What Are Pathfinders?
Is your child or teen aged 10-18 looking for a place to grow, learn, and thrive? The Pathfinder Club is a global organization that offers youth from all faiths the opportunity to explore the outdoors, acquire new skills, and build lifelong friendships. Sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pathfinders is open to everyone, regardless of religious background. The program focuses on the "physical-mental-spiritual tripod," ensuring the holistic development of your child's body, mind, and spirit.
For more information, contact the Pathfinder Director, Miguel Lagos: mlagos904@gmail.com
What to Expect
Get ready for an adventure! The Pikes Peak Pathfinder Club meets every Wednesday from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Springs Adventist Academy, located at 5410 Palmer Park Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO. While we take a summer break, our Pathfinder year includes weekly meetings that are packed with activities your child will not want to miss!
At each meeting, Pathfinders proudly wear their [field] uniforms and kick off with the recitation of the Pathfinder Pledge, Pathfinder Law, and a devotional. Then, the real excitement begins as they dive into interactive classes where faith, nature, science, and more come to life. These hands-on sessions aren’t just about learning—they’re about earning awards and honors that your child will wear with pride at the end of the year.
Pathfinders offers a diverse range of activities, from thrilling outdoor adventures like camping, hiking, and biking, to leadership training and community service projects. Here’s just a glimpse of what your child can expect:
- Faith Exploration: Deepen their understanding of the Bible and the Christian faith through engaging lessons and active participation in church services and other activities.
- Outdoor Skills: Learn to pitch a tent, build a campfire, and cook over an open flame, along with hiking, biking, and other outdoor excursions.
- Leadership Development: Build teamwork and leadership skills through public speaking, problem-solving challenges, and group activities.
- Community Service: Make a difference by volunteering at local churches, soup kitchens, and shelters, and participating in environmental cleanup and disaster relief efforts.
- Creative Expression: Unleash their artistic side through music, singing, and art, with opportunities to showcase their talents in creative events.
- Sports and Recreation: Stay active with sports like basketball, volleyball, and soccer, along with swimming and other recreational activities.
Throughout the year, Pathfinders also participate in camporees—exciting weekend camping trips where they’ll learn outdoor skills, compete with other clubs, and grow in their faith. Service projects provide meaningful opportunities to give back to the community, making every experience in Pathfinders both rewarding and fun.
Pathfinders isn’t just a program—it’s a journey of discovery, growth, and adventure. Your child will make new friends, develop their faith, and have a blast doing it!
Events
Beyond our weekly club meetings, the Pathfinder Club is packed with monthly adventures! Every month, we dive into a rewarding service project and head out for a fun-filled club outing. Plus, your child can look forward to special events like the Pathfinder Fair, the Induction (opening) ceremony, and the Investiture (graduation) ceremony—milestones that celebrate their growth and achievements.
Classes
Pathfinders are grouped into classes based on their grade levels, each offering unique opportunities to learn and grow:
- Friend: 5th Grade
- Companion: 6th Grade
- Explorer: 7th Grade
- Ranger: 8th Grade
- Voyager: 9th Grade
- Guide: 10th Grade
Teen Leadership Training (TLT)
Attention, teens in Grades 9-12! The Teen Leadership Training (TLT) program is your chance to develop essential leadership skills that will make a difference in your community and church. Designed for young people within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, TLT empowers you to unlock your full potential as a leader.
Open to all Seventh-day Adventist teens, the TLT program offers a series of dynamic workshops, seminars, and activities that cover everything you need to know about leadership. Here’s what you can expect:
- Personal Leadership: Discover your strengths, set goals, and develop self-awareness to become a confident leader.
- Team Leadership: Learn how to collaborate effectively and lead teams toward achieving common goals.
- Communication Leadership: Enhance your communication skills to share ideas clearly and inspire those around you.
- Problem-Solving Leadership: Get creative with problem-solving techniques that help you overcome challenges and lead with innovation.
- Empowering Leadership: Develop the skills to uplift and empower others, helping them reach their full potential.
The TLT program isn’t just about learning—it’s about real-world application. You’ll have the chance to learn from experienced leaders, connect with like-minded teens, and put your leadership skills to the test in meaningful ways.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to join a vibrant community where personal growth, friendship, and spiritual enrichment are at the heart of everything we do. Get ready to embark on a journey of discovery, where every experience brings you closer to new horizons and exciting adventures. Explore, learn, and grow with us!
More information about the worldwide Pathfinder Club ministry is found at clubministries.org.
How to Join
Step 1: Obtain Forms:
Contact the Pathfinder Director, Miguel Lagos: mlagos904@gmail.com
Step 2: Complete the (4) Required Forms:
- Member Application
- Medical Consent Form
- Photo Release Form
- Parent Volunteer Form
Step 3: Submit the Completed Required Forms:
- Return the completed forms in person to Miguel Lagos
Step 4: Submit Registration Fees
The Pathfinder Club is a fee-based program. Payment options include:
● Checks ● Cash ● Online payments
Payment by Mail:
- Make checks payable to Central SDA Church with Pathfinder Dues in the memo line
- Send check payment to Central SDA Church, 1305 N. Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Online Payment:
Click here to access AdventistGiving
- Follow the steps: >Local Church Offering > Category: Pathfinder Club
Step 5: Complete the Sterling Volunteers Course and Background Check
To ensure the safety of all participants, we require all adult volunteers present at club meetings
and activities to be screened through Sterling Volunteers. For questions, contact the Pathfinder Director.
What to Wear
Uniforms play a key role in the Pathfinder Club, representing our unity, values, and community spirit. Wearing your uniform shows your connection to the club and its mission. Keep it neat and clean, ready for every occasion.
Two Uniform Styles:
Club T-shirts (Field Uniform): Comfortable and practical, this is what Pathfinders wear for most club meetings, field trips, and activities. It’s the go-to uniform for adventure and learning!
Dress Uniform (Class A Uniform): Reserved for special occasions and designated service projects, the Class A uniform represents the highest standard of our Pathfinder community. It’s worn when we want to make a strong, positive impression.
Please Note: Some parts of the dress uniform are not covered by the registration fee and may need to be purchased separately.
Pathfinders 2023-2024