The Investiture Achievement program focuses on developing spiritual, mental, physical and social skills at a grade appropriate level. Through a combination of self-directed, unit and club activities and study, Pathfinders learn team work, self-reliance and leadership. Each class level comprises eight sections: Personal Growth, Spiritual Discovery, Serving Others, Making Friends, Health and Fitness, Nature Study, Outdoor Living, and Honor Enrichment. At the end of the Pathfinder year, those who have completed their requirements are invested into one of the six class levels - Friend, Companion, Explorer, Ranger, Voyager and Guide.
The origin of the class levels dates back to 1922, decades before the formal beginning of the Pathfinder program. At that time, Harriet Holt, a staff member of the Youth Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, developed a program to be used within the Junior Missionary Volunteer (JMV) societies that would combine spiritual development, camping and outdoor activities, and crafts and skills. The first two class levels were Friend and Companion, which remain the initial levels, designed for fifth and sixth graders.
Around the same time as the introduction of Friend and Companion, two tracks of leadership development were also introduced - Comrade and Master Comrade. These were later changed to Guide and Master Guide (avoiding misunderstandings in the early days of the Cold War). Guide remains the highest level of the Pathfinder classes (for 10th graders), and Master Guide is the highest level of youth leadership in the Pathfinder program and Adventist youth ministries. The Explorer class (7th grade) was added in 1956, with the Pioneer class (8th grade) was added in 1966, with its name later changed to Ranger. The final class level, Voyager (9th grade), was added in 1982.
The requirements for the various levels has changed several times over the years, adjusting to the times and activities appropriate. The most recent upgrade occurred in 2009, with the new curriculum - Investiture Achievement - officially introduced in the autumn of 2011. The official website for the Investiture Achievement program offers record journal, cards and charts for each of the six class levels, as well as an instructor guide with the requirements for each of the class levels.
The North American Division has created an Investiture Achievement wiki with information regarding the components of the class levels. We at CTX have also pulled together additional information, resources and helps to aid instructors in leading Pathfinders through the Investiture Achievement classes. You can find those at the links below.
The origin of the class levels dates back to 1922, decades before the formal beginning of the Pathfinder program. At that time, Harriet Holt, a staff member of the Youth Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, developed a program to be used within the Junior Missionary Volunteer (JMV) societies that would combine spiritual development, camping and outdoor activities, and crafts and skills. The first two class levels were Friend and Companion, which remain the initial levels, designed for fifth and sixth graders.
Around the same time as the introduction of Friend and Companion, two tracks of leadership development were also introduced - Comrade and Master Comrade. These were later changed to Guide and Master Guide (avoiding misunderstandings in the early days of the Cold War). Guide remains the highest level of the Pathfinder classes (for 10th graders), and Master Guide is the highest level of youth leadership in the Pathfinder program and Adventist youth ministries. The Explorer class (7th grade) was added in 1956, with the Pioneer class (8th grade) was added in 1966, with its name later changed to Ranger. The final class level, Voyager (9th grade), was added in 1982.
The requirements for the various levels has changed several times over the years, adjusting to the times and activities appropriate. The most recent upgrade occurred in 2009, with the new curriculum - Investiture Achievement - officially introduced in the autumn of 2011. The official website for the Investiture Achievement program offers record journal, cards and charts for each of the six class levels, as well as an instructor guide with the requirements for each of the class levels.
The North American Division has created an Investiture Achievement wiki with information regarding the components of the class levels. We at CTX have also pulled together additional information, resources and helps to aid instructors in leading Pathfinders through the Investiture Achievement classes. You can find those at the links below.