YMCA Adventure Guides: Program Awards
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Youth Awards
Recognition is important to both children and parents. One way to recognize Circle accomplishments is through words and expressions of praise. Another way Circle members can be recognized is by giving them awards. Some YMCA Adventure Guides programs offer awards, whereas others choose not to.
The award system used in YMCA Adventure Guide programs can be designed to closely parallel the YMCA Adventure Guide Compass Points. If your program offers awards, you might consider these merit requirements, but also feel free to design your own. Presented here is an example of a first year award. For second and third year criteria, check out the member manual, Friends Forever.
First Year
The first year is a settling-in period and a time to better understand the program and its purpose.
Family. Arrange a night off for mom (or whoever is in charge of cooking). The YMCA Adventure Guide family members plan, purchase, cook, and serve dinner. To earn this bead or patch, the parent and child must present a statement in writing to the Log Keeper listing details of the dinner, including date, time, menu, and mom’s or dad’s response.
Community. Know and repeat before the Circle all the real names and nicknames of each parent–child pair.
Nature. Complete one overnight camping trip.
Fun. Repeat all seven aims of the YMCA Adventure Guides program before fellow Circle members. Recite the Program Pledge and briefly explain the Program Compass Points.
Although each Circle can choose the awards to use in their Circle, we ha e a couple of suggestions. We recommend leaving room on nameplates or necklaces for colored beads. Awards then could be color-coded beads given to children as they accomplish each of the tasks listed. You can find colored beads at most craft stores. A second way to present awards is to follow the patch system already in place. Children who complete all of the tasks in each award category might receive a patch noting the accomplishment. Patches can be ordered through a YMCA of the USA preferred vendor, The Patch Store. JanSport-Corporate Image Promotions has designed a compass awards recognition program for YMCA Adventure Guides. The system includes a round patch symbolizing a compass, with smaller individual icons around the edge of the compass patch. These icons denote program or individual accomplishments.
Adult Awards
The backbone of the YMCA Adventure Guides program is its volunteers. There are worthy ways of recognizing volunteer contributions including these two awards.
Joe Friday Award
Large YMCAs that have several branches offering the YMCA Adventure Guides programs, or perhaps a cluster of YMCAs within a designated YMCA of the USA Neighborhood or region, might choose to present the “Joe Friday Award” to a worthy recipient. The Joe Friday Award is named after the Native American who gave Harold Keltner the idea for starting the YMCA parent-child program. This award was conceived for volunteers who do an outstanding job of donating their time, efforts, and resources to improve the YMCA parent-child programs beyond their local Federation or YMCA. Some YMCAs extend eligibility to outstanding staff members as well.
General criteria for eligibility for the Joe Friday Award are as follows: The nominee must (1) be an active member or a past program member or on the YMCA staff for at least two years; (2) be involved in YMCA Adventure Guides outside the local level (Neighborhood); and (3) provide at least two references. Candidates are reviewed by individuals designated within a region or by corporate YMCA officials and staff. The award is presented at a banquet or ceremony. Each YMCA should develop a system for nominating Joe Friday award recipients.
Harold Keltner Award
The Harold S. Keltner Award is for individuals who make substantial contributions to the program on a national level. To preserve the prestige of the Keltner award, keep the individual’s contributions in perspective. Local, city-wide, and regional contributions should be awarded at that level, so, for example, don’t nominate an individual who has helped you with your campfire for the past two years (even if it was successful!). Nominations are made through members of the National Advisory Council for YMCA Adventure Guides programs. Use this form (PDF 40K) to nominate a leader for this award. Candidates are then reviewed by the National Advisory Council, which consists of YMCA of the USA staff as well as volunteers and staff from across the country.
Click here for a PDF (52KB) of past recipients of the Keltner Award.