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Greetings and Welcome to the Bainbridge Island Tyee Nation website.
 This is the "official" web site of the Bainbridge Island YMCA Adventure Guides and Princesses.




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Welcome

This Home of the Tyee Nation website was created to inform Tyee Nation members of events and activities, to tell the world about the mighty Tyee Nation and the YMCA Adventure Guide programs, and to network with other Adventure Guide Expeditions around the country.


What is the YMCA Adventure Guide Program?

YMCA Adventure Guides programs, previously known as YMCA Indian Guides and YMCA Indian Princesses, have a long history of providing elementary school age children and their parents with opportunities for fun times, learning, and mutual understanding.

YMCA Adventure Guide programs are for parents that want quality, planned, one-on-one time with their children. Membership with the Bainbridge Island Tyee Nation is open to every parent with a child kindergarten through fourth grade.

Participation in activities by both parent and child is a vital part of the YMCA Adventure Guide Programs. Parent and child share in events, games, crafts, outings, and campouts. The parent observes their child's relationship in the group, and see the child's strengths and needs, affording a basis for helping the child to grow. Likewise, the child observes the parent in action with other parents and kids. This provides the child with an important role model.


Click here to read more about the history of the YMCA Adventure Guides

Click here to read more about the transition away from the Indian Guide program.


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How are the YMCA Adventure Guides on Bainbridge Island organized?

Parents and their children form Circles. A Circle might contain anywhere from eight to twenty families. One parent is elected to lead the Circle as the Navigator, and the various Circle responsibilities are delegated to the parents and kids. The Circle schedules monthly meetings and special events or trips. Parent and child attendance together is expected for participation in activities.

There are over a dozen Circles participating in YMCA Adventure Guide programs on Bainbridge Island. Circles are typically organized based on school location although a few Circles draw from throughout the Island. Together, the Circles make up the Expedition known as Tyee Nation. The Expedition is led by the Expedition Navigator who was elected at the end of the previous year by that year's Expedition Council. The previous year's Expedition Navigator is designated the Navigator Emeritus and is available as support and standin for the current Expedition Navigator.

The Expedition Council is the directive organization that supports the program planning of the Circles and Expedition, coordinates Expedition events, and establishes policies and standards. The Tyee Nation Expedition Council includes the Expedition Navigator, the Navigator Emeritus, and the current Circle Navigators.


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What the Programs Do

YMCA Adventure Guide Programs are action oriented. Members develop their own Circle programs, elect their own officers, take turns hosting Circle meetings, and conduct the business of the Circle.

Circles meet for campouts and family outings; visit historical sites and fire stations; take hikes to parks, zoos, and farms; and plan family picnics.

Circles have craft projects which may include construction of Circle property. Circles may also have campfires and hold induction ceremonies that emphasize the importance of the parent/child relationship.

In addition to the activities of the Circle, Tyee Nation members participate in various Nation events throughout the year. Nation events include seasonal Campouts at various YMCA camps and private campgrounds, Pinewood Derby, Kite Fly, Mariners baseball game, Family events, and participation in the Bainbridge Island 4th of July Parade.

But best of all, the YMCA Adventure Guide Programs are just plain fun for both you and your child!


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Benefits

Through the Adventure Guide programs, the YMCA provides the following benefits to both parents and children.

  • 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 body, mind, and spirit.
  • Provide a 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 in the growth and development of their children.
  • Offer an important and unique opportunity to develop and enjoy volunteer leadership skills.
  • Opportunity to meet other families with children the same age.


 

