What is a Y Guides Crew?
Gather six to eight of your friends and their daughters or sons ages 5 - 9 and make a pledge to spend more time together. Once you register with the YMCA, you're a Y Guides Crew!
Plan to spend time with each other at least twice a month. Go for a hike, attend a ball game or meet at each other's house. Talk, share stories and have an activity like a craft or game. You can also work on service projects or go camping or go get ice cream.
The time your Crew spends together with your children will far outweigh the activity.
Signature Y Guides Events
All Y Guides crews can participate in various larger events throughout the year. Y Guides' signature events include Fall Outings at Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, Winter Inning, Polar Bear swims at local YMCAs, Flight Day and local Park Clean-up Day.
And, you won't want to miss the Spring Outing weekends at Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe, N.C. There will be archery, riflery, ziplining, searching for sharks teeth, scavenger hunts, a fun evening campfire with songs, spooky stories and other exciting surprises.
Father and child attendance together is mandatory for participation in meetings, outings and activities. Signature Y Guides events are an additional cost for Crews.
Program Fees
Program fees cover one program year (September - May). Yearly program fees include everything you need to be successful.
2024 - 25 Program Fees
| Program Year | YMCA Member Cost | Program Participant Cost |
| First Year | $246.50 | $283.50 |
| Second Year | $173 | $210 |
| Third Year | $148 | $185 |
| Trailblazers (Fourth Year and above) | No Program Fee | No Program Fee |
Fees Include
First-year fees include initial program supplies such as the program handbook, patches, beads and awards as well as your pre-assembled Y Guides canvas outdoor vests and nametags (for father and child).
The second-year fee includes your lantern and the supplies needed to begin building your lantern for the Induction Ceremony at Fall Outing and includes the program handbook, patches, beads, and achievement awards for the year.
The third-year fee includes the program handbook, patches, beads, and achievement awards for the year.
Payments
Payment may be made in full at the time of registration or may be paid over several month. Financial assistance is available as well.
Existing Crews will be auto-renewed for second- and third-year. Crews will be invoiced in the summer for the upcoming program year.
Signature Y Guides events such as Winter Inning, Spring Outing or Fall Outing have separate, additional fees based on the event.