The Pathfinder Club is a worldwide program organized and directed by the Youth Department of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church often compared as an Seventh-day Adventist Co-ed Boy Scouts. It offers a wide range of learning experiences for young people 10 to 15 years of age (and older) and is operated by the local Seventh-day Adventist church under the direction an control of the local conference youth director.
The first camp was held in Town Line Lake, Michigan USA in 1926. Activities include community service, camping, crafts, classwork, marching, Bible study, Seventh-day Adventist Church history, and leadership training. Staff to student ratio is said to be about 1:5, which the organization stresses as an important learning benefit for participants. Participants are children and teenagers aged 10–15, progressing through different ranks called Class Levels each year. Pathfinder clubs across the globe are sponsored by the local missions/conferences and participate in different activities and camps.
Pathfinder clubs are sponsored by a local Seventh-day Adventist Church or school and will usually meet either once a week, bi-weekly or monthly.
Annually, each conference will hold a large event known as a camporee where pathfinders from throughout the conference will come together to participate in events, activities and competitions as well as religious meetings.
Every so often a camporee is held which is a whole area such as North American or South Pacific divisions come together and enjoy fellowship and do activities together.
The first Division camporee was the Far East Division Camporee in 1984 in Phuket, Thailand; This was followed by the North American Division's (NAD) camporee at Camp Hale, Colorado in 1985. This was followed by the "Friendship Camporee" in Pennsylvania in 1989. In 1994, the NAD hosted the first International Camporee near Denver, Colorado. Other international camporees have been "Discover the Power" in 1999, "Faith on Fire" in 2004, and "Courage to Stand" all of which are located on the grounds of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. At this year's camporee, about 36,000 Pathfinders attended. The next international camporee, themed "Forever Faithful", is scheduled for 2014, also at Oshkosh.
An estimated 38% of youth aged 18 and under "Are members of Pathfinders or a similar church-sponsored youth group", according to a 2002 worldwide survey of local church leaders.
Pathfinder Achievement Classes
There are 6 standard ranks (known as "Class Levels") a Pathfinder can hold, each of which is awarded upon the completion of specific classwork requirements. The ranks are Friend, Companion, Explorer, Ranger, Voyager and Guide. These levels are designed to be completed in one year each, but need not be awarded sequentially. Also, there are advanced requirements (Ex. Trail Friend and Frontier Voyager). The Florida Conference of the North American Division introduced two more class levels, Pioneer and Navigator, which bring their Pathfinder age to 17 (or Grade 12). These two class levels are not used by most clubs.
The class levels are:
In addition to these class levels, a Pathfinder between the ages of 14 and 16 can work as a TLT (Teen Leadership Training).
Once a Pathfinder reaches the age of 16, he or she can decide whether or not to continue on to the Master Guide program. The Master Guide program is more independent, requires more effort and self motivation than the other levels, and its requirements focus on witnessing and leadership more than individual skills. This class was designed to train youth leaders in the basic skills of youth ministry and leadership.
The curriculum is slight varied from division to division in order to suit the needs and limitations of the local population. Recently, the Southeast Asia Union Mission revised the curriculum in order to better serve the churches in the 10/40 window.
Master Guide is considered to be the highest level in Pathfindering. The Master Guide class is intended to prepare future club leaders. But there are two more classes that follow it which are considered "continuing education" for Master Guides:
- Pathfinder Leadership Award (PLA)
- Advanced Pathfinder Leadership Award (APLA) or Pathfinder Instructor Award (PIA)
Children who are below age 10 or grade 5 may choose to join the Adventurer Club , a sister organization of the Pathfinder Club, which caters to children aged 4–9 (Preschool to Grade 4).
The class levels are:
These two preparatory clubs are usually optional. Some clubs may or may not include them due to available resources.
- Little Lamb - Preschool or age 4
- Eager Beaver - Kindergarten or age 5
- Grasshoppers (Greater Sydney Conference, Australia)-Pre-school/Kindy or age 4-5
Many clubs will have these four levels:
- Busy Bee - 1st Grade or age 6
- Sunbeam - 2nd Grade or age 7
- Builder - 3rd Grade or age 8
- Helping Hand - 4th Grade or age 9
Club staff and instructors may also upgrade themselves by attending various seminars.
- Pathfinder Staff Training (PST)-required to become a Master Guide
- Advanced Pathfinder Staff Training
- Adventurer Staff Training (AST)
- Curriculum Instructor Training (CIT)
Pathfinder Pledge, Law, Aim and Motto
The Pathfinder Pledge and Law are intended to provide guidance for participants, and although the wording differs between countries as shown below illustrates the format and topics such as health, lifestyle and religious topics reflects the range which are included.
The Pathfinder Pledge
By the grace of God, I will be pure, kind, and true.
I will keep the Pathfinder Law.
I will be a servant of God and a friend to man.The Pathfinder Law (North American and general version)
The Pathfinder Law is for me too:
- Keep the Morning Watch,
- Do my honest part,
- Care for my body,
- Keep a level eye,
- Be courteous and obedient,
- Walk softly in the sanctuary,
- Keep a song in my heart,
- Go on God's errands.
The Pathfinder Law (South Pacific Division version)
The Pathfinder Law is for me to:
- Look for good in others
- Aim to do my best
- Love and Respect my family
- Be thankful for what I have
- Preserve God's creation
- Take care of my health
- Be involved in my Church
- And go where He sends.
The Pathfinder Aim
The Advent Message to all the world in my generation.
The Pathfinder Motto
"The love of Christ constrains me."
The Pathfinder Song
written by Henry T. BerghOh we are the Pathfinders strong
The servants of God are we
Faithful as we march along
In kindness, truth and purity.
A message to tell to the world
A truth that will set us free.
King Jesus the Savior's coming back
For you and me!Note: Different countries may choose to sing the Pathfinder Song in their respective languages.
Alternative Pathfinder Song
Written by Stan Schirmer
Verse One
Running up the highway
Following the Son
And following the light of the world
We are the future
A promise just begun
We're the next Generation
Tomorrow's in our hands
In a world of problems
We're gonna make a stand
Chorus
We're the Pathfinders
Tomorrow's in our hands
In a world of problems
We're gonna make a stand
We're the Pathfinders
Believe us when we say
We're headed in the right direction
'Cause Jesus leads the way
Verse Two
Jesus is my Friend
He's a true Companion
We are God's Explorers
Rangers for the Lord
Voyagers together,
working side by side
No matter what the problem,
God's gonna be my Guide
Chorus Repeat.Pathfinder Emblem
The Pathfinder emblem meaning:
The red color on the emblem represents the blood of Jesus Christ and how Pathfinders believe that he gave his life as salvation from sin.
The white color represents purity, and how the objective of Pathfinders is to have the purity and righteousness of Jesus Christ in their lives.
The blue color represents loyalty and how one of the objectives of the club is to be loyal to God, their parents, and their church.
The gold color represents excellence and how it is a standard of measurement. The Pathfinder club has high standards to help build a strong character for the kingdom of heaven.
The 3 sides of the emblem represents completeness. Completeness of the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It also represents the tripod of education: Mental (as done through Honors and Crafts), Physical (as done through work bees and campouts), and Spiritual (as done in witnessing and missionary activities).
The shield represents protection.
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