Y-Indian Guides, Y-Indian Princess & Papoose Program
Pals Forever, Friends Always

Since 1926, Y Indian programs have been providing a unique opportunity for fathers and their children to spend quality time with each other and to laugh, love, grow and learn together. Every participant in a Y-Indian program is also part of the YMCA movement, which is active throughout the United States and in ninety-one countries around the world. Each Y-Indian program is organized through a local YMCA. Several levels of organization exist, beginning with the primary unit, the tribe.

Origin of the YMCA Indian Program

TRIBES

All members in the Y-Indian program participate in small neighborhood groups called tribes. A tribe usually consists of seven to ten father/child teams. Most tribes meet twice per month, once for a tribal meeting, which takes place in a member's home, and the other gatherings are to participate in outings and activities. Several times a year large intertribal events are also held. Tribes elect a Chief and other officers, plan their own events and conduct projects.

NATIONS

Tribes are affiliated with other tribes as part of a Y-Indian Nation. A nation may be any number of tribes grouped by the YMCA by the participant age, neighborhood or other criteria. The Tribal Chiefs and Nation representatives usually meet each month to plan events in which all tribes may participate, such as a camp-out. Ideas are exchanged on tribal activities, stories, games, and the like, which help promote tribal morale and strength.

TRIBAL MEETINGS

Meetings are help in the homes of members on a rotation basis. A typical tribal meeting includes the following:

• Ceremonies such as opening and closing rituals.
• Activities such as crafts, stories, Indian Lore, games, songs and service projects.
• Refreshments provided by the host family.
• Tribal Meetings start and end on time and generally do not last longer that 1½ hours. Business and planning activities and kept to a minimum.

The following are some sample activities for the tribal meetings:

Cooking Projects	Value Discussion
Safety/First Aid	Health Fitness
Education	Food Drives
Ecology Projects	Treasure Hunts
Dress-up nights	Craft Projects
Communication	Gift Making
Exercises	Back Yard Carnivals

The activities planned are easy for both children and parents to understand. Father-Child pairs should work as a team whenever possible. Meetings usually include discussion activities and experiences, as well as crafts. Refreshments are served prior to the closing ritual or prayer, which is the official ending of the meeting. Fathers and Children sit together during the refreshments as well as during the rest of the meeting to avoid breaking the tribe up in to separate groups of fathers and children.

PAPOOSES

The YMCA Papoose program is an outgrowth of the YMCA Guides and Princesses Program. Papooses are for boys and girls ages 2 ½ to 5 that are pre-kindergarten. In the YMCA Papoose program, you and your child will meet with other parent-child families to share fun and educational activities, crafts and events. This is not just a children's program, but a joint parent-child experience that is designed to build and strengthen the bonds of love, understanding and respect between you and your child. 

The Papooses are the first step to Indian Guides and Indian Princesses with the YMCA. During monthly tribal meetings children and parents will participate in story time, crafts and educational topics. The Papoose Nation will sponsor monthly events and outings. If you are interested in this program please contact us for more information.