The McGaw YMCA

Evanston, Illinois

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Home / YOUTH & TEENS / Adventure Guides (for Dads & Kids)

Adventure Guides (for Dads & Kids)

Being a dad means
Making your kids laugh like no one else can


Dads and their children need time together – sometimes just for themselves, sometimes with a group of friends to share fun and the process of growing up and being a parent.  For more than three generations dads and kids have gathered together through Adventure Guides – and now we invite you to be part of that.

Click here to view Adventure Guide events

Already an Adventure Guide?

Register For Campouts

Talk to someone about the program


If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to be in Adventure Guides, and get information about all the activities that you and your child could be involved in, we encourage you to talk with our Adventure Guides manager, Dan Bulf. He can be reached at DanB@mcgawymca.org.

How Adventure Guides works


Adventure Guides hosts activities for dads and their children grades K-4 throughout the school year.
Participating dads and kids generally meet once a month in small groups to do projects, go to a movie or on a field trip, and more. Meeting times and costs are determined by you and your group.

Everyone loves the seasonal expedition campouts. These larger outings consist of 50-75 dads who are grouped according to their children’s gender, grade and school district. We have at least three overnights at local camps and water parks. High ropes, archery, horseback riding and ziplining are but some of the great adventures we’ve had.

And to top it all off, we host great Federation-wide events like the Lakefront Campout, Boy’s Overnight at the Y, the Balsawood Derby, and a Sweetheart Dance that gathered more than 600 fathers and children last year for a wonderful family event.

Adventure Guides Information Sheet

Circles and Expeditions

The Circle
Dads and kids generally meet once a month in small groups, called circles. Circles are made up of 8 – 12 dad/child pairs, and meet to do activties such as service projects and field trips. Meeting times and cost for these events are determined by you and your group. All circles belong to a bigger group called Expeditions.

The Expedition
All Adventure Guides are placed in to large groups called Expeditions. Your expedition is grouped by your child’s gender, grade, and school district. Look below for expedition information.

List of Expeditions

Register for the new season


There is an annual $40 fee to register for Adventure Guides, but if you have or get a McGaw YMCA Family Membership, then this fee is waived.

Adventure Guides registration includes:

  • $5 coupon for our webstore (good for a t-shirt!)
  • Free admittance to these Federation-wide events:
    - Family Fun Day
    - Lakefront Campout
    - Sweetheart Dance
    - Balsawood Derby
  • An Adventure Guides patch for every event
  • Special pricing for events and campouts

Click here to view winter activities with Adventure Guides.

How to Register

You can register for Adventure Guides using any of the options below:

  • Online
  • Over the phone
    - Call the Program Support Office at 847.475.7400 x236.
    - Program Support is available Monday – Friday, 9AM – 5PM.
  • In person
    - Download the registration form for Adventure Guides.
    - Adventure Guides Registration Form

Please return to:
McGaw YMCA
Program Support
1000 Grove St
Evanston, IL 60201.

You don’t have to be an Adventure Guide to participate. If you would like to try an event before you register, you can still attend by paying an additional $20 fee per person. If you register for 2 events in this way, you will be automatically enrolled in the program.

Register For Events

For more information about Adventure Guides, contact Dan Bulf at 847.475.7400 x282 or DanB@mcgawymca.org.

Click here to purchase your own Adventure Guide t-shirt.

 

 

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McGaw YMCA
1000 Grove Street
Evanston, IL 60201

847.475.7400 voice
847.475.7959 fax
info@mcgawymca.org

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