The Father/Daughter (Indian Princess) and Father/Son (Indian Guides) program helps develop life-long bonds while camping, hiking, fishing, volunteering in the community, or attending a Daddy – Daughter Dance. This unique program serves families in the Villa Park and Orange County area by offering Indian Guides (Father – Son) and Indian Princess (Father – Daughter) programs that can nurture strong relationships and memories between fathers and their children.
What The Program Does
The Indian Guides / Indian Princess program is designed tokeep the kids (and the dads) interested and having fun. Events are plannedthroughout the school year from September to June. Each month typicallyfeatures an event in which all fathers and children participatetogether in one large group. The most popular events arethe 3-4 camping trips during the year (at least one for eachseason). The camping occurs in designated group campgrounds(typically at State Parks, National Forests or YMCAcampgrounds/facilities). Past campouts have been at Catalina Island, AngelStadium, Yucaipa Regional Park, Camp Surf, Big Bear, LakeArrowhead and many other places throughout Southern California.
Though the YMCA's national umbrella organization first announced last fall that, out of sensitivity to Native Americans, it would drop Indian themes from its popular program teaming parents with. The Y-Adventure Guides/Princess Program is part of the National YMCA Adventure Guides Program.The program provides many opportunities in many unique settings that you are unlikely to find otherwise. It is designed to help a parent (or Guardian) and a child build a strong, long lasting relationship by spending quality time together doing enjoyable activities that help promote.
In addition, monthly events include activitiessuch as a kick-off fall pool party, a Pinewood Derbyrace, a haunted house, a father/daughter “Sweetheartdance,” sleepover at a museum plus indoor rockclimbing, laser tag, fishing, rocket launching, sporting games, turkeyshoot, holiday gift exchange and much more. Both fathers anddaughters/sons have fun in the program and lasting bonds are formed.
History of the Program
The program dates back to the 1920s whenHarold Keltner, a YMCA executive in St. Louis, Missouri, and Joe Friday, anOjibway Indian hunting guide, founded the Indian Guides.
Aboutthe Program
The Indian Guides / Indian Princess program is administered by the Longhouse of the Orange Skies, Non-profit (founded in 2013). The Longhouse is a non-profit organization run and operated on a 100% volunteer basis with the exception of professional services required for legal and financial reporting to support the Indian Guides / Indian Princess program. The Longhouse Council oversees a 1,400-member organization comprised of dads and their sons/daughters offering over 40 different tribes to choose from that are under 10 Nations within the Indian Guides and Indian Princess program.
WhoCan Participate?
The program is open to fathers and their children in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade. Kindergarten is a great time to start in the program, but fathers and their children are welcome to join at any time.
Howto Join?
Sign up here or contact the Longhouse of the Orange Skies to learn more. Villa Park dads and their children are members of several tribes and they’ll help you find the best fit.