Taken from the Pathfinder Administrative Manual pp120 - 126
A. Preparation
Usually the Pathfinder leader will notify the conference/mission youth director that the candidates are ready for Investiture, and a date is set for the meeting. The Investiture service will be conducted by the conference/mission youth director or a designated and qualified person,
preferably a Master Guide. Before the investiture all the requirements must have been completed and the permanent signed-off Pathfinder Class record card, where applicable,
should be presented to the investing official when requested. To maintain a high standard of achievement, spot testing of candidates is useful, especially in the case of Master Guides.
B. Personnel who may be involved in the Investiture and their responsibilities
Investiture Sponsor
This is a person designated by the conference youth department, usually the area coordinator, who represents the local conference. Where there is no coordinator a Master Guide or another responsible person such as a pastor or teacher is appointed.
1. Support the church or the school in leading the students into an inspiring program of athfinder activity that includes completing the Pathfinder Classwork according to the grade level of the student.
2. Follow the progress of those doing Pathfinder Classes in the designated church or institution until complete.
3. Promoting the Investiture program among the parents of the youth involved and the total local church membership.
4. Arranging with the church pastor or principal for a place, date, and time of the Investiture program.
Pathfinder Club Director
1. Promote Pathfinder Classwork: Friend, Companion, Explorer, Ranger, Voyager, Guide, and also the Advanced Pathfinder Classes.
2. Involve the Pathfinder staff and club membership in the Investiture program.
3. Promote the Investiture program among the parents of the Pathfinders, and the sponsoring church members.
4. Obtain the cooperation of the schoolteachers in the completion of some specific Pathfinder Class requirements; keeping a record on the Pathfinder Class record card.
5. Organize the Investiture program and schedule a date.
6. Order and receive all necessary Investiture materials needed for the Pathfinders. Use the Investiture requisition order blank.
Schoolteacher Responsibilities
In some unions the Pathfinder Classwork is integrated into the school curriculum. Teachers prepare their students for receiving their insignia at an Investiture.
1. Work with the Investiture sponsor and Pathfinder Club where applicable in the scheduling of the Investiture program.
2. Assist the preparation of those being invested: students, schoolteachers, and Pathfinder members, when appropriate, by obtaining Pathfinder Class record cards etc. according to the
following recommended class schedule.
Adventurer Classes
Busy Bee– grade 1
Sunbeam–grade 2
Builder–grade 3
Helping Hand–grade 4
Pathfinder Classes
Friend–grade 5
Companion–grade 6
Explorer–grade 7
Ranger–grade 8
Voyager–grade 9
Guide–grade 10
Master Guide–16 years of age and beyond.
3. Order Investiture materials in cooperation with the Pathfinder Club director from the local conference, using the Investiture requisition form. Where no club exists materials are ordered directly from the conference for the school.
4. Be involved with the Pathfinder Club director, AJY and AY leaders in the planning and program.
Pathfinder Club Counselors
1. Assist the Pathfinder director and Investiture sponsor in planning for the Investiture program.
2. Lead Pathfinders, especially those not attending church school into an inspiring program of junior youth activity and in completion of the Pathfinder requirements.
Local Conference Personnel
The conference youth leader invites personnel such as the educational department superintendent, pastor, school principal, or a minister in the local conference
to be present at the Investiture program.
1. Represent the local conference/mission.
2. Promote youth evangelism and the conference/mission youth program; e.g. youth camps, camporees, rally days, evangelism.
C. Program
Perhaps nothing in connection with the Pathfinder Classwork affords a greater opportunity to demonstrate to the members of the church what is being done, than the Investiture service. It is important; therefore, that the program be conducted in the most dignified manner and in a way that will stir in every heart a desire to do more for the encouragement and salvation of our youth. The purpose of the Investiture program is to provide an opportunity to:
_ Recognize those who have completed their Pathfinder Classwork.
_ Inspire those not involved in the work to do so.
_ Inform the church and community what the Pathfinder Club is all about.
_ Communicate to the youth the plans for future events.
Beyond the actual insignia presentation, program content is left largely to the creativity of those responsible. An action oriented, inspirational content works best. For instance, include skits showing community service and witnessing, recitation of memory work, and demonstration
of skills related to class requirements. Since the Pledge and Law are central to the training involved in the club, stress them whenever possible.
Standard program features should be: satisfactory evidence of understanding and completed work by the candidates; a challenge to loyalty to God, the church, and club (to the class group and to the worldwide circle of Pathfinders), a charge for responsibility to be loyal and a word and handclasp of welcome by Master Guides who may be present. Be original, romantic, spiritual, and impressive.
NOTE: These are only suggested formats to help in planning a short program (20-30 minutes) in which all those being invested can have a part. (A song, for example, can include everyone!)
