YMCA Indian Guides
Great Coastal Nation 

The Lance Program

Lance Program File 

The Lance Program is organized into "Ranks" by Grade as follows:

·       Brave  - Kindergarten

·       Runner - First Grade

·       Scout   - Second Grade

·       Hunter - Third Grade

A rank is given when a Little Brave accomplishes the requirements of each rank. This is accomplished by completing NINE of 11 achievements listed in the Pal Coup Awards Form. There will be one special feather given for each achievement. These can be attached to your Lance or Pal Coup. No achievement feathers are worn with the Head Band. Only the 4 approved feathers can be worn. They are:

·       Black and White , Given at Induction

·       Blue - Given at your first Nation `

·       Red - Given at the time the Little Brave and their Dad says the Indian Guide Aims.   This is done separately.

·       Gold - Given to the Dad at Induction to signify the successful completion of all the Ranks and graduating his Little Brave from the Program.

The Lance Awards are color coded feathers and are furnished by the Tribe. Each award will be presented to the Little Brave by his tribal War Chief upon completion of the requirements. The feathers shall be attached to the Little Brave's Lance or Pal Coup.

The Rank Patches are standardized and are furnished by the Nation. Their presentation will be made by the tribal Chief or War Chief. Rank patches shall be applied to the vest.

The Nation Award Committee and the Nation War Chief will always be available to help any tribe with the Award Program. however each tribe is responsible for administering this program.

The Tribe will have complete freedom of fitting the Lance Program into its activities as it sees fit. It is recommended that the tribal War Chief organize and supervise the program within the tribe.

The duties of the tribal War Chief would be as follows:

·       Organize the program within the tribe

·       Make certain that all tribe members understand the program

·       Make certain that each member has lance award booklet and material for construction of lance

·       Be responsible for determining when a Little Brave has satisfactorily completed the requirements for a Lance Award

·       See to it that all who earned a Rank Patch receive their award. It may be desired to have the tribal Chief make this presentation at a ceremony to which the Mom's are invited or in some other ceremony that make a special impression on the Little Braves. However, regardless of how the presentation is made, it is recommended that it be made as soon as possible after the Little Brave has satisfied the requirements.

·       Inform the Longhouse Medicine Man when a Little Brave has successfully completed the requirements for a higher Rank

·       Act as a liaison man between the Longhouse Lance Award committee and his tribe

Great Coastal Nation

Pal Coup/Achievement Awards

"Brave"

(Kindergarten)

1)         ANIMALS - See Dog, Bear, Horse, Buffalo, Deer. Mount picture or drawing. Tell tribe where seen.

2)         SAFETY - Five safety measures for home, water, medicine. Show proper way to cross with and without signal.

3)         CONSERVATION - Name 3 energy saving home devices & tell 3 things you can do to save energy.

4)         CAMPING - Spend day or night on outing or camping trip. Draw a picture of your campsite and show tribe.

5)         INDIAN LORE - Visit Indian exhibit (Bowers Museum). Tell tribe 3 interesting things.

6)         FORESTRY - Go to arboretum or similar natural area and tell tribe 3 interesting points.

7)         SPORTS/FITNESS - Big Brave and Little Brave attend sporting event and tell tribe or go on 2 mile walk with Big Brave.

8)         GEOGRAPHY - Know. home phone number, address, cross streets, mother and fathers first and last name.

9)         CITIZENSHIP - Say the Pledge to the American Flag.

10)       NUTRITION - Identify·4 food groups; give example of each group.

11)       FISHING - Go fishing with Big Brave. Explain to tribe how you catch fish and/or show picture of fish caught.

Great Coastal Nation

Pal Coup/Achievement Awards

"Runner"

(First Grade)

1)         ANIMALS - Tell 3 things Indians used the Bear, Fox, Deer, and Buffalo for. Draw Indian sign for each and show at meeting.

2)         SAFETY - Little Brave with Big. Brave look for and correct hazards in back yard or play area. Know 3 swimming rules. Know 2 safety rules in car.

3)         CAMPING - Spend night outdoors with dad. Roll up sleeping bag and assemble other camping gear.

