YMCA Adventure Guides & Trailblazers is a program for parents and children designed to foster a lifetime of understanding and companionship through outdoor adventure activities, camping trips, and monthly events that strengthen the relationship between parents and children.
The program operates with one adult and their child or children registering to participate. Please note that events are only open to those registered in the program and not the entire family. We host a couple of family events during the program year. During these events, we allow other family members to sign up. We will place parents and children registered for the program into a 'circle.' Other parent and child pairs, similar in age, grade, and school, comprise the circles. Circles will usually plan a monthly meet-up for an outing, activity, craft, etc.
The YMCA plans events and camping trips that take place over the program year, from August to June.
ADVENTURE GUIDE AND TRAILBLAZER
At the Simi Valley Family YMCA and the Yarrow Family YMCA
Program fees cover the start-up costs. Each activity or event will be an additional cost
Registration: May 1st - August 15th
TENTATIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Adventure Guides & Trailblazers 2026/27 *subject to change*
MONTH | DATE | ACTIVITY/EVENT |
August 2026 | Saturday ,8/15 | Welcome BBQ @ YMCA |
September 2026 | Sunday, 9/20 | Adventure Guides @ Ventura Aquatics Center |
September 2026 | Friday 9/25-Sunday 9/27 | Trailblazers at Catalina |
October 2026 | Friday 10/16 - Sunday 10/18 | Adventure Guides at Leo Carillio |
November 2026 | Sunday, TBD | Community Service Project: Plant Restoration |
December 2026 | Satruday, TBD | Family Event: Santa Barbara Trolley of Lights |
January 2027 | Sunday, TBD | Adventure Guides at Icoplez |
January 2027 | Friday, 1/23 - Sunday, 1/25 | Winter Camp Weekend 1 - Big Bear |
February 20027 | Friday, 2/6 - Sunday, 2/8 | Winter Camp Weekend 2 - Big Bear |
March 2027 | Sunday, 3/14 | Adventure Guides & Trailblazers Pinewood Derby |
March 2027 | TBD | Trailblazer TBD |
April 2027 | Sunday, 4/11 | Adventure Guides & Trailblazers at Freedom Park Bike Track |
April 2027 | Friday, 4/23 - Sunday, 4/25 | Adventure Guides at El Capitan SB |
May 2027 | Friday, 4/30 - Sunday, 5/2 | Trailblazers at Kern River |
June 2027 | Friday, 6/11 - Sunday, 6/13 | Family Camp: Ventura Ranch KOA |
GOALS & BENEFITS
The Y-Adventure Guides program will:
- 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 spirit, mind, and body.
- Provide the framework to meet a mutual need to spend 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
Families come in all sizes and shapes and so do YMCA Family Programs. Our programs strengthen family ties by offering a safe, welcoming environment for kids and parents to communicate, cooperate, and have fun.
The YMCA Adventure Guides program helps parents and their children embark on a journey of discovery. We see tremendous value in supporting and strengthening the ability of a parent and child to communicate at an early age in ways that are caring, honest, respectful, and responsible. Together, you will learn about nature, history and yourselves, but most importantly, about each other as you grow and learn together. Don’t miss out on this amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
YMCA Adventure Guides is for parents and their children, ages 5–11. The adult and child must attend program activities together as a pair. In the YMCA Adventure Guides, the adult is the Guide, and the child is the Explorer. Adventure Guides are divided by gender into parent-daughters or parent-sons. The core of the program is Circle and Expedition meetings and adventures.
YMCA Adventure Guide Activities – Circles and Expeditions
A small group of father-child pairs called a circle meet on a regular basis in each other’s homes or other local establishments. The frequency and dates of these meetings vary from circle to circle. Typical activities include ceremonies, games, crafts, songs, stories, and skits.
Several Circles come together to participate in larger activities called Expeditions. These include activities such as camping trips, parties or parades.
This has given me the chance to connect with my kids in such a meaningful way. I’ve been able to spend intentional time with them, building memories that I know we’ll carry for a lifetime.