Program Format Suggestion No. 1
Prelude
Song Service
Special Music
Scripture
Welcome
Prayer
Pathfinder/Pledge Given by all candidates (Have a student give his interpretation.)
Pathfinder/Law Given by all candidates (Have eight students give their interpretations, of
one of the eight points, each student presenting one of the eight parts of the law.)
Special Music Club members
Memory Work Any or all class levels
Practical Demonstrations Skits, Charades, Play, etc.
1. Favorite Bible Story
2. Knot tying
3. Nature nuggets
4. First aid
5. Story of favorite pet
6. Hiking and camping
7. Honors earned
8. National Flag demonstration
9. Famous countrymen
10. Physical fitness
Certification of Candidates Pathfinder director or pastor
Challenge of Junior Youth Conference youth director, pastor, or qualified Master Guide
The Charge and Presentation Conference Youth Director or Area of Insignia Coordinator.
Consecration and Prayer of Dedication Pastor
Announcements Summer camp, camp meeting, etc.
Benediction Teen Pathfinder
Program Format Suggestion No. 2
Scripture
Song
Special Music
Prayer
Sermonette
Symposium by Candidates
Memory work
Pathfinder Pledge and Law
Practical demonstrations
Certification of Candidates
Charge and Presentation
Consecration Prayer
Camp Film (Promotion for summer camping)
Song
Prayer
Program format suggestion No. 3
Musical prelude or song service
Pathfinders parade with or without flags into the church or hall singing or marching to the tune of the Pathfinder Song or Onward Christian Solders, etc.
Flags are placed according to regulation.
Pledge of Allegiance where necessary–all
Pathfinder Law, Pathfinder Pledge–by all Pathfinders
Welcome and Introductions
Pathfinder Song–by all
Prayer by Pathfinder
Scripture–recitation of memory work by Pathfinder
Special song
Practical demonstrations of various kinds–knot tying, witnessing, skit, etc.
Guest speakers–short remarks
Certification of candidates
Charge and presentation of insignia
Consecration prayer
Recessional–by marching
Photographs and report completion for Conference/mission
Program Format Suggestion No. 4 (Outdoor Investiture)
Program sites
1. Campfires
2. Garden
3. City or State park
4. Church
5. Church-school auditorium
When the weather is favorable, the Investiture service may be held out-of-doors. This is often done in connection with youth camps but may well be done on other occasions also. A natural setting of woods and lake lends itself well to originality and romantic impressiveness in the Investiture program. An example of a largeout-of-door Investiture follows.
Each candidate prepares a small wigwam-type fire and has beside it a reserve supply of small twigs. The Friend candidates arrange their fires to make the letter F, the Companion C, the Explorer E, the Ranger R, the Voyager V, and the Guide G. At appropriate spots three larger campfires are prepared for the conference youth director or other leaders and the Master Guides present. Two Honor youth attend this leaders’ fire. Two more youth act as assistants to hold the Class pins and pass them to the leader during the Investiture. The candidates line up behind the fire tended by the two youth assistants. When darkness has gathered over the area each investiture candidate takes his place by his fire. In silence, at an arrange signal, the two honor youth light the larger fires. Then, in turn, beginning at the upper end of each letter, each
candidate lights his fire, rises, and in the shadowy light gives his interpretation of part of the
Pledge or Law, or the explanation and meaning of some requirement or activity, as assigned to him. Each in turn sits down quietly, Indian fashion, facing his fire, and keeps it burning until the close of the exercise. The candidates then receive the challenge of the leader to loyalty, and receive their insignia. A handclasp of welcome is then extended by the Master Guides present. A good-night song and a suitable closing prayer terminate this unforgettable program.
This is but one of many ways. It could be worked out with a few boats and many torches out on the lake. Always have a well-prepared, dignified program.
Suggested Charge
“You have come to the place in your program of study and self improvement when you are ready to assume new responsibility in the church and its work. Each one of you has completed the work outlined in one or more of the Pathfinder Classes. The insignia you are about to receive represents the highest ideals of the Seventh-day Adventist youth organization. This insignia is to be held in trust by you only so long as you carry out in your daily life the ideals for which this
insignia stands–the ideals embodied in the Pathfinder Pledge and Law. Therefore I charge
that by the grace of God you endeavor every day to cherish these high principles and to live them out in your words and actions, that by so doing you may prove to be a true servant of God and a friend to man. “If for any reason whatsoever you lose sight of these ideals and do not care
to cherish and practice them in your daily life, you are honor bound to return the insignia to the conference making the award. May God keep you true to Him and to the worthy ideals of the Pathfinder Club.”
NOTE OF CAUTION:
The Pathfinder Club is not a secret society. While secrecy and secret ceremonies and signs or amulets carried by members might be appealing, it is not Biblical and opens opportunity for criticism and removal of support from church leadership and parents. All we do in the Club should be open, focused on our mission as an international organization and of such character as to be enjoyed by all who visit and witness.