4)         INDIAN LORE - Make an Indian article (not one as whole tribe). Use methods and materials near as possible to Indians.

5)         FORESTRY - Collect at least 1 leaf from 5 different trees and tell tribe what type of tree each leaf came from.

6)         FARMING - Show seeds from 5 vegetables plants and how and when to be planted. Draw picture of each vegetable or bring home grown veggies to meeting

7)         FISHING - Name 3 salt water and 3 fresh water fish. Tell 3 types of bait and methods used for both fresh and salt water.

8)         COOKING - Cook potato and hot dog over open fire and eat. Draw picture of cooking over fire with dad.

9)         SPORTS/FITNESS - Have knowledge of Indian sport and demonstrate. Find or make picture showing how game was played and the equipment used.

10)       GEOGRAPHY - Know how to report an emergency on the phone. participate in home fire drill and show sketch of plan on paper.

11)       CITIZENSHIP - Tell number of stars and stripes on the flag and what each of them represent. Draw or bring a picture of the California flag.

Great Coastal Nation

Pal Coup/Achievement Awards

"Scout"

(Second Grade)

1)         ANIMALS - Must see: Eagle, Hawk, Crow, Turkey, and Owl. Tell something about 3 of the birds including: feeding habits, routine habits, and use to Indians.

2)         SAFETY - Discuss safety rules for maintaining and riding a bike and when meeting strangers. Be able to swim and float 3 minutes and discuss 3 swimming and safety measures before and during entering pool..

3)         CAMPING - Spend one or more nights out in the open under the eye of the Great Spirit. Help with chores and bring a list of them to meeting.

4)         INDIAN LORE - Read 2 books on Indians. Bring books or name and author to meeting. Draw 2 pictures from books and tell tribe about stories.

5)         FORESTRY - Take a 1 mile hike in the forest and identify 3 types of trees.

6)         FARMING - Prepare a garden. plant and care for 2 kinds of plants by yourself. Bring vegetables or plants you grew to meeting.

7)         FISHING - Go on fishing trip and catch at least 1 fish. Tell tribe type of fish you caught and draw picture of Big and Little Brave fishing.

8)         COOKING - Must hard boil egg over camp fire. Show or draw picture of someone cooking on an open fire. Give 3 safety measures when building or cooking over an open fire.

9)         SPORTS/FITNESS - Participate in a Nation sporting event.

10)       CURRENT EVENTS - Know the names of: Tribal Chief, Nation Chief, Principal at school, Mayor of city, Governor of state, President of country.

11)       GEOGRAPHY - Know where you live in relation to 3 landmarks. Locate city on map 

12)       CITIZENSHIP - Learn Pals Forever, sing to tribe.

Great Coastal Nation

Pal Coup/Achievement Awards

"Hunter"

(Third Grade)

1)         ANIMALS - Name 3 animals, birds, or fish found in: North America, South America, Africa, and the Arctic, or Antarctica.

2)         SAFETY - Describe safety measures for riding in a car or truck, about plastic bags, electricity in home, and proper use of knife (open, close, and whittle).

3)         CAMPING - Go on 5 mile hike with Big Brave (round trip) and camp out overnight.

4)         INDIAN LORE - Make picture story using Indian symbols on hide or heavy paper. Bring to meeting and tell tribe what each symbol means and tell the story shown.

5)         FORESTRY - Take 2 mile hike with Big Brave and mark trail for return. Know 8 principal points on a compass.

6)         FISHING - Go fishing 2 different ways (boat, river. lake, surf, pier, etc.). Catch at least 1 fish with each method. Tell tribe about each method and safety measures while fishing.

7)         COOKING - Prepare entire meal over open fire with Big Brave. List items used and tell 3 things you learned about cooking.

8)        SPORTS/FITNESS - Attend 2 sporting events with Big Brave. tell 3 things about each event.

9)         CURRENT EVENTS - Know 4 ways to learn about current events. Find a current event and discuss with tribe. Tell which media you obtained it from.

10)       GEOGRAPHY - Locate US on world map. Capitol of California and US. know where 10 major cities are located in US.