Great Spirit Nation
 
 
 
Home
Calendar
Resources
How To...
Camps
Outings
Circles
Leadership
Photo Gallery
Contact Us
 

 

  How to register for the LBYMCA Adventure Guides 

   New members- Contact Tim McCoy at the Los Altos YMCA  for the Y-Guides registration form and the liability release form.

   Returning members- Obtain both forms from Tim McCoy and return them either to Tim  at the YMCA or turn in to your circle leader.  Remember, you are not eligible to go to Camp Oakes or Fox unless your program fees are paid.

  How to send in contributions to The Compass

   Until someone volunteers to be the Compass editor, please send your contributions to Tim McCoy, preferably by
 e-mail: write to Tim  or you can give them to him at any Base Camp meeting or fax them to him at  562-596-7911


   What to include in  e-mails

    For content, anything you like. But I would ask everyone to include the following information with every e-mail.

        Circle Name: ______________________
        Submitter’s Name: _________________
        Nickname: ________________________

  Deadlines for submissions

    The cut-off for printing will be the 25th of every month. If you submit an article after the 25th, it will automatically be included on the following month's issue. Please do not wait until the 25th if possible. (It would be greatly appreciated!!)


Return to Top

  How to submit patch designs

    Circles that sponsor Nation events are responsible for designing the event patch. Here are some guidelines for submitting patch designs:

  • Please submit design 4 weeks in advance of the event.  This assures that patches will be available at the event.

  • Background color choices are white, beige, brown, light blue, navy blue, red, and yellow.

  • Lettering color choices are green, brown, blue, red, white, and black.

  • Patch shape choices are circle, square, rectangle, and diamond.

    There is limited space available on the patch.  Please keep designs simple.  Please put the name of the event, year, and if you wish the sponsoring circle.  Line drawings work the best.

    Please send your patch design to the Patch Man  .

 Templates

Square Circle Rectangle Triangle

Book a room at the YMCA for your circle meeting

   Circles may use rooms at the YMCA for their meetings at no charge.  To reserve a room fill out this form and FAX  to Tim McCoy at (562) 596-7911.  A map of the YMCA can be found here. If you have any questions, Call Tim at (562) 596-3394.

    Room availability is limited, so advance planning and contact is advisable.  Rooms must be left as clean or cleaner than one finds it.  This includes vacuuming the floor if messy.  If you move or use anything-ANYTHING- in the room, then those items must be returned to the same location where found.  All circles risk losing the privilege of room use if it leaves the room in any other condition.

Return to Top

Create a  free webpage for your circle

   There are many ways to create a free webpage for your circle.  Almost every ISP (AOL, EarthLink, etc) gives away free space that you can use. AOL users, click on Community, then Hometown. AOL provides a program called Easy Designer that you can use to build your web page.
   Perhaps the easiest way (requiring no special skills or knowledge) is to create a Yahoo group.  The group page can be public or private (members only).  Members can post messages, pictures, files, and create a circle calendar. You can also send out group e-mails. To create a group for your circle, start here.


Register for Camp Oakes or Camp Fox
 

Camp Oakes Registration begins Dec. 4th for both weekends.

Only paid program members may register for camp.  Sign-ups are on a first come, first-to-register basis.  Registrations received prior to December 4th will be returned to sender.  The cost is the same for either weekend and is listed on the registration form.  Payment-in-full is required to register.  Both weekends are expected to fill; therefore, it is highly recommended that you communicate with your circle members now to determine which weekend is better for the circle and then sign up as soon as possible.  You may sign-up for either weekend as circles or as individuals - your choice!  If either camp fills to capacity, then individuals or circles will be placed on a waiting list in the order that they register.  If you register and later must cancel, then please contact Tim at the Y as soon as possible so he may tackle any waiting list.

    If you haven't received a registration form, click here (Camp Oakes) or here (Camp Fox). Fill it out and hand it in to your circle leader before the registration deadline. Do not send it directly to Tim or the YMCA.

Return to Top

 

Build a great circle

Do you want your circle to be an outstanding circle?

It is actually quite easy if you do three things:
  1. Organize you circle's activities early -- at the beginning of the year.
  2. Establish a "tradition" (structure) for your circle meetings.
  3. Maintain a good set of circle property.
Organize Your Circle
Make a circle activity calendar at the beginning of the year and stick to it.
  • Include all Nation events in the calendar
  • Include all your Circle meetings in the calendar. Schedule your meetings early in the month – as soon after the monthly Nation Meeting as you can.
  • Include circle outing dates in the calendar
  • Include a year-end picnic in the calendar
  • Assign a family to host each circle meeting.
  • Assign a family to plan each circle outing and your picnic.
  • Assign all the other tasks that you know about to someone.
Structure Your Circle Meetings
Circle meetings should be held monthly, typically in the members' homes. Your circle meetings should be structured. The basic outline for a good Circle meeting is simple:
  • The Circle Navigator Conducts
    • Opening ceremony
    • Treasure collection
    • Circle song or chant
  • The Meeting Host Provides
    • A story
    • A craft, or game or other activity -- adults and children together
    • Treats and "free time" (while the adults hold a short business meeting)
  • The Circle Navigator Conducts
    • The business meeting (while the kids have treats and play).
    • The closing ceremony (all members)

Other approaches can work just as well as the outline presented above. If you have a large circle, you might want to allocate duties differently. Read the Friends Always book for more ideas.