A. Preparation
Usually the Pathfinder leader will notify the conference/mission youth director that the candidates are ready for Investiture, and a date is set for the meeting. The Investiture service will be conducted by the conference/mission youth director or a designated and qualified person,
preferably a Master Guide. Before the investiture all the requirements must have been completed and the permanent signed-off Pathfinder Class record card, where applicable,
should be presented to the investing official when requested. To maintain a high standard of achievement, spot testing of candidates is useful, especially in the case of Master Guides.
B. Personnel who may be involved in the Investiture and their responsibilities
Investiture Sponsor
This is a person designated by the conference youth department, usually the area coordinator, who represents the local conference. Where there is no coordinator a Master Guide or another responsible person such as a pastor or teacher is appointed.
1. Support the church or the school in leading the students into an inspiring program of athfinder activity that includes completing the Pathfinder Classwork according to the grade level of the student.
2. Follow the progress of those doing Pathfinder Classes in the designated church or institution until complete.
3. Promoting the Investiture program among the parents of the youth involved and the total local church membership.
4. Arranging with the church pastor or principal for a place, date, and time of the Investiture program.
Pathfinder Club Director
1. Promote Pathfinder Classwork: Friend, Companion, Explorer, Ranger, Voyager, Guide, and also the Advanced Pathfinder Classes.
2. Involve the Pathfinder staff and club membership in the Investiture program.
3. Promote the Investiture program among the parents of the Pathfinders, and the sponsoring church members.
4. Obtain the cooperation of the schoolteachers in the completion of some specific Pathfinder Class requirements; keeping a record on the Pathfinder Class record card.
5. Organize the Investiture program and schedule a date.
6. Order and receive all necessary Investiture materials needed for the Pathfinders. Use the Investiture requisition order blank.
Schoolteacher Responsibilities
In some unions the Pathfinder Classwork is integrated into the school curriculum. Teachers prepare their students for receiving their insignia at an Investiture.
1. Work with the Investiture sponsor and Pathfinder Club where applicable in the scheduling of the Investiture program.
2. Assist the preparation of those being invested: students, schoolteachers, and Pathfinder members, when appropriate, by obtaining Pathfinder Class record cards etc. according to the
following recommended class schedule.
Adventurer Classes
Busy Bee– grade 1
Sunbeam–grade 2
Builder–grade 3
Helping Hand–grade 4
Pathfinder Classes
Friend–grade 5
Companion–grade 6
Explorer–grade 7
Ranger–grade 8
Voyager–grade 9
Guide–grade 10
Master Guide–16 years of age and beyond.
3. Order Investiture materials in cooperation with the Pathfinder Club director from the local conference, using the Investiture requisition form. Where no club exists materials are ordered directly from the conference for the school.
4. Be involved with the Pathfinder Club director, AJY and AY leaders in the planning and program.
Pathfinder Club Counselors
1. Assist the Pathfinder director and Investiture sponsor in planning for the Investiture program.
2. Lead Pathfinders, especially those not attending church school into an inspiring program of junior youth activity and in completion of the Pathfinder requirements.
Local Conference Personnel
The conference youth leader invites personnel such as the educational department superintendent, pastor, school principal, or a minister in the local conference
to be present at the Investiture program.
1. Represent the local conference/mission.
2. Promote youth evangelism and the conference/mission youth program; e.g. youth camps, camporees, rally days, evangelism.
C. Program
Perhaps nothing in connection with the Pathfinder Classwork affords a greater opportunity to demonstrate to the members of the church what is being done, than the Investiture service. It is important; therefore, that the program be conducted in the most dignified manner and in a way that will stir in every heart a desire to do more for the encouragement and salvation of our youth. The purpose of the Investiture program is to provide an opportunity to:
_ Recognize those who have completed their Pathfinder Classwork.
_ Inspire those not involved in the work to do so.
_ Inform the church and community what the Pathfinder Club is all about.
_ Communicate to the youth the plans for future events.
Beyond the actual insignia presentation, program content is left largely to the creativity of those responsible. An action oriented, inspirational content works best. For instance, include skits showing community service and witnessing, recitation of memory work, and demonstration
of skills related to class requirements. Since the Pledge and Law are central to the training involved in the club, stress them whenever possible.
Standard program features should be: satisfactory evidence of understanding and completed work by the candidates; a challenge to loyalty to God, the church, and club (to the class group and to the worldwide circle of Pathfinders), a charge for responsibility to be loyal and a word and handclasp of welcome by Master Guides who may be present. Be original, romantic, spiritual, and impressive.
NOTE: These are only suggested formats to help in planning a short program (20-30 minutes) in which all those being invested can have a part. (A song, for example, can include everyone!)
Program Format Suggestion No. 1
Prelude
Song Service
Special Music
Scripture
Welcome
Prayer
Pathfinder/Pledge Given by all candidates (Have a student give his interpretation.)
