perfect chance to carve out devoted time with your kids. Our events emphasize the important role that fathers play in the growth and development of their children. Participation in activities by both the father and child is essential to the program goals.

Program goals

  • Spend time with your kids to share your knowledge and skills
  • Meet new friends; both kids and dads alike
  • Create lifelong memories
  • Develop good decision making skills with your child based on a value system
  • Build a sense of self-esteem, mutual respect, and belonging

Program Organization

YMCA Adventure Guides is open to all kids from kindergarten through eighth grade. Groups range in size from ten to twenty dads and kids.

The groups are generally organized by school, so your child may already know several kids in the group. Your child will also get to interact with kids of various ages and different levels of experience. True to the goals of the program, it’s inspiring to witness new members taken under the wings of the others in the group.

Group members plan monthly meetings that include event planning, crafts, and having fun. The highlights of the program are the three annual camps and monthly program events.

The six aims

The principles we try to teach and live by.

To love my family.

To be attentive while others speak.

To love my neighbor as myself.

To be pals forever with my dad.

To seek and preserve nature’s beauty.

To be clean in body and pure in heart.

NOTE: A YMCA of Greater Waukesha County membership is NOT a requirement for joining Adventure Guides.

membership opportunities

A great way to learn about our program is for you and your child to experience it for yourselves! Join us for the day at a camp out or any of our other Adventure Guides events.

Annual events

AUTUMN

Roller Skating
Fall Camps
Pumpkin Hunt


WINTER

Holiday Parade
Winter Camps
Father/Daughter Dance


SPRING

Bowling Bash
Pinewood Derby
Spring Camps

Upcoming events

Ages 5-12: YMCA membership not required.

YMCA Adventure Guides | Girls' Winter Camp
Waukesha YMCA
Saturday - Sunday
January 18, 2025 - January 19, 2025
All Day
YMCA Adventure Guides | Boys' Winter Camp
Waukesha YMCA
Saturday - Sunday
February 1, 2025 - February 2, 2025
All Day
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