Some Keys to Successful Meetings
Adults and children should do everything together (except the "business" portion of the meeting - excuse the kids from that.)

Rituals are important.
Each circle's meeting should begin with an opening ceremony and end with a closing ceremony. Make written copies of the ceremonies. Pass them out at each meeting and have the members participate.

Business should be kept to a minimum.
Rely on handouts and phone calls. You are at the meeting to play with the kids – not to talk about upcoming events. If necessary, have a separate business meeting once a month.
 
Structure makes things easy
If the host only needs to select a story, some treats and a simple activity, then there is no real "work".

Variety can be good but use it sparingly
Structured circle meetings are at the core of the program. Special circle activities and outings are a wonderful enhancement; I strongly encourage them. But special activities should be scheduled in addition to the circle meetings, not instead of the circle meetings.

Keep things simple
Choose things that the kids can easily do together with their parent. Choose things that do not require elaborate plans.

Maintain a Good Set of Circle Property
Together with your circle "traditions", your circle property defines your circle's identity. Circle property is important.

Property may be accumulated over time. Be sure you have the basics – a Navigator's Hat and Staff, a Drum. Build from there. Each year you should try to either add a (missing) item or upgrade an old item. Making property is better than buying property. If you buy an item, consider having the circle decorate it.

Circle property should be a shared activity. Creating or decorating your property can be a great activity for one (or more) of your circle meetings!

Wear Your Vests
Your Circle Vests are really a key to bringing your members together. Encourage everyone to have a vest -- especially new members because it will immediately make them part of "the gang". Everyone's vest does not need to match exactly, but they should be similar. Vests are easily purchased at minimal cost. Vests should be worn at all meetings and events.

Patches might seem unimportant, but the children love them. Try to get your members to put their patches on. If members do not sew, perhaps a member has an older daughter or son who will do the service for a small fee. Most commercial dry-cleaners provide sewing services.

A Child's World is Full of Magic
A child's world is full of magic: the magic of Santa Claus, the magic of a circus, the magic of television, storybooks, friendships, school. More than anything, a child's world should be overflowing with the magic of their family, the love of their parents, the companionship of adults. A child's parents are the most magical things in the entire universe. Parents can do no wrong. Parents can fix anything. Parents know everything. They can make their child happy. They can make their child sad. They can feed their child or let their child go hungry.
 

You Can Foster Magic

Our program is dedicated to fostering the magic between parents and their children. Everything you do in our activities, you should do together with your child. At your circle meetings, all of your games, crafts, and stories should be conducted with parents and their children participating together as a team. At Nation or Federation events, parents and their children should be an inseparable unit.

Use Magic Props
Our program contains a second kind of magic too. Our circles wear special vests, we have special ceremonies, we use drums, we sing, we chant. All of these things contribute to the magic. These things are important. These things send a clear message to our children - that what we are doing is special, exciting, different from anything else in their lives! Be sure all of your activities and events make full use of the magic props.

Perform Magic
One more thing contributes to the magic of our programs - the showmanship of the visible leaders. Never underestimate the importance of "cheap theatrics". Whether you are leading the nation campfire, or simply leading a craft project, you have a role to play. Always remember that when you are in front of the kids it is "show-time". Make the activity as exciting as possible for the kids. If you are the Navigator, act like the Navigator. A good performer stays in character until they leave the stage. When you are in front of the group, stay in character. Children are not good critics. They won't know whether your performance is good or poor - but they will surely understand the MAGIC that you create.

How to build a great circle and It's Magic courtesy of Dan Haley of the Yomechas Federation, Indian Boundary YMCA, Downers Grove IL

Return to Top

Work on the Christmas Tree Lot

   Your circle leader will pick your circle's Christmas tree lot shifts at the Base Camp meeting in October. Please discuss what shifts you want prior to that meeting. All circles are asked to take two shifts.  Tree lot duties are described here.  Your children are welcome to work on the lot, too.

Submit an idea for the website
   Do you have a good idea for the website? Is there something missing that would be useful?  Write up your idea and send it via e-mail to me.


Return to Top