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Contact the Tyee Nation with comments and questions about this site.
About the YMCA Adventure Guides Purpose: The purpose of the YMCA Adventures Program is to foster companionship of parent and child. Slogan: "Friends Forever" Aims: To be clean in body and pure in heart To be Friends Forever with my Father/Mother/Son/Daughter/Family To love the sacred circle of my family To listen while others speak To love my neighbor as myself To respect the traditions and beliefs of all people To seek and preserve the beauty of the Creator's work in forest, field and stream. Overview: Father/Daughter program sponsored by the YMCA. A group of about 5-15 Father/Daughter pairs make up a circle. A group of about 5-15 'circles' make up an 'expedition'. Expedition Names: Each “Princess” and “Guide” chooses an appropriate name which is formally bestowed upon them at the induction ceremony at their first campout. Princess Age Range: Kindergarten through 4th Grade. Vests: Each Guide and Little Princess typically has a vest made out of leather or felt. The vest is used to display patches received for each expedition event attended. Circle Officers: Each circle has a Navigator, Compass Bearer, Treasure Keeper and Log Keeper. Officers can serve for a year or a half-year. The Compass Bearer usually becomes the next Navigator. It's often easiest to go down a circle's roster in alphabetical order in order to assign officers, particularly the Navigator and Compass Bearer. The Navigator and/or the Compass Bearer attend a monthly expedition meeting held at the YMCA's facility at 13500 Quito Road, Saratoga, (408) 370 1877. Expedition Events: There are expedition events every month from October through June. Except for the campouts, these events are organized by one of the circles. Most, but not all, expedition events are just for the fathers and daughters. Campouts: There are two campouts each year: a cabin campout in the fall and a tent "roughout" in the spring. The big event is the Saturday night campfire and program, followed by singing and skits by each circle. The campfire is also used for induction and graduation ceremonies. Circle Meetings Circle Meetings: Each circle usually has a monthly meeting, lasting 1½ - 2 hours. Each circle meeting has a host Father/Daughter, and the meeting usually takes place at the host family's house. Each family will receive a book from the YMCA which includes suggested programs for circle meetings. The following is a typical meeting -- each circle can determine what works best for them. Navigator calls meeting to order. Navigator starts the meeting with a ritual. (See here for an example ritual) Log Keeper takes roll and reads minutes from previous meeting. Treasure Keeper collects circle dues, perhaps $2 for each daughter and $3 for each dad. These can be used for special projects, a party, a community project, etc. Each Princess stands up, says her circle name, and gives a “scouting” report for the month: A good deed they have done, and/or An activity, project or event they have done with their father/family. Navigator announces upcoming expedition events, YMCA news, etc. Plans are reviewed for the next meeting. Host introduces the night's craft, which is supplied by the Host. Crafts include anything that can be completed in ~30 minutes, or which can be completed in a couple of circle meetings. Examples include: Construction of decorations or projects for an expedition event Making bead or leather projects Planting seeds for a home garden Map reading Host provides and serves refreshments. Host or circle members tell a story, usually with a moral, and/or sing songs. Navigator leads closing ritual. Meeting is adjourned. See the individual circle pages for additional information about the specific practices of the various circles. 1.How is Adventure Guides Organized? Q What is an Adventure Guides Expedition? A An Expedition is a collection of 'circles' which are organized around a single YMCA. This group of circles is generally centered around a geographically close area and are made up of families which often interact within neigborhoods and schools. × close Q What is a circle? A A circle is a group of several dad/children pairs which form a unit with a particular identity. Often circles are formed within a local neighborhood or school or by groups of families related by sports or church communities. Circles are sometimes groups with children of similar ages and are sometimes groups with children of varying ages. Circles have names (determined by the circle) and have a representative (a Navigator) to the larger Expedition. Circles typically have five to twelve dad/child pairs and will usually meet once a month. × close Q How is the YMCA involved? A The Adventure Guides program is facilitated and supported by the YMCA. Although Adventure Guides Expeditions are primarily run by the members themselves, the YMCA helps out tremendously by providing logistic support, planning support and by being the primary residence for the lore of the Adventure Guides and by providing assistance to the local Expeditions. 2. What Commitment Is Required? Q How much time does Adventure Guides take? A In part, this depends on what you and your child want out of the program. In general, there is a monthly meeting involving the local circle and (usually) one event of some type every month which involves the entire Expedition. × close Q How long do monthly circle meetings take? A The length and frequency of meetings are determined by the individual circle and what makes sense to the circle members. Typically, circle meeting are somewhere between one to two hours long and take place in the evening in the middle of the week. The schedule is determined by the needs of the circle members. × close Q How much time is needed for the Expedition events? A This depends on the event! Smaller events such as a car wash, pizza bingo or bowling take one to three hours. Special events like a father/daughter dance or pinewood derby will typically take several hours. Camp outs are either 1 or 2 day events. × close Q What fund raising is expected? A