Our Motto:
Friends Forever
Our Belief:
“The best thing you can spend on your child is … YOUR time.”
Who We Are:
The Lakewood YMCA Adventure Guides is also known as Lake Trail Nation (LTN). We are a group of about 60 families with over 150 members. Our members include single and married parents, grandparents, neighbors, and of course, the kids we care about!
Why We Do It:
We provide opportunities where parents and children can spend enjoyable, constructive time together, fostering companionship and an understanding for a foundation to lifelong friendship. We build a sense of self-esteem and personal worth in both parent and child as well as create great life-long memories, develop new friendships, and most importantly have FUN!
What We Do:
The more you participate in Adventure Guides, the more you get out of it! You and your child choose the events that you wish to attend! Some of our activities:
Tent Camping at different Ohio State Parks, Halloween Party, Moon Rock Bowling, Holiday Party, Game Night at the Y, Induction Camp out in the Metroparks, Pinewood Derby, Marching in the Lakewood July 4th Parade, Camp Y-Noah, Pool Parties, Hiking, Biking, Camp Fitch (Winter campout!), Model Rockets, and we have a Ski club
Friends Forever
Our Belief:
“The best thing you can spend on your child is … YOUR time.”
Who We Are:
The Lakewood YMCA Adventure Guides is also known as Lake Trail Nation (LTN). We are a group of about 60 families with over 150 members. Our members include single and married parents, grandparents, neighbors, and of course, the kids we care about!
Why We Do It:
We provide opportunities where parents and children can spend enjoyable, constructive time together, fostering companionship and an understanding for a foundation to lifelong friendship. We build a sense of self-esteem and personal worth in both parent and child as well as create great life-long memories, develop new friendships, and most importantly have FUN!
What We Do:
The more you participate in Adventure Guides, the more you get out of it! You and your child choose the events that you wish to attend! Some of our activities:
Tent Camping at different Ohio State Parks, Halloween Party, Moon Rock Bowling, Holiday Party, Game Night at the Y, Induction Camp out in the Metroparks, Pinewood Derby, Marching in the Lakewood July 4th Parade, Camp Y-Noah, Pool Parties, Hiking, Biking, Camp Fitch (Winter campout!), Model Rockets, and we have a Ski club
How it works:
The Nation (Lake Trail Nation, or LTN) is led by a Chief. The Nation is made up of all members (kids and parents/guardians). Monthly Nation events are organized by the “Longhouse” (Chief, Treasurer, Circle Leaders, Key Contributors). Special events also occur as the opportunity presents itself (discount to Gladiators/Monsters games). We march in the 4th of July parade (Lakewood) and participate in a few community events such as food drives and Clean-up Lakewood.
The Nation has sub-groups called Circles. Circles are led by Circle Leaders and are kids divided into AGE and Gender specific groups. Grouping the kids this way helps to ensure similar interests among the kids. Monthly Circle events are organized by the families in each circle. Each family is responsible for organizing one Circle event. Organizing an event consists of coordinating the event and communicating to your circle members the time and place. Usually the events are jointly agreed upon by members in the circle at the Induction Ceremony. We encourage no or low cost events (e.g. Bike ride, a visit to a museum, movie night, Putt-Putt Golf, Canoeing …Whatever you decide!) You can also host a Circle event at your home (e.g. Crafts, Baking, Cook-Out, the Sky is the Limit!).
Circles may change from year to year depending on the make-up of membership. Currently the Circles are grouped as follows:
The Bucks - 5 & 6 year old boys Gliding Squirrels - 5 & 6 year old girls
Trailblazers – 6 & 7 year old boys Butterflies – 6 & 7 year old girls
Campfire Wolves – 8 & 9 year old boys. Leaping Lizards – 8 & 9 year old girls
Grizzly Bears – 10 & 11 year old boys Rockin’ Rabbits – 10 & 11 year old girls
Raptors – 12+ year old boys Pony Express – 12+ year old girls
(formerly Eagles, Falcons, & Hawks)
Funding: We do not receive any funds from the YMCA or any other entity. We have one main fund raising event per year (Car wash in June – 4 total hours) and a couple of restaurant days (purchase your meal at a certain restaurant on a certain day and they contribute a % of the total proceeds to us). There are no required monthly meetings and you are not required to attend any event.
How you can help:
We encourage parents to become involved as a member of our Planning Council, also known as the Longhouse. We need YOUR talents for: Planning our calendar of events, leading one of our Circles, organizing a Nation Event, fundraising, recruiting, developing our website, volunteering and more...