Pathfinder/Law Given by all candidates (Have eight students give their interpretations, of
one of the eight points, each student presenting one of the eight parts of the law.)
Special Music Club members
Memory Work Any or all class levels
Practical Demonstrations Skits, Charades, Play, etc.
1. Favorite Bible Story
2. Knot tying
3. Nature nuggets
4. First aid
5. Story of favorite pet
6. Hiking and camping
7. Honors earned
8. National Flag demonstration
9. Famous countrymen
10. Physical fitness
Certification of Candidates Pathfinder director or pastor
Challenge of Junior Youth Conference youth director, pastor, or qualified Master Guide
The Charge and Presentation Conference Youth Director or Area of Insignia Coordinator.
Consecration and Prayer of Dedication Pastor
Announcements Summer camp, camp meeting, etc.
Benediction Teen Pathfinder
Program Format Suggestion No. 2
Scripture
Song
Special Music
Prayer
Sermonette
Symposium by Candidates
Memory work
Pathfinder Pledge and Law
Practical demonstrations
Certification of Candidates
Charge and Presentation
Consecration Prayer
Camp Film (Promotion for summer camping)
Song
Prayer
Program format suggestion No. 3
Musical prelude or song service
Pathfinders parade with or without flags into the church or hall singing or marching to the tune of the Pathfinder Song or Onward Christian Solders, etc.
Flags are placed according to regulation.
Pledge of Allegiance where necessary–all
Pathfinder Law, Pathfinder Pledge–by all Pathfinders
Welcome and Introductions
Pathfinder Song–by all
Prayer by Pathfinder
Scripture–recitation of memory work by Pathfinder
Special song
Practical demonstrations of various kinds–knot tying, witnessing, skit, etc.
Guest speakers–short remarks
Certification of candidates
Charge and presentation of insignia
Consecration prayer
Recessional–by marching
Photographs and report completion for Conference/mission
Program Format Suggestion No. 4 (Outdoor Investiture)
Program sites
1. Campfires
2. Garden
3. City or State park
4. Church
5. Church-school auditorium
When the weather is favorable, the Investiture service may be held out-of-doors. This is often done in connection with youth camps but may well be done on other occasions also. A natural setting of woods and lake lends itself well to originality and romantic impressiveness in the Investiture program. An example of a largeout-of-door Investiture follows.
Each candidate prepares a small wigwam-type fire and has beside it a reserve supply of small twigs. The Friend candidates arrange their fires to make the letter F, the Companion C, the Explorer E, the Ranger R, the Voyager V, and the Guide G. At appropriate spots three larger campfires are prepared for the conference youth director or other leaders and the Master Guides present. Two Honor youth attend this leaders’ fire. Two more youth act as assistants to hold the Class pins and pass them to the leader during the Investiture. The candidates line up behind the fire tended by the two youth assistants. When darkness has gathered over the area each investiture candidate takes his place by his fire. In silence, at an arrange signal, the two honor youth light the larger fires. Then, in turn, beginning at the upper end of each letter, each
candidate lights his fire, rises, and in the shadowy light gives his interpretation of part of the
Pledge or Law, or the explanation and meaning of some requirement or activity, as assigned to him. Each in turn sits down quietly, Indian fashion, facing his fire, and keeps it burning until the close of the exercise. The candidates then receive the challenge of the leader to loyalty, and receive their insignia. A handclasp of welcome is then extended by the Master Guides present. A good-night song and a suitable closing prayer terminate this unforgettable program.
This is but one of many ways. It could be worked out with a few boats and many torches out on the lake. Always have a well-prepared, dignified program.
Suggested Charge
“You have come to the place in your program of study and self improvement when you are ready to assume new responsibility in the church and its work. Each one of you has completed the work outlined in one or more of the Pathfinder Classes. The insignia you are about to receive represents the highest ideals of the Seventh-day Adventist youth organization. This insignia is to be held in trust by you only so long as you carry out in your daily life the ideals for which this
insignia stands–the ideals embodied in the Pathfinder Pledge and Law. Therefore I charge
that by the grace of God you endeavor every day to cherish these high principles and to live them out in your words and actions, that by so doing you may prove to be a true servant of God and a friend to man. “If for any reason whatsoever you lose sight of these ideals and do not care
to cherish and practice them in your daily life, you are honor bound to return the insignia to the conference making the award. May God keep you true to Him and to the worthy ideals of the Pathfinder Club.”
NOTE OF CAUTION:
The Pathfinder Club is not a secret society. While secrecy and secret ceremonies and signs or amulets carried by members might be appealing, it is not Biblical and opens opportunity for criticism and removal of support from church leadership and parents. All we do in the Club should be open, focused on our mission as an international organization and of such character as to be enjoyed by all who visit and witness.