Adventure Guides is a volunteer organization that depends on the fund raising activities of the members involved. The types of fund raising done depends on the individual Expedition but usually includes classical fund raising such as car washes, entertainment books or doughnut coupons. Because we are a volunteer organization, our fund requirements are pretty low and as such our efforts for fundraising tend to be low key and very low pressure. Basically, if it is not fun for the kids and the dads we try to stay away from it! × close Q How much does it cost to be in Adventure Guides? A The basic requirements to join Adventure Guides is a YMCA membership for your child and a program fee for the Adventure Guides. These are typically about $80 for the year, but are set by the local YMCA. There is no fee for ongoing circle meetings but some events have minimal fees to cover the cost of the event. Event fees are usually $5 - $10. The campouts will usually have a fee to cover the camp, food and activities at camp. These fees will typically be larger then smaller event fees and can range from about $60 to $150 for the dad/child pair. Most local Adventure Guides Expeditions do offer scholarships. Our goal is to further the relationship between dad and children and will work hard to make sure that cost is not an issue. × close Q Can I be a Navigator for my circle or for the Expedition? A Of course you can! Circle Navigators are chosen by their peers to represent them in the Expedition. Navigators attend one more meeting every month to deal with Expedition business and to plan events and campouts. Expedition Navigators are chosen by the Circle Navigators to lead the Circle Navigators meetings and to ensure events and campouts are planned and successful. The Expedition Navigator is also the primary person to interact with the YMCA program coordinators. Navigators are usually Compass Bearers the year before they are a Navigator. This is a Navigator in training position and backup for the Navigator. The Compass Bearer is a partner in the successful running of the circle or expedition. 3.What Do Adventure Guides Do? Q What are circle meetings? A When you join Adventure Guides you actually join a circle of other dad and children. Each month a circle will meet at some destination (participants houses, parks, beaches or any appropriate venue). Circle meetings usually involve group activities for the children and dads as well as a gathering where members introduce themselves and describe the activities they have been involved in with their fathers. Each circle determines the activities, rituals and interactions they want to participate in. Typically circles meet one evening midweek one week per month. × close Q What are the camp outs like? A The camps that used by Adventure Guides are typically accredited camps owned by the YMCA or other non profit organizations. Camp outs are typically one night and are Sat-Sun events. Some camp outs are two nights long. Lodgings are typically cabin or barracks style where sleeping bags are used. Most camps have activities such as archery, climbing walls, art and craft, hiking, boating, etc. Most YMCA Adventure Guides Expeditions have two or three camp outs per year. × close Q What events do participants take part in? A Most YMCA Adventure Guide Expeditions try to have about one event per month that are not the regular circle meetings. Events can include car washes, pinewood derby races, dad/daughter dances, pizza bingo, picnics, swims and camp outs. Event scheduling is usually done based on the local academic calendar or (in the case of camp outs) by long standing reservation for camp space. 4. Where Do I Get More Information? Q Where can I get more information on the YMCA Adventure Guides Program? A The YMCA national web site at http://www.ymca.net/programs/adv_guides has a great collection of articles on the program, objectives and history of the YMCA Adventure Guides. × close Q How do I Join? A Contact your local YMCA for local Adventure Guide Expedition information. The local Expeditions who use this web site have local contact information as well. There are YMCA Adventure Guide Expeditions in most areas of the country and they are eager to have you and your child be a part of their program. 5.Why Join Adventure Guides? Q What is the big deal? A So what is it with these dads and kids who talk so much about Adventure Guides? The main answer is the chance for dad and kids to spend time together and with friends in a environment where everyone can just interact and have fun doing so. Membership in Adventure Guides is an opportunity for dads and kids to get to know each other in situations outside of the normal family scene. The events and meetings in Adventure Guides allow dads and kids to pay attention to each other in ways that are often difficult or impossible to do in other ways. Both dads and kids create memories they long remember. × close Q Don't kids get the same experience in Scouts/Brownies/Church Groups? A Well... No... The structure of the Adventure guides is around the pairing of dad and child. The grouping of these pairs into groups is to facilitate interaction. Most other programs have different aims and tend not to involve parents as directly and are typically not about building the relationship between parent and child. The YMCA Adventure Guides is not really a competitor organization, but is something quite different than Boy Scouts, Brownies, sports team, etc. × close Q So what is Adventure Guides, really? A The YMCA Adventure Guides program is a very simple idea with great results. Dads and kids get to join with and interact with other Dads and kids from their local schools and communities. In the process of forming stronger bonds between parent and child, Adventure Guides facilitates stronger community bonds by introduction of the people within the circles and Expedition events. × close Q Who joins Adventure Guides? A Dad and children join Adventure Guides. Dads of all ages and children of school age K-3 are welcome to participate. Local Expeditions may allow some older children to participate in meetings and events.