Adventure of a lifetime

Dads, daughters discuss how YMCA program has tightened their bond

By Bill Rush

Photos by Doug Barnette

The YMCA Adventure Guides and Princess program has a long history. In 1926, an executive director of the YMCA and a Native American chief designed the YMCA Indian Guides and Princess program, focusing on the key role fathers played in their children’s upbringing in traditional Native American culture. In 2003, in order to honor that culture, the YMCA of the USA changed its name to YMCA Adventure Guides and Princess, so that the focus would remain true to our Native American cultures.

Today, the program still promotes the father’s role in building relationships with his children. The core values underscored in the original program—family, fun, community and nature—are still relevant today, along with the YMCA character traits of honesty, caring, responsibility, respect and faith.

I had the pleasure of meeting recently with some fathers and daughters who are part of the Chattanooga-area YMCA Adventure program.

“Apple Hour is the best hour of my year with my daughters.”

An apple shared

Joe and Brooke Romanchik are part of the Apache Circle, located on Signal Mountain. Brooke is Joe’s second daughter to be a part of the program.

“The YMCA Princess program isolates the time for you and your daughter away from outside interferences,” says Joe. Once a month, the dads and daughters come together within their community for service projects, crafts, sharing and bonding. Joe says the fathers act as role models for one another, sharing parenting tips, supporting one another and holding each other accountable.

For Brooke, it’s all about the bonding. “I just love spending time with my dad,” she says.

One thing they both especially enjoy is sharing time during Apple Hour at Camp Ocoee.

“This is the best hour of my year with my daughters,” Joe says. “Sharing an apple after chapel in our favorite spot at camp is something we will remember forever.”

“The program has created a natural line of communication that will continue with each daughter.”

Making shared time a habit

Jamey Hurst and his daughters, Eliza and Adelaide, all agree that spending time together is the best part of every event. In addition to the monthly circle meetings, all of the circles come together for special events like camping at Camp Ocoee, the Father-Daughter Dance, sponsoring children for the Christmas Share Mission, and the swim and magic show.

The YMCA program offers a unique setting for bonding with your children that is different from other shared activities, like sporting events, Jamey says.

“All the activities are based on the father’s participation directly with your daughter,” he says. “The YMCA Princess program has created a natural line of communication that will continue with each daughter.” Eliza describes her fondness for her dad and how they have developed other shared activities as a result of the program. “We bike together as often. It is our time,” she says with a smile.

The Hurst family is part of the Oneida Circle, which meets on Lookout Mountain.

“The events are not high-dollar vacations, but simple acts that build a lifetime of memories.”

A lasting bond

Ben Vance and Mimi, the second of his three daughters, have completed the Princess program, which is for girls aged 4 to 10 years. After the third or fourth grade, girls realize that in the coming spring they will “break the arrow” with their father at the spring campout. The arrow represents the times they have shared together; once they break the arrow, each will keep half to remind them of times they have shared.

“One of the things that I appreciate about the Princess program is that Mimi was encouraged to participate in things that she would not have done on her own,” Ben says. “I remember her reaching the top of the climbing wall, with all of us dads and girls encouraging her along the way.” Mimi quickly agrees, smiling as she remembers the event.

For Ben, a highlight of the program is its simplicity, so that it is accessible to and supportive of all families. “The events are not high-dollar vacations, but simple acts that build a lifetime of memories,” he explains.

All of the dads agree that while they probably would have found time to share with their daughters, the Princess program provided them with a means to do so.

“When you get together with other dads and their daughters, putting on face paint, singing songs or doing a cheer for the spirit competition is cool,” Ben says. “It’s not something I would have done around the house.”

Ben, who with his daughters is part of the Cherokee Circle from Hixson, offers this message for other Chattanooga-area fathers of girls: “The YMCA Princess program creates lasting memories, builds strong lines of communication, and strengthens the bond between you and your daughter.”

The YMCA Adventure Guides and Princess programs have small groups (circles) located throughout the Chattanooga community. While everything around us moves faster each day, these dads are choosing to slow down and spend some time with their children. That decision, made today, will have a lasting influence in the future.