Building Bonds and Creating Memories: A Journey with YMCA Adventure Guides

My daughter, Reagan, and I joined Adventure Guides on the suggestion of Tribe leader Kenny Mexielsperger in time for the fall of 2019 campout at Sky Ranch. Since that first campout, between my son, Ben (age 7) and Reagan (age 9) we take part as much as time allows. As the leader of my son’s grade, I’ve used Kenny’s example to grow the Mitchell Elementary crew from ~4 dads/daughters to ~14 dads/15 coed children in the now second-grade crew across several schools. This group has become a family that has extended its reach from Adventure Guides to school, sports, and social activities.    

As a city dweller with little free time to devote to wants, the strength of this program is that it provides a wonderful opportunity for dad/child “pairs” to take part in lightly structured activities infrequently done at home outside the program, from making “coo” sticks, to horseback riding, zip lining, archery/BB’s, and hiking/rock climbing, all of which foster bonding and memory making. Much of children’s (and adults’) time at home is all too frequently focused on chores, school/work, and extra-curricular activities which, while providing their own rewards, tend to inhibit quality time together not to mention the impact of screen time. Adventure Guides doesn’t provide a wifi code, doesn’t need homework turned in, and doesn’t require you to feed the pets. Instead, Adventure Guides encourages kids to hike through the Arbuckle wilderness, learn to shoot a bow and arrow, and spend time fishing with dad. Kids walk away from an Adventure Guides weekend reciting their group chant, artfully discussing the right way to hit a boat with a rock, “civilly” discussing who won more rounds of gaga ball, and looking back with awe on the magic of a bonfire.

I’m blessed to have a wealth of memories to look back on from activities past but I absolutely cherish my final bonfire with my daughter this past spring. Kneeling next to her and walking back through the joyous times we’ve had together while reciting the final campout oath. It’s a memory I will always treasure. Similarly, hiking to the edge of Devil’s gate with a bunch of six- and seven-year-old boys watching them peer over the edge with amazement and (perhaps too much) excitement will always induce both amusement and a small blessing no one slipped.

I could continue on, but I think the parting words best encapsulating my appreciation is that the program provides a nurturing environment for our kids to be exposed to a wealth of activities they don’t often experience with a wonderful group of dads where, if only for a moment, there are no distractions from screens, school work, sports/extra-curricular, and chores. This time with my children is irreplaceable and while I know this would be more impactful delivered directly, know that I could not be more thankful to the YMCA’s contributions to make this all happen.

Josh Wakeman