McDonald Road Hawks
Pathfinder Club Membership Application

Welcome to the online membership application form for the McDonald Road Hawks Pathfinder Club. This form is 8 pages, so please fill out all of them and click the green SUBMIT button at the end. 

You will be asked to upload your Pathfinder Health History Form and photos of the front and back of your insurance card, so please have those ready. Your Pathfinder will also need to be present to read and sign some of the form.

The Pathfinder Health History Form can be found at the link below. It can be filled in electronically or you can print it, fill it in, and scan it. For both options, save it to your computer so it can be uploaded.

• Pathfinder Health History Form

Note: On the last page, you will be asked to make your first payment of the year via PayPal. You do not need to have a PayPal account to do this.

I would like to join the McDonald Road Hawks Pathfinder Club. I will attend club meetings, hikes, camping and field trips, missionary adventures, and other club activities. I agree to be guided by the rules of the club and the Pathfinder Pledge and Law.

Approval by Parents or Guardians

The applicant is in at least the 5th grade as a Junior Pathfinder, or the 7th grade as a Teen Pathfinder.

We have read the Pathfinder Pledge and Law and are willing and desirous that the applicant become a Pathfinder. We will assist the applicant in observing the rules of the Pathfinder organization. In consideration of the benefits derived from membership, we hereby voluntarily waive any claim against the club or the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for any accidents which may arise in connection with the activities of the Pathfinder Club.

As parents we understand that the Pathfinder Club program is an active one for the applicant. It includes many opportunities for service, adventure, and fun. We will cooperate:

1. By learning how we can assist the applicant and his leaders.
2. By encouraging the applicant to take an active part in all activities.
3. By attending events to which parents are invited.
4. By assisting club leaders and by serving as leaders if called upon.
5. By supplying needed information on the Membership Application as well as Health and Medical Form.
6. By making sure the applicant is present and on time to all functions.

Who We Are

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a worldwide community of believers in Christ. Our mission is to make disciples for Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return (Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Rev 14:6-12).

What We Do

The Pathfinder department of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists seeks to create environments and experiences in which all will encounter the unconditional love of Jesus, find assurance of acceptance and forgiveness, make a commitment to Jesus Christ, and grow in Him.

Our Values are Our Priority

• Inclusivity – Youth will be valued and involved regardless of race, color, language, gender, age, abilities, or socio-economic circumstances.
• Safety – Our clubs will work to adopt safeguards to protect youth from physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse; to choose volunteers with strong spiritual and moral backgrounds; and to minimize the church’s liability.
• Seventh-day Adventist faith – As a ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, our goals are to reflect the love of Jesus, teachings of Scripture, and ethical and moral norms as agreed upon by the worldwide Church community.

Expectations of Pathfinders

Being a Pathfinder is a choice, not a right. In order to encourage an inclusive, safe, and spiritual environment that embodies the Seventh-day Adventist faith for our clubs, youth participants will be expected to:

• Be respectful of other participants. This includes respecting their experiences, viewpoints, appearance, and property. Harassment, bullying, teasing, ignoring, excluding, unwanted physical contact or proximity, and tampering with belongings
  are examples of disrespectful behavior.
• Be truthful, honest, and transparent with one another and with leaders and volunteers. Undermining the program through distraction, being uncooperative, or being deceitful will not promote the experience we want all participants to enjoy.
• Act in harmony with Seventh-day Adventist Christian moral and ethical values. Seventh-day Adventists teach that sexual intimacy was divinely established in the context of marriage, and that marriage is a life-long commitment between one man and one woman. No public display of affection, physical intimacy, or sexual touch between youth participants is allowed, whether consensual or not. Unwanted physical contact, comments about appearance, as well as language and jokes about sexual subjects are prohibited, may be considered sexual harassment and will not be tolerated.
• Seek to find a personal identity in the special and unique giftedness granted them by a loving God, and will not draw attention to belongings, social status, sexuality, or sexual orientation.

Pathfinder Statement of Agreement

I understand the expectations for me as outlined above and I will strive to respect and uphold them