Are you looking for a way to spend some quality time one on one with your daughter? If so, this is the program for you!

The YMCA Adventure Guides/ Princesses Program is for girls from 5 to 11 years of age and their dads. This brochure will tell you more about the Adventure Guide Program, based out of the Buehler YMCA in Palatine, Illinois. The address of the YMCA is 1400 W. Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067 Adventure guides is sometimes referred to as Y-Princesses.

We are called the Huron Nation, and we are composed of three tribes, Fox, Chippewa, Sun Tribe, Tetons, Cherokee, and Black Hawk. There are other programs (Nations) for moms or dads with their sons or daughters, available at the YMCA as well.

The main purpose of the program is to provide a number of engaging activities for dads and daughters to do together. We have events that are suitable for girls of ages 5 to 11, and the dad and daughter grow together with their experiences.

Each tribe has their own unique vest, and icon. As you attend campouts and events commemorative patches are added to the vest. Here is a picture of the Fox Tribe in front of their cabin at a spring campout.

At each event, a ‘patch contest’ is held, and all the Princesses vote on which drawing best represents the event.  This drawing is used to create the official patch for tribal vests and the winner of the contest gets a special award.  Here are the winners of the patch contests for last year, showing their awards.

Some of the most popular Huron Nation events are weekend campouts. For the 2007-2008 season, we will go to Camp White Eagle in Leaf River, IL , Camp Minikani in Hubertus , WI , and Camp Shaw-wa-nas-see in Manteno , IL . At these campouts, our activities will include canoeing, rafting, archery, hiking, arts and crafts, and evening campfire ceremonies.

Here is a picture of the ‘Huron Nation’ campfire before our evening ceremony as the sun sets during the fall campout. We have an organized ceremony at the nation campfire, and then fun activities like roasting marshmallows and storytelling at tribal campfires.

Other popular events include bowling, indoor mini-golf, laser tag, Gym and Swim at the YMCA, and a museum sleepover. We hold one Huron Nation event per month from September to June.

Last year, we had a sleepover at the Museum of Science and Industry, and this year we are having a sleepover at the Shedd Aquarium. This is a very popular event as we get special admission to the museum and get to camp inside the exhibits.

Dads and Daughters are grouped into our three tribes consisting of approximately 15 to 25 daughters and their dads. Tribes typically meet once a month at a time of their choosing, with each father/daughter pair sharing in the responsibility and fun of planning individual tribe activities and events. A simple craft is usually done at the tribe meeting, as well as sharing our accomplishments together in adventure guides

The Adventure Guides program provides an excellent opportunity for girls to spend quality time with their dad. Our Huron Nation Leaders have been working hard to organize and plan the events for the year and we are confident it will be a terrific and memorable year. We certainly hope that you will join us!