The Adventure Guides program is thoughtfully structured across four distinct levels, each designed to organize and enhance the experience for participants. This framework ensures a cohesive and progressive journey for everyone involved, from individual families to regional collaborations. Let’s explore the layers that make up the Adventure Guides program.
Guide & Explorer – The Foundation
At the heart of the Adventure Guides program are the “Guides” and “Explorers” – the parents and children who embark on this adventure together. Upon joining, each parent and child chooses a unique Adventure Guide name. This naming tradition is often a cherished and memorable part of the program initiation, sometimes taking families months to select a name that resonates with meaning and connection. These names typically embrace themes of adventure and nature, with examples such as “Little Snow Bear,” “Shooting Star,” “Big Thunder Cloud,” “Mighty Oak,” or “Little Running Bunny.” This personal touch lays the foundational identity within the Adventure Guides structure.
Circles – Building Community
Circles represent the next layer, forming the community groups within the Adventure Guides program. Typically composed of 5-12 families from a school or neighborhood, Circles aren’t strictly limited by geographical boundaries, fostering inclusivity. Each Circle adopts a name that aligns with nature, adventure, or their broader Expedition, cultivating a sense of collective identity. Names like “Wolfpack,” “Rangers,” “Mud Marlins,” “Mighty Mariposa,” or “Daughters of Triton” exemplify this nature-inspired naming convention. Circles meet regularly, often monthly in homes or community spaces, to conduct meetings and engage with the Adventure Guide Curriculum, strengthening bonds and shared experiences.
Expeditions – Expanding Horizons
Expeditions are larger groupings of Circles, organized by gender, such as father-daughter groups. Typically comprising 4-10 Circles, Expeditions also choose names rooted in adventure or nature themes, further unifying the groups under a common banner. Examples include “Mighty Wilderness Expedition,” “California Wild Expedition,” or “Great Pacific Expedition.” Expeditions play a vital role in hosting regular events, usually monthly, bringing together all member Circles for broader activities and shared adventures, expanding the community beyond the Circle level.
Federation – Regional Collaboration
The Federation is the overarching regional level of the Adventure Guides program. Federations consist of Expeditions within a specific geographical area. Expedition Navigators convene quarterly as a Federation to collaborate on joint initiatives, share resources, and exchange innovative ideas and best practices for the program. The Orange County AG Federation, for instance, includes Expeditions such as: Mission Viejo’s Big Thunder Spirit and Rainbow Sky; Laguna Niguel/Beach Cities’ Mighty Wilderness and Great Pacific; Fullerton & Yorba Linda’s California Wild; and Newport-Mesa & Huntington Beach’s Great Coastal. This Federation level ensures program consistency, growth, and collaborative improvement across regions.
