YMCA Guides & Princesses Program:
Strengthening the Father-Child Relationship

Dads, are you looking to strengthen your relationship with your son or daughter?

No gift that a father gives their son or daughter will mean as much as the time spend with them.

The YMCA of the Triangle is proud to have the largest parent-child program in the country with the Y-Guides & Princesses program, which serves more than 13,000 dads and children throughout Wake, Durham, Johnston, and Lee counties. Collectively, these tribes form the Arapahoe Nation, which has served over 26,000 families since it's inception in 1968. In 2009 alone, we added more than 150 new tribes with over 1,500 first year participants.

Check out some recent articles about the YMCA Guides & Princesses program in Raleigh's Midtown Magazine and the Triangle's kids sports and activities magazine Active Alex. Don't forget to click on any of the pictures on the right to see fun scenes of dads and kids in the program.

Frequently Asked Questions...

How do fathers and children join the YMCA Guides & Princesses program for 2010-2011?
Dads need to attend a Dads-Only Guides & Princesses Orientation meeting that will be August 30 & 31. At this meeting, dads will learn more about the program and be paired with dads in your area to form a tribe. Dads Orientation Meetings will be held in Cary and in Raleigh. Click on the "First Year Road Map" above for more information.

How much does it cost to participate in the Guides & Princesses Program?
The 2010-2011 dues will be $92 per pair for non-members of the YMCA, $74 per pair for members of the YMCA. For each additional child in the program the fee is $28 for YMCA members and $34 for non-members of the YMCA. Dues must be paid before Friday, October 1, 2010.

How can I spread the word about YMCA Guides & Princesses Program?
Help the YMCA spread the word about the Guides and Princesses program! Make sure to talk with other dads from work, church or in the the neighborhood, who have with 1st graders (or 1st or 2nd graders in Durham) about the program. Mention the program on your company's intranet or add it to your neighborhood newsletter or email list.

How does the YMCA Guides & Princess program differ from scouting?
This is a common question. Many times, scouting is a "drop off" program. A father's involvement with their child in scouting is optional and likely rare with girls. The YMCA Guides & Princesses program focuses on strengthening the father-child relationship through activities that allow fathers to spend quality, one-on-one time with their children. It is through these shared experiences together that both father and child grow closer, forming memories that will last a lifetime. At Spring Outing, dads and kids are told that a father's ticket to an activity is their child, and a child's ticket to an activity is their dad. There is also no selling or door-to-door fundraising involved within the YMCA Guides & Princesses program, as there is in scouting (i.e. cookies, popcorn).

What is the YMCA Guides & Princess Program?
The YMCA 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 and beyond for in the Trailblazers program.

Participation in activities for the father and child is a vital part of the YMCA 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 do the YMCA Guides & Princesses do?
The YMCA Guides & Princesses program is ACTION-ORIENTED! Fathers and their children form tribes. Tribes contain anywhere from 7-to-10 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: camping, horseback riding, community service projects, 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 swims at local YMCAs, Kite Day, and Park Clean-up Day, and the highlight, Spring Outing weekend at Camps Sea Gull and Seafarer in Arapahoe, NC, complete with activities such as archery, riflery, zipline, searching for sharks teeth, scavenger hunts, swimming, eating with 500 of your closest friends in the mess hall and much more! And don't forget about a great evening campfire with songs, a ghost story and other fun surprises!

But best of all, the YMCA Guides & Princesses program is just plain fun for 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

What happens after my three years of Guides or Princesses?

Popular outings for the YMCA Trailblazers is the the Fall weekend to Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain, NC, the winter ski trip to Wintergreen Ski Resort and more. Through all of these activities and events, YMCA Trailblazers continue to help strengthen the family and foster the relationship between father and child.

How can find out more?
Surf around the main web site and see for yourself the wonderful activities and fun we're having - and you'll want to join us. If you have any questions about the YMCA Guides & Princesses program, dues, program structure, the Dads Orientation meeting or anything else with this program, please contact program director Matt Strickland at matt.strickland@ymcatriangle.org or call (919) 719-9691.