HIGH ADVENTURE TREKS FOR DADS AND DAUGHTERS

FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR DAD & DAUGHTER DEVELOPMENT

 

HATS© begins with simple, easily attainable experiences then advances through more difficult and challenging adventures.

 

• HATS events range from afternoon Dad and Daughter instructional activities such as orienteering, canoeing, rock climbing, and mountain biking to weekend overnights and, ultimately, to our week-long Colorado trek.
• HATS groups, composed of Dads and their Daughters aged 11-15, number from as few as 5 to as many as 25 Dad and Daughter teams per local group.
• HATS groups are organized by neighborhoods, schools, places of worship, and community affiliations, with each group operating independently and having autonomy for program selection and structure.
• Each HATS outdoor adventure builds upon the previous experience and offers new activities and challenges throughout the five year program.

 

As the girls (and dads) become more experienced in outdoor activities, HATS groups select more demanding activities, and, by the fifth year, Dads and Daughters are ready for an extended high-adventure wilderness experience.

 

The HATS program is broken down into five years of instruction and activities:

 

• The introductory instructional canoeing campout begins in the spring of the 5^th grade year, followed by a canoeing campout in the fall that supports instruction from the previous spring.  This same schedule is followed through the spring of the 9^th grade year.
• Sixth graders learn about rockclimbing.
• Seventh graders are instructed in advanced canoeing techniques.
• Eighth graders learn backpacking skills.
• And, finally, ninth graders prepare for their nine day High Adventure Trek to Colorado, which culminates with the girls being awarded positions as Key Mentors.  Key Mentors and their fathers provide leadership, act as role models, and give instruction on outdoor skills.   This final level of commitment is critical to program continuation and future growth. 

 

In HATS©, Sundays are special days devoted to Dad and Daughter breakout sessions, where games and exercises are used to teach communication skills between each Dad and Daughter team.  As the years go on, these skills are honed, and the goals of mutual respect, trust, and lifelong bonding are achieved between Dad and Daughter.