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P.G. YMCA Indian Guides and Princesses
Bowie, Maryland

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Who are We?

The YMCA Indian Guides/Princesses program was founded almost 70 years ago in St. Louis, Missouri. Then, as now, the concept has been to recognize and support the father's vital family role as teacher, counselor, and friend to his child while affording the child all opportunity to spend quality, uninterrupted time with his or her father. It is the emphasis on parent and child bonding that makes this program both unique and valuable. When you and your child join the Y-Indian Guides or Princesses, you will belong to a tribe with each tribe setting their own meeting day and time. Some tribes meet week-nights while other tribes meet late Sunday afternoons...it is all up to each tribe. The tribes have meetings roughly every other week that include: crafts, games, and stories, as well as a possible field trip to a place of interest. There are also nation events, such as overnights, pinewood derby, baseball game at the Baysox, and the annual Camp Letts weekend for all the tribes of the nation.

*Indian Guides*	*Indian Princesses*

*Purpose*	*Purpose*
The purpose of the Y-Indian Program is to foster understanding and companionship between father and son.	The purpose of the Y-Indian Program is to foster understanding and companionship between father and daughter.

*Slogan*	*Slogan*
*"Pals Forever"*	*"Friends Always"*

*Aims*	*Aims*
*To be clean in body and pure in heart* *To be pals forever with my father/son* *To love the sacred circle of my family* *To listen while others speak* *To love my neighbor as myself* *To seek and preserve the beauty of the Great Spirit's work in forest, field, and stream*	*To be clean in body and pure in heart* *To be pals forever with my father/daughter* *To love the sacred circle of my family* *To listen while others speak* *To love my neighbor as myself* *To seek and preserve the beauty of the Great Spirit's work in forest, field, and stream*

*Pledge*	*Pledge*
*"We, father and son, through friendly service to each other, to our family, to this tribe, to our community, seek a world pleasing to the eye of the Great Spirit"*	*"We, father and daughter, through friendly service to each other, to our family, to this tribe, to our community, seek a world pleasing to the eye of the* *Great Spirit"*

Tribes
All Y-Indian Guide/Princess members participate in small neighborhood groups called tribes. A tribe usually consists of seven to ten parent-child teams. Most tribes meet twice per month. Once for a tribal meeting which takes place in a member's home. Each tribe sets the day and time for when they meet.

Nations
All tribes together form the Patuxent Nation. All Tribes meet together as a Nation once a month for an event, such as canoeing, horseback riding, BaySox game, sleepover at the Y, Miniature Golf, Pancake Breakfast, etc.. Family members of Indians are welcome at many of the Nation events.

The Tribal Meeting
Meetings are held 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 hose family.

Tribal meetings start and end on time and generally do not last longer than 1-1/2 hours. Business and planning activities are kept to a minimum, as these can be taken care of at other times.

Activities are planned that are easy for both children and parents to understand. Parent-child pairs work as a team whenever possible. They discuss activities and experiences, as well as crafts, as part of the tribal meetings. Refreshments are served prior to the closing ritual or prayer, which is the official ending of the meeting.