Welcome to the Official Web Site of the
YMCA of the Triangle Y-Guides & Princesses

The YMCA of the Triangle is proud to have the largest parent-child program in the U.S. The Y-Guides / Princess program serves over 11,000 dads and children throughout Wake, Durham, Johnston, and Lee counties. Collectively, these tribes form the Arapahoe Nation, which has served over 25,000 families since it’s inception in 1968. In 2006 alone, we added more than 140 new tribes with over 1,500 first year participants.

This Web site provides information about upcoming events and serves as a resource for planning tribal activities. On behalf of the Nation officers, we welcome you to our family. How-How!

Take a moment to read my personal insights into this wonderful and life-changing program. Also take the time to read a letter from a former Y-Princess. She shares her memories and reflects upon some of the best times of her life and valued time spent with her dad. Contact our staff with any questions at 919-582-2265 or email me at bobby.harris@ymcatriangle.com.

May your adventure begin!

-- Bobby Harris, YMCA Y-Guides & Princesses Program Director

What is the Y-Guides & Princess Program?

The Y-Guides & Princesses program has a long history of providing elementary school age children and their parents with opportunities for fun times, learning, and mutual understanding.

The Y-Guides & Princesses program is for fathers that want quality, planned, one-on-one time with their children. Membership is open to every parent with a child in first through third grade, or fourth to seventh grade for Trailblazers/Trailmates.

Participation in activities for the father and child is a vital part of the Y-Guides & Princesses program. Father and child share in events, games, crafts, outings, and campouts. The father 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.

What Does the Y-Guides & Princesses Program Do?

The Y-Guides & Princesses program is action oriented! Fathers
and their children form tribes. Tribes contain anywhere from
seven to nine to fathers and their sons or daughters. One father
is selected as tribal chief, and the various tribal positions are delegated to the fathers. The tribes meet twice a month in a member’s home with fun activities including: games, crafts, stories and tricks. The tribes also organize monthly outings such as: horseback riding, community service projects, camping, hiking, and cookouts. Father and child attendance together is mandatory for participation in activities.

In addition to the activities of the tribe, the tribes of the Arapahoe Nation participate in various Nation events throughout the year. Nation events include a Fall Outing/Initiation at Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, Winter Inning show at Memorial Auditorium, Polar Bear swim nights, Kite Day, Park Clean-up Day, and the Spring Outing weekend at Camp Sea Gull & Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe, NC.

But best of all, the Y-Guides & Princesses program is just plain fun for both father and child!

Program Benefits: Through the Y-Guides & Princesses program, the YMCA provides the following benefits to both father and child:

• Foster companionship and understanding and set a foundation for positive, lifelong relationships between father 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

The Fun Continues with Trailblazers/Trailmates

Popular outings for the Trailblazers/Trailmates is the the Fall weekend to Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain, NC, the winter ski trip to Wintergreen Ski Resort and the train trip to Washington, DC. Through all of these activities and events, Y-Trailblazers help strengthen the family and foster the relationship between father and child.

ATTENTION DADS! Make plans to attend the Dads Only Orientation Session! The First Year Orientation & Signup Y-Guides and Princesses Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the McKimmon Center, located on the corner of Western Blvd. and Gorman St. in Raleigh (near NCSU Campus). We'll be discussing the program and forming tribes.

This meeting is for Dads only who have rising first graders. While some Dads come to this meeting with their tribes already formed, it’s perfectly fine to come without a tribe, and find other Dad’s at this meeting to start a tribe. Most tribes are formed by grouping Dads based on zip code.

If you have further questions, please call our Program Office at (919) 582-2266.

Copyright © 2007 ..YMCA of the Triangle Y-Guides & Princesses Program
1601 Hillsborough Street ...Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
Phone: (919) 582-2265 ....... E-mail: matt.strickland@ymcatriangle.org

And now, may the Great Spirit make the sun rise in your heart! How-How!