Pathfinders is a well-known worldwide youth ministry within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. When people hear “Pathfinders,” they often think of marching, camping, biking, fun hobbies, and exploring bugs and birds. With nearly 2 million members around the world, this Seventh-day Adventist Church-sponsored club accepts any youth who promises to abide by the Pathfinder Pledge and Law regardless of their church affiliation. <Sign Up Here>
WHAT IS THE PATHFINDER CLUB?
The San Francisco Chinese Seventh-day Adventist (SFCSDA) Church is proud to have an active and thriving Pathfinder Club, named the SFCSDA Faithful Warriors Pathfinders Club. Designed specifically for children ages 10-15, the club offers tailored activities and discussions that encourage spiritual growth and global understanding, making it an ideal environment for this age group to develop their faith and worldview. As a ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the dual objectives of our Pathfinder club are to help children build a meaningful relationship with God through interactive lessons and engaging activities, and to provide opportunities to learn practical life skills while embracing nature and understanding the importance of co-habitation, diversity in cultures and ideas. These two purposes are accomplished through a variety of fun and engaging activities like community service, crafts and hobbies, field trips, camping, other outdoor activities, marching and drilling. The Pathfinder curriculum is age specific and is meant to challenge and develop the unique talents of each member by encouraging personal skill and character development, all while drawing closer to Christ, having fun, and building bonds with their peers.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
During regular schoolyear, the SFCSDA Faithful Warrior Pathfinder Club meets on the second and fourth Saturday afternoons of each month from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Chinese Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 7777 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121. At each meeting, Pathfinders proudly wear their field uniforms and kick off their meetings with the recitation of the Pathfinder Pledge, Pathfinder Law, singing the Pathfinder song, a brief devotion and prayer. Then, the real excitement begins as they dive into interactive classes where faith, nature, science, and more come to life. In other words, these hands-on sessions aren’t just about going to a class—the children are learning basic Christian values and life skills while earning awards and honors from their achievements that your child will wear on their uniform with pride at the end of the year.
WHAT IS THE CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO ACCOMPLISHED?
Our Faithful Warriors Pathfinder Club offers a diverse range of activities, from thrilling outdoor adventures like camping, hiking, and biking, to receiving different life skills training and community service projects. The Investiture Achievement requirements are divided into eight sections. Requirements can be met in a variety of ways based on how the individual Pathfinder learns best. Each year that a Pathfinder is Invested and advances to the next level, the sections remain the same as the previous year. However, the activities to fulfill the requirements change to allow each Pathfinder the opportunities to participate in new experiences and challenges and to practice skill sand use information learned from previous level. Here’s just a glimpse of what your child can expect from our Pathfinder Investiture Achievement Tracks:
1. Personal Growth
- Achievement levels are grade assigned.
- Develop a relationship with God through a daily study of His word and prayer.
- Embrace the Pathfinder/Adventist Youth lifestyle.
2. Spiritual Discovery
- Encourage spiritual growth through a discovery of the Bible and Christian history.
3. Serving Others
- Engage participants in active service.
- Connect participants to the community.
- Engage participants in friendship evangelism.
- Connect participants to their church.
4. Making Friends
- Develop a relationship with God that fosters positive friendships, strong moral values and civic responsibility.
5. Health and Fitness
- Apply health and fitness principles that will benefit the participant for a lifetime.
- Learn and practice safety procedures, first aid, and rescue skills.
6. Nature Study
- Develop an understanding of God, the Creator of all things, through the study and observation of His creation.
7. Outdoor Living
- Develop the skills needed for maximum enjoyment of the outdoors.
- Build self-confidence through outdoor experiences.
- Develop team building skills.
8. Honor Enrichment
- Learn new skills.
- Participate in or study content areas new to them.
EVENTS
Throughout the year, Pathfinders may also participate in the annual Pathfinder Fair, camporees (once every 5 years), Bike-A-Thon, Pathfinder Bible Experience and exciting weekend camping trips where they’ll learn outdoor skills 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 in both their faith development and a lifelong exploration. Your child will make new friends, develop their faith, and have a blast doing it!
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
All volunteer instructors, counselors, and staff who work with Pathfinder Club children have passed background checks, been fingerprinted through Live Scan, and completed Mandated Reporter Training (MRT).
WHAT TO WEAR?
The uniform makes the Pathfinder Club real to its members. The uniform becomes an emblem of a standard, builds loyalty to the club, and brings members into a sense of community. The uniform should always be neat, clean, and worn with pride. And each child is expected to wear their uniform on the designated occasions.
Two styles of uniform will be used at various times:
- Club T-shirts (field uniform) will be used most of the time for club meetings, field trips, and other club activities. The SFCSDA will provide the child’s first T-shirt as a welcome to the club. Thereafter, the T-shirt must be purchased by the child’s family.
- A full-dress uniform (Class A uniform) will be worn for special occasions and designated service projects. The SFCSDA will provide the child’s first full-dress uniform as a welcome to the club. Thereafter, the full-dress uniform must be purchased by the child’s family.
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!
How to Join
Step 1: Obtain and complete the (4) Required Forms:
1) Member Application
2) Medical Consent Form
3) Photo Release Form
4) Parent Volunteer Form
Step 2: Submit the Completed Required Forms:
Return the completed above 4 forms in person at 7777 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94121.
Pathfinder Law
The Pathfinder Law is for me to:
- Keep the morning watch.
- Do my honest part.
- Care for my body.
- Keep a level eye.
- Be courteous and obedient.
- Walk softly in the sanctuary.
- Keep a song in my heart.
- Go on God’s errands.
Pathfinder Pledge
By the grace of God, I will be pure and kind and true. I will keep the Pathfinder Law. I will be a servant of God and a friend to man.
Pathfinder Song
Oh, we are the Pathfinders strong,
The servants of God are we.
Faithful as we march along,
In kindness, truth, and purity
A Message to tell to the world,
A truth that will set us free!
King Jesus the Savior’s coming back
For you, and me!
Pathfinder Song Sheet and History