Story by Guest Columnist | August 26, 2010 | Tags: Community, Kids, ymca
A dad teaches his daughter archery at a Y-Guides outing
Story by Brendan Bailey, photos courtesy of Winstead Photography
Cary, NC – Over the years, the YMCA Guides & Princesses program has become a mainstay in Cary, helping strengthen the relationship between Cary fathers and their children.
The YMCA of the Triangle has the largest parent-child program in the country with the Y-Guides & Princesses program. Collectively, these tribes form the Arapahoe Nation, serving more than 13,000 dads and children throughout Wake, Durham, Johnston and Lee counties. The program has served more than 26,000 families since its inception in 1968. In 2009, the Y-Guides & Princesses program added more than 170 new tribes with over 1,700 first year participants.
Forming “Tribes”
The Y-Guides & Princesses program is for fathers that want quality, planned, one-on-one time with their children. Fathers and their children form tribes. Fathers and son form Guide tribes, while fathers and daughters form Princess 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.
What sets this apart from other activities – father and child attendance together is always mandatory.
The Arapahoe Nation
In addition to the activities of the tribe, 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, N.C., complete with activities such as archery, riflery, zip-line, 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!
It is through these shared experiences together that both father and child grow closer, forming memories that will last a lifetime.
All dads with a 1st grade son or daughter, who live in a zip code listed below, are invited to attend the YMCA Guides & Princesses Dads Information & Registration Meeting. Come find out more about the program, and at the end of the meeting, dads will be matched up with other dads in the area to form tribes.
Meeting information:
YMCA Guides & Princesses Dads Information & Registration Meeting
Monday, August 30, 7:00 – 8:30 pm (Please arrive by 6:45 pm)
Cary Embassy Suites, 201 Harrison Oaks Boulevard
Zip Codes Covered
Dads living in the following zip codes should attend:27511, 27513, 27519, 27502, 27518, 27523, 27560, 27539, 27562, 27540, 27526, & 27592 – Durham Zip Codes: 27703, 27713, 27707, & 27701, and Johnston County zip codes: 27527, 27520, 27577, 27529, 27576, 27504, 27526
More Info:
For more information, visit Arapahoe Nation or call Matt Strickland, YMCA Guides & Princesses Program Director at (919) 719-9691.
