Pathfinders

The following page is intended to give you a short overview of what the Pathfinder Clubs in the Ohio Conference. Below is a short Ohio Pathfinder Club FAQ.

What is Pathfinders?

Pathfinders is a worldwide organization sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It has nearly 30,000 clubs operating in over 120 countries worldwide. In the state of Ohio, Pathfinders is sponsored by the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Who Can Join a Ohio Pathfinder Club?

Any young person in grades 5 to 10 who promises to abide by the Pathfinder Pledge and Law can become an Ohio Pathfinder. Although, Pathfinders is a worldwide organization of young people sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, young people of any religious persuasion, or none at all, are welcome and encouraged to join the organization.

Who are the Pathfinder Leaders?

All Pathfinder leaders are Christians. Their belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ motivates them to spend time ministering to youth. By their teaching and example they show what it means to be a living, vibrant Christian in today’s world. Working hand in hand with parents, teachers, and pastors, Pathfinder leaders provide optimum opportunities for Christian development. They consider the Pathfinder Club to be an extension of the home, school, and church, an experimental laboratory where growth and learning flourish, an environment where failure is not expected but becomes a tool for learning.

What are the Typical Activities of a Club?

A Pathfinder Club’s imagination and location often determine its group activities–ranging from community and world mission projects to nature and outdoor activities such as parades, backpacking and camping trips. Pathfinders even plan and cook their own meals when camping! Pathfindering challenges the unique talents of each participant. Clubs
often plan day trips to national parks and nature centers, museums, businesses, health and social welfare facilities, and other places of local historical interest.

Ohio Pathfinder Club Overview…

Below is a short overview of a typical Pathfinder Club in the Ohio Conference.

Ohio Pathfinder Clubs Activities:

Pathfinders offer a wide range of activities including, but not limited to:

• Camping & camping/survival skills
• Grade appropriate leadership training
• Activites promoting community pride & involvement through outreach activities such as helping in downtown soup kitchens, collecting food for the disadvantaged, cleaning & maintaining city and county parks, visiting and encouraging the elderly, and many more.
• Interactive training in a variety of recreational, artistic, nature, conservation, vocational, and outreach areas, with awards (honors) given for successful completion of the interactive training modules
• Personal care and encouragement by a caring staff member! While many school classrooms have 10-30 students per teacher, Pathfinders offers at least a 1 staff member to every 5 Pathfinder ratio!
• Most importantly, Pathfinders provides spiritual training in a fun, interactive environment. In many cases the leaders in pathfinders will become spiritual mentors to pathfinders as pathfinder young people discover who God is through Bible stories, club worships, weekend campouts and inspirational Pathfinder Camporee.

Ohio Pathfinder Club Goals

The primary purpose of the Pathfinder ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to instill in its membership a committed relationship with Jesus Christ through:

• Fostering Christian relationships in an atmosphere of love and fellowship.
• Instilling pride and responsibility in beginning and completing projects.
• Service/Outreach within the club and community.
• Training and reaching future Christian leaders.

Objectives Of The Ohio Pathfinder Clubs

“Fostering relationships that create responsible servant leaders dedicated to service.”

• To lead our boys and girls to Christ and hold them loyal to the church.
• To demonstrate the attractiveness of Christian ideals in an active program.
• To guide our boys and girls into active missionary service.
• To provide a positive church centered program.
• To develop good character and citizenship.
• To promote the Adventist Junior Youth achievement class activity.
• To give guidance in physical, mental, social and spiritual growth.