Want to Know What YGuides is All About?

YMCA Adventure Guides is a program offered at the University Family YMCA designed to strengthen the relationship between a parent and a child. This program supports the YMCA of Greater Seattle’s mission to, “Encourage all people, especially the young, to develop to their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.”

The YMCA Adventure Guides program provides children and their parents with opportunities for good times, learning, and mutual understanding. In the program, a parent and child meet with other parent-child pairs in a small group called a Circle. Circles get together for Circle meetings or to participate in fun and educational activities. Typical activities include games, crafts, songs, swimming and field trips.

All Circles who participate through the University Family YMCA are a part of the Rainier Expedition. Several times a year all of our Circles in the Rainier Expedition get together for campouts, a pinewood derby, the Sweetheart Dance, and other activities. Circles in the Rainier Expedition come from all over north & northeast Seattle.

Who Participates in YMCA Adventure Guides?

We designed YMCA Adventure Guides for parents or other significant adults in children’s lives and their children ages five through nine. (Some YMCAs also have programs for children younger than five to give children an earlier start in the program.) An adult and child must attend program activities together as a pair. In YMCA Adventure Guides, the parent is the Guide, and the child is the Explorer. Typically, YMCA Adventure Guides programs appeal most to fathers and sons or fathers and daughters, although some YMCAs have had success with mother–son or mother–daughter programs.

Determining the Membership of Circles

Circles are usually made up of 7 to 10 parent–child pairs. Circle leaders decide how to compose their circles. Here are some possibilities:

By gender. Boys and girls develop differently during the early elementary years. Boys need time to be boys and girls need time to be girls. Experienced programs tout the success of gender-specific Circles. However, if a parent has more than one child, or the program is small and just starting out, it may be difficult to separate genders into separate Circles.

By neighborhood or other common bonds. Some members would prefer to be in a Circle with others from their neighborhood (or their place of work or worship). This keeps travel time to a minimum and often allows children to relate to friendships already established. Others prefer Circles that span neighborhoods or schools, giving kids a chance to get to know each other outside their normal groups.

By ages. Another way of breaking into Circles is by age group—grouping children together by kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and so on. Single-age Circles allow activities to focus on age-appropriate needs and interests. Circles grow up together and share many passages. There is no competition among younger and older children. Most Circles in the Rainier Expedition are single-age circles, and they end after 3rd grade graduation.  However, some Circles do span multiple grades, which is fine too.  These become 'perpetual' circles, with new kindergarteners coming in as 3rd graders graduate. 

Getting Your Circle Started

There are three ways to become a part of YGuides and the Rainier Expedition:

Be A Circle Leader
If you’re ready to get started now, and you know other dads who are also ready, then you can create your own Circle. You can get all the program registration forms you need and hold your first meeting anytime. Name your Circle, get your form together and return them to the University Family YMCA.

Join a Friend's Circle
Have a friend, classmate or relative who’s already involved in a Circle? Fill out the program registration forms and join them!

Join an Existing Circle
New in town? Don’t have time to create a new Circle? Contact program director Chris Robinson to be placed in an existing Circle that’s a good fit for your family.