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Feather Awards



First Year Awards

Colored feathers are awarded, as per the requirements listed below, at the rate of one per month, with no definite order required. Only Little Princesses earn the Red, Blue, and Turquoise Feathers. The remaining four feathers are earned by the Big Brave and Princess concurrently.


Red Feather:

Know and repeat before tribe all the real and names of each Big Brave/Princess/Guide.






Blue Feather:

Repeat all six parts of the Y- Princess/Guides AIMS before tribe individually.

  1. To be clean in body and pure in heart.

  2. To be "Friends Always/Pals Forever" with my Father/Daughter/Son.

  3. To love the sacred circle of my family.

  4. To be attentive while others speak.

  5. To love my neighbor as myself.

  6. To seek and preserve the beauty of the Great Spirit's work in forest, field and stream.




Turquoise Feather:

Tell the story depicted by the Headband to the tribe, explaining the symbols and their meaning. This should include an explanation of what each of the symbols on the headband means, followed by reciting the Y- PLEDGE, which is "the story of the Headband".

  1. "We, father and daughter, through friendly services to each other, to our family, to this tribe, to our community and country, seek a world pleasing to the eye of the Great Spirit."




Orange Feather:

Arrange a night-off for Mother. Big Brave and Princess plan, purchase, cook and serve dinner. Mother is not allowed in the kitchen. After serving dinner, Big Brave and Princess do the dishes. Mother furnishes a statement in writing to the Tallykeeper.




Yellow Feather:

Complete a 2-mile walking hike with Big Brave. This can be a tribe outing such as the Fall Outing at Camp Kanata. A report should be made at the next tribe meeting, each Princess telling of interesting things observed.




White Feather:

Complete one overnight camping trip with Big Brave. (Recommend as tribe outing; Sea Gull and Seafarer do not count.)





Green Feather:

Complete three handicraft projects with Big Brave. This can be completed over a period of time. The projects will be presented to the tribe upon completion. The three do not have to be presented at the same meeting. The Tallykeeper will keep an accurate record of the projects.










SECOND YEAR AWARDS





To qualify for the Second Year Award, a Big and Little Brave/Princess must have completed one year in the Y- Guides/Princesses and have earned all seven first year feathers. Three areas of achievement have been outlined: PHYSICAL, MENTAL, and CRAFT. A embroidered fabric feather, to be attached to the Second Year Award patch, is earned by the accomplishment of the requirement outlined from one of the three areas. Out of eight feathers earned, at least two must be earned from each area. Note that one of two options in #12 is mandatory. This means that no more than four feathers can be earned from any one area.

The original patch which is eight inches in diameter and can be sewn to the vest or other articles of clothing. Patches and feathers are provided by the YMCA. Your tribe Tallykeeper or Wampum Bearer should pick them up as your tribe dues are paid for the year.

SECOND YEAR AWARD REQUIREMENTS

New way to earn an award !!!!

Friendship Feather for 2nd year Guides and Princesses/Totem Pole Piece for 3rd y ear Guides and Princesses.

1. The tribe should have a discussion about the importance of accepting new mem bers into one's group of friends or tribe. Remember. "Service to others" and "L ove thy neighbor as thyself".

A. Be proactive ! Tell the program office your tribe is willing to accept a new member by mid-September.
B. Have a welcoming ceremony for the new tribe pair.
C. Each Father/Child pair adopts the new pair for the earning of one of the Firs t/Second year feather awards.

PHYSICAL

  1. Learn proper safety and care of an air rifle,.22, or shot gun, and report to tribe.
  2. Big and Little Brave/Princess swim at least 50 feet, tread water or float for three minutes, and demonstrate mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
  3. With Big Brave's help, Little Brave/Princess will demonstrate pressure to stop bleeding and demonstrate first aid for snake bite.
  4. Learn one dance and demonstrate at meeting with Big Brave.
  5. Have physical fitness program daily for 30 days with Big Brave working up to at least 25 sit-ups, 12 push-ups, and 25 leg and head-ups while lying stomach down on floor, and 3 minutes running in place.
  6. Plant a garden containing at least 3 different plants.
  7. Rig a fishing line with hook, float, and sinker, and catch at least one fish.
  8. Go horseback riding with Dad and report to tribe.
  9. Jog with Dad 3 times a week for 4 weeks, working up to a mile.
  10. Row a boat or paddle a canoe at least 100 yards using boat safety rules, and report to tribe giving rules.
  11. Make at least one hunting or fishing trip with Big Brave, making a report to the tribe. (#7 cannot be accomplished in same trip.)
  12. Overnight camping trip (father and son/daughter or tribe) and/or hike 3 miles (father and son/daughter or tribe).
  13. Night off for Mother; planning and preparing meal and cleaning up.



