End of Year Captain's Message

Hey Pals and Friends!

As we finish another amazing year in Y Guides, I want to say thank you for being a part of this amazing program. If you’ve followed your Y Guides manual and earned your patches, then you have surely made some memories that will last a lifetime. That’s what this program is all about. From Fall Outing at Camp Kanata to Spring Outing at Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer, we participated in fun activities like paddling in canoes, target sports, fishing, sifting for shark teeth, going down the zipline, campfire ceremonies, searching for gnomes, and more.

My Captain’s Challenge theme this year was “A Journey To Remember”. Many of you earned your Captain’s Challenge Patch by going on a road trip, making a playlist, and committing to a service project.  I’m proud of each and every one of you for making the most of this journey.  

For those of you who are finishing the Y Guides program, I encourage you to continue your journey by participating in the Trailblazers program, starting with a road trip to Camp Rockmont!  Your crew can also stay engaged by volunteering with the Long Bow Council (also known as “LBC”). Through LBC, you can pay it forward by helping other dads and kids make amazing memories together.  Experienced LBC youth can report volunteer hours to fulfill community service requirements for school clubs, leadership programs, and college applications.  In addition to contributing our time as volunteers, I encourage your crew to continue to support the YMCA of the Triangle’s Annual We Build People Campaign. This past year, the Y Guides program raised just over $134,000 in support of the campaign!  

Within LBC is the Y Guides Advisory Board, which consists of dads who serve a three-year term to provide behind-the-scenes support at monthly meetings and at signature Y Guides events.  If you are interested in learning more about serving on the Advisory Board, please click here to complete an online interest form. I also invite you to learn more about (and potentially participate in) the For All Team, which was formed in 2021 with the aim of making the program more accessible and inclusive for all dads and kids in our community.

Indeed, we have so many things to be thankful for. Throughout the COVID pandemic, our dedicated Y Guides staff (Spotted Turtle, Swift Arrow, Gongabear, and Blue Whale) worked tirelessly to provide an exceptional experience for program participants. Let’s all be sure to say a big THANK YOU the next time we see this team in action. 

Finally, I want to say thank you to my wife, Celina (also known as “Ocean Wave”) and all of the Y Guides moms and family members who help to make this program successful. Our program is better because of you!  

Thanks again for being a part of this journey to remember. Until next time!

Here, Hear! Here = being present. Hear = listening with the intent to understand.


Ben Mount, "Captain Banging Drum"
Y Guides Advisory Board Chair, 2021-2022