Katy, TX News – Katy Family YMCA Offers Guides, Princesses, and Trails Program
Katy, TX News (September 15, 2014) – Registration is now open for the YMCA guides, princesses, and trails program at the Katy Family YMCA. The program is designed to foster companionship and understanding between father and child in a wholesome atmosphere that emphasizes both fun and adventure.
Through Y Guides for fathers and sons and Y Princesses for fathers and daughters, you can build lifelong memories as you experience a journey of discovery with your child. The Y Guides/Princesses/Trails program is designed to foster companionship and understanding between father and child in a wholesome atmosphere that emphasizes fun and adventure. What differentiates this program from Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other similar youth groups is that dads are involved in all the activities with their children, not just one or two parents leading an activity.
Clint Holt and his eight year old daughter, Hannah, are in their third year of involvement in this YMCA program, which originated in 1926 as Indian Guides and Princesses. Y Guides and Princesses primarily offers day outings and weekend camping trips, which are the Holts’ favorite. Campouts are typically offered monthly and attendance is optional, which allows a parent to choose an activity based on their busy schedule. In addition to campouts, members can enjoy activities such as a father/daughter dance, participation in the rodeo parade, Pinewood Derby races and a skating party. “The annual Monster Truck Jam is a big favorite,” says Holt.
Clint and Hannah’s favorite camps are Camp Olympia, Flaming Arrow, Rocky River and Huntsville State Park. “We arrive on Friday evening and return home on Sunday,” says Clint. Activities at the camps might include archery, shooting BB guns, zip lining, rock wall climbing and the screamer. “The screamer is a giant swing,” says Clint. “They crank you back 20 feet in the air and release you.” Hannah’s favorite activities are horseback riding and archery, as well as spending time with her dad and her friends… “it’s just a whole new experience.”
Corey Calcote, Associate Community Director for the Katy Family YMCA explains how you do not have to be a member of the YMCA to participate in the program. A nominal fee is required to participate in Y Guides/Princesses with an additional fee for the optional campouts.
The program runs from September through May. “We have quite a few people who have already signed up for this year,” continued Calcote, “but registration is ongoing. We usually have anywhere from 250-300 pairs of dads and children each year.” There has already been one campout, and other exciting trips are quickly approaching. Y Guides and Princesses is open to boys and girls, kindergarten through 3rd grade. The Y Trails program is open for children in grades 4 through 12.
Once a member, the youth are assigned to a tribe. These tribes meet monthly at a participant’s home or another central location in the Katy area. Boys and girls are organized into separate tribes, but attend the same campouts.
You can find out more about Y Guides/Princesses/Trails at their annual open house set for September 20, 10 am to noon at the Katy Family YMCA. For more information, contact Youth Development Director, Reese Mullennix at reese.mullennix@ymcahouston.org or 281-392-5055.
