YMCA Adventure Guides: Guides' Page

Tips for Circle Navigators

As Navigator of your circle, you have the responsibility for seeing that your meetings run smoothly.  While it is true that you must have the help and cooperation of all the members of your circle, we wish to pass along some suggestions that we feel will be of assistance to you.

  1. Set parents meetings and hold them.
  2. Check on progress and program content at Circle meetings.
  3. Preside over meetings.
  4. Take active part in Expedition Council and activities.  It helps to strengthen your circle and the program.
  5. Keep meetings under control.
  6. Keep meeting within an hour and fifteen minutes. 
  7. Start on time.
  8. See that the meeting does not bore little Guides
  9. See that the parent is with his/her child.
  10. Train the newly elected Navigator.
  11. Use members’ Adventure Guide names throughout meetings.  Wear vests & necklaces or other circle membership pieces.
  12. Explain to all new members what your circle’s procedures are.  Don’t expect them to just pick them up.  Possible write your own circle’s new member booklet on cheers you use, pattern for vests, etc.

Parents Meetings

  1. Meet at least once a month.
  2. Discuss how each parents hobbies, equipment, facilities or business can enter into meetings or field trips.
  3. Help parents who lack ideas of facilities.
  4. Evaluate your program often and discuss ways to improve.
  5. Set up long-range program such as trips, redoing uniforms, etc.
  6. Emphasize time schedule.
  7. Set definite meeting times.
  8. Discuss how you wish to handle discipline.  An early understanding will make things easier later on.   Be sure the children understand the ground rules.

For Help

If your Circle needs help or ideas in any way, call your Expedition Navigator or the YMCA and ask the Program Director.  They have access to resources and can provide an objective eye if needed.

Keep This in Mind

  1. The purpose of this program is for parents and their children to develop a better relationship
  2. Programs are built around the children.
  3. The evening is dedicated to the child.
  4. Children will develop only if they participate.
  5. Parents must give their wholehearted cooperation.
  6. Parents must, “let their hair down” – “get down to the child’s level”

Invitations

  1. Use child’s ideas.
  2. Start planning invitations early.
  3. Keep on child’s level and host makes and delivers them.
  4. Tie invitations in with the seasons of the year.
  5. Deliver 2-5 days before circle meeting.
  6. Vary materials and tools used in making invitations.
  7. Put examples on your display board.

Circle Meetings

Start and end all meetings on time.  Circle meetings are rotated between homes of all circle members.  Make up a meeting schedule as far in advance as possible.

Little Guides reports give children the opportunity to “think on their fee,” and to become accustomed to speaking before others.

Use Variety in Circle Meetings

Conduct all length planning or business discussions at parents meetings.  No Circle meetings should have over five minutes of business.  (This does not mean that children are left out of decisions, but all details should be discussed by the officers at parent meetings and brought back to the circle for voting by the entire group).

Keep refreshments simple.  The host member should serve refreshments.  Parents and children should all be served the same drink.  Parents should not drift into a group and talk shop during refreshment time.

Always use Explorer names at Circle meetings.

Plan programs carefully.  Projects, games, stories, songs must meet the children’s interest and abilities.

It is best if parents and children always attend Circle/Expedition/Federation meetings together.

All Circle members should learn the 7 Aims of the Adventure Guides Program so that thy can state them and explain what they mean.

Stories make up an important part of meetings.  When possible, stories should not be read, but should be studied ahead of the meetings, and the told by the light of the council fire.

Outside Program

Field trips and special events enhance the program by providing new experiences.  They also break the routine of home-centered meetings and provide the variety essential to continues interest on the part of each individual.  One or two family outings a year have proven very successful.  Other members of your family are interested in your circle and will enjoy getting together with your occasionally.  There are many, many outside activities that can be enjoyed by your group.  Every Circle is different and should try to determine where the interest of your circle lies and pursue those interests.