Local group offers memorable father-child experiences
John Latkowski and his son, Jack, build a rocket during a West Shore Indian Guides activity. Photo by Tate Davidson
The West Shore Indian Princesses and Indian Guides are dedicated to fostering relationships between fathers & sons and fathers & daughters in a friendly, fun environment. Our activities require participation by both father and child, giving you opportunities to share experiences, learn and grow together. This is not a program to drop your child off; dads participate in all activities.
Dads can register with their sons and daughters as young as kindergarten-age. Our organization serves the entire West Shore area, including Bay Village and Westlake. Tribes are organized with other dads from the same area and whose kids are in the same age range.
The West Shore "Nation," which is the group of all the individual Tribes, has one or two events planned every month during the school year. These events include our fall, winter and spring camp-outs, bowling, skating, pinewood derby, holiday party, tobogganing, and many others. The camp-outs are mostly held at YMCA camps with cabins and the activities offered include horseback riding, archery, crafts, rock walls, canoeing, hiking, ziplining, BB guns, bonfires and more.
To join the West Shore Indian Princesses and Indian Guides, there is a yearly fee of $50. The fee helps cover the cost of some of the events and activities. A lot of activities are free for members, such as swim parties, “drive-in movie” night, cornhole tournament and the holiday party. Campouts and some other events are paid as you participate – campouts are generally $125-$150 per dad/child pair for the weekend, food and lodging included. Events like bowling, tobogganing and Kalahari trips are discounted.
There are no fundraisers, no weekly meetings, no badges or other requirements – just dads making memories with their sons and daughters. We are an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. Host tribes coordinate the events so dads and kids can show up with a minimum of preparation and enjoy their time together.
Our fall registration program is underway and we have four informational meetings in the area for you to come out and learn more about the organization. The Westlake/Bay meeting is a cookout on Sunday, Sept. 17, 5-7 p.m. at the Clague Park pavilion in Westlake.
Registration is available on our website at noonway.com. For more information, you can also contact our Membership Chief at membership@noonway.com.