MENTAL

  1. Learn and describe 5 fresh water fish found in our area, and draw or find a picture of each, making a report to the tribe.
  2. Learn and describe 5 wild animals in our area, and draw or find a picture of their tracks, making a report to the tribe.
  3. Know 8 trees native to North Carolina, and make a leaf and bark display of the trees, making a report to the tribe.
  4. Learn the provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, reciting the Preamble.
  5. Visit 2 other tribes with Big Brave, Little Brave/Princess reporting to the tribe concerning visit. (Permission of host tribe must be obtained in advance of visit.)
  6. Using at least 8 different signs, tell a story in sign language to your tribe.
  7. Name the health and service departments of your local government, visiting at least 2 and reporting to your tribe.
  8. Point out to the tribe some of the guiding stars. Name the 9 major planets, and using a compass show the directions north, south, east and west.
  9. With Big Brave's help, research and write a short paper (recommended 75-125 words) on the history of an American or tribe. Little Brave/Princess might also want to furnish a colored drawing illustrating the paper.
  10. Using safety rules, Little Brave/Princess must build an outdoor fire using only material found in the forest. Matches may be used to start the fire. Little Brave/Princess will then cook a meal consisting of a meat and one vegetable for himself/herself and Big Brave.
  11. Spend 1/2 day (work day) with your dad learning what he does at the office, plant or business trip, making a report to the tribe.
  12. With Big Brave's guidance, Little Brave/Princess conducts daily family devotional (other than the meal blessing) for 30 days.
  13. Prepare a display of 12 or more different rocks, and identify before tribe.
  14. Learn and recite the Mission of the YMCA.
  15. Make an oral report on one of the NC Native American tribe's past and present.

CRAFTS

  1. Make a birdhouse and report on birds using the facility.
  2. Make a bird feeder and report on birds using feeder over a period of a week.
  3. Make a homemade bow and arrow that will shoot, learning and reporting on history and safety rules to the tribe.
  4. Make a homemade kite that will fly, and fly it.
  5. Build a family bulletin board, and display its use to tribe at the time of meeting in your home.
  6. Plan and develop a window display interpreting the Y- Guide/Princess Program (a display that can be kept for future use).
  7. Plan and develop a family worship center (stained glass panels, cellophane or real window designs, cross or natural wood candlestick holders, etc.), and display its use to the tribe at the time of meeting in your home.
  8. Make a weather station containing weather vane, thermometer, and rain gauge. Make observations over a two-week period, and give report to tribe.
  9. Make a collection of arrowheads and other relics, at least 5 (found, not purchased), and report to tribe.
  10. Demonstrate cooking set-ups as outdoor project for tribe.
  11. Make candles and use for tribal meeting.
  12. Do a sand painting design, bead design or leather design.
  13. Using clay found in North Carolina, mold and decorate a bowl, vase, or article for the home. (Clay may be cured in low oven heat before decorating.)
  14. Build a model from a kit or original materials.
  15. Make a photo display from photos taken by Little Brave/ Princess of wild creatures and animals (birds, frogs, butterflies, bees, etc.).
  16. Make a knot display board showing 8 to 10 different kinds of knots, giving usage. Be able to tie and explain each knot.
  17. Make a teepee as a tribe project.






THIRD YEAR AWARDS

For the third year, a significant category is added to the area of interest, that of SERVICE. The awards for this third year take the form of a totem pole, the replica of the Arapahoe Nation pole shown here. The Guide/Princess must earn the successive parts from the bottom up. The order is not important, except to place the wings on the last section as awards six and seven.

COMMUNITY SERVICE awards will be given for participation in one or more of the following activities similar ones approved by the other members of the tribe:

  1. Attend a service club meeting, and make an oral report.
  2. Participate in a community clean-up of some kind.
  3. Visit and report on a hospital, the S.P.C.A., a home for the elderly, etc.
  4. Make a report on at least five community services, describing what is done, who does it, who supports it, etc.
  5. Participate in a fund-raising activity.


Other parts of the third year totem may be earned by completing no more than two previously untried items from the second year awards list (physical, mental, or craft). In addition to completing these, or any others previously approved by the member's tribe, the Guide/Princess must present a report of the activity and an evaluation of it in a discussion at a tribal meeting. To earn the wings of the totem pole (sixth and seventh awards), one must prepare and execute an overnight camping trip including meals, etc., for the tribe and plan and execute a four-mile hike for the tribe.




Bear Claws

Black Bear Claw


The black bear claw is given in lieu of the fifth meeting's red bead.


White Bear Claw


The white bear claw is given for the "Polar Bear" swim.


Green Bear Claw


The green bear claw is earned for any ecology project by the tribe -- roadside cleanup, river/bank cleanup, etc., in addition to pack cleanup.


Yellow Bear Claw


The yellow bear claw is given by the Big Brave to the guide/princess as a symbol that he has given up selfishness.


Blue Bear Claw


The blue bear claw is given by the guide/princess to the Big Brave as a symbol that they have given up impatience.


Red Bear Claw


Given out primarily around the holiday season, the red bear claw is for service to community.