WHO ARE PATHFINDERS?
Pathfinders wholistically develops young people and children; physically, emotionally, mentally, socially and spiritually. Pathfinders has for its inspiration the Scouts, with several aspects of the two programs overlapping, such as hiking trips, camping and bushcraft.
Pathfinders is a global community of young people with a membership of over 2.75 million. The program is sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, though young people of any religious persuasion, or none, are welcome and encouraged to join.
WHAT PATHFINDERING OFFERS?
Camping, bushcraft & survival skills
Age-appropriate leadership training classes
Activities promoting community pride & involvement, such as helping inner city soup kitchens, collecting food for the disadvantaged, cleaning & maintaining local neighbourhoods and county parks, and visiting and encouraging the elderly.
Interactive training in a variety of recreational, artistic, nature, conservation, vocational, and outreach areas, with awards (honours) given for successful completion of interactive modules
Personal care and encouragement from caring staff members. While many school classrooms have between 10 and 30 students per teacher, Pathfinders offers at least 1 staff member to every 5 young people
LIFE SKILLS
Pathfinders are encouraged to become strong and responsible members of their community, be willing to take on challenges, work with others as part of a team, develop leadership skills, care for their bodies and minds, and keep away from harmful substances. The program is centred around strong ethical, moral, and spiritual values based on the Christian faith.
CURRICULUM
The program takes children on a journey of learning through six classes:
Some later become Master Guides and take on local or regional leadership roles.
ACTIVITIES
The are opportunities to develop skills and crafts in nearly three hundred activities for which badges can be awarded and placed on the uniform. For example, during campouts the following skills will be learned: reading and using a map and compass, camp craft, pioneering, rope work and lashings, campfires and outdoor cooking, nature studies, and health and fitness.
Every year a camporee is planned at either regional, national or international level, which is an excellent opportunity for Pathfinders to meet and have fun with young people from across Europe.