YMCA Adventure Guides: Guides' Page

Guides' Meeting

Guides' meetings are a circle program-planning event. Important, meaningful and FUN events and activities happen only when they are well planned. Guides must plan so that the experiences they want will occur smoothly with the bulk of the time spent with their son/daughter not planning on the spot. Regular Guides' meetings are valuable.

Guides' meetings provide an opportunity:

  1. To plan the upcoming year and make assignments
  2. To discuss matters relative to the needs and growth of the circle
  3. For Guides to get acquainted
  4. For Guides to fellowship together
  5. Invite the non-guide parents to learn about the program.

Studies show:

  1. The children think Guides talk too much at the meetings
  2. Valuable circle meeting time is wasted discussing circle business
  3. Circles that have regular Guides meetings accomplish more and realize more of the
  4. values of the program

Recommendations:

  1. The Circle Navigator should prepare an agenda for Guides’ meetings
  2. Invite the YMCA program director, or an experienced Guide (other circle navigator)
  3. to help in planning and problem solving
  4. Guides’ meeting should be conducted quarterly dependent upon circle needs
  5. Guides’ meetings can be conducted in 1-2 hours if properly planned
  6. Guides’ meetings are an excellent time to fellowship with other Guides (after regular
  7. circle business has been concluded) 

First Meeting

  1. Introduce the new and old circle members
  2. Introduce Expedition officers (discuss organizational structure of the Expedition)
  3. Explain the program, Circle meetings, Expedition events, circle points…
  4. Establish the circle council (Navigator, Compass Bearer…)
  5. Gather Circle member information (fill out information sheets)
  6. Determine a Circle meeting time and night
  7. Signup Host / Craft / Article, Story, Song, Game (Circle meeting assignment sheet)
  8. Craft write-up (for Log Keeper)
  9. Article (for Log Keeper) 1/2 page with circle name
  10. Get sizes of new members for T-shirts (if available from the Y)
  11. Discuss circle dues (money gathered from members for the benefit of the circle,
  12. including circle property, pizza parties, ice cream socials, etc.)
  13. Select additional circle activities (monthly) suggestions, schedule
  14. Determine volunteers for Expedition Leaders Meeting (the host dad for the month
  15. should attend)
  16. Tell new members where to get Vests
  17. Assign Circle Property to members, schedule (Circle Property Box, Talking Stick,
  18. Drum, Coup Stick, Banner, Circle Standard, Circle Shield, etc.)