Have you heard about the YMCA’s Indian Guides and Indian Princesses programs?  Fathers, you may remember being part of the Guide’s wonderful group when you were a youth.  Our local YMCA continues its sponsorship of their Guides (father/son) and Indian Princesses (father/daughter) programs.  These programs have been around and active for several decades and have fostered stronger family relationships, memories and the appreciation for family and community.

Locally, for the father/son programs, the Old Portage Longhouse is the family of West Akron “tribes” that helps to nurture these relationships and provides a structure of activities, events, meetings and other fun things to do – together.  Similar to Scouts, but dissimilar in that father and son are together every step of the way in the Y’s program.  And in some cases, it’s even the grandfather or the uncle getting involved!

We are looking for some new members to join our ranks and embark on a wonderful adventure of camping, hiking, games, crafts, wood car building and racing, learning, sharing and growing together.

Within our Longhouse are several “tribes”, or groups of fathers and sons from similar schools or housing developments that meet periodically to share in our activities.  Some activities include all of the Longhouse’s tribes while others are geared just for the enjoyment of the individual tribe members and families.

Just to give a taste of the types of activities that we enjoy each year would just scratch the surface of the enjoyment fathers & sons receive each year.  Our spring and fall campouts are definitely the pinnacle of the Longhouse events.  Camp Y-Noah down in Green Township stretches over hundreds of acres of woods, hills, streams and lakes. 

Fathers and sons explore new paths each time they hike to the horseback riding stables, the Archery range, the BB Gun Range, the Canoe livery and the Craft barn. 

Fishing is also a favorite past time all day long.  However, nothing can come close to the experience everyone gets at our Saturday night bonfire and Longhouse ceremony.  Here, fathers and sons get to revel in the roar of the massive bonfire, the mystery of the Guide’s tale and the face painting and feather awards.  But don’t worry, we don’t rough it too much.  We enjoy the Y’s incredible hospitality with cabins, bunk beds and a dining hall.

Who remembers their pinewood derby days in Scouts?  We too have fun each winter building race cars with our sons and then racing them in multiple heats and brackets.  Everybody walks away a winner at this event.

So, would you like to hear more?  Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles - would you like to spend that quality time growing and learning with your boy?  Mothers, would you like to see the bond between your boy and his father strengthen?

Well, hesitate no longer and contact Britt Cherry, Longhouse Chief at 330-819-0960 (brittc@gmail.com) so that we can answer your questions and get you signed up for this year’s excitement with other classmates and friends.  Our individual tribe activities start as soon as the middle of September and our Longhouse events begin in October so don’t wait to contact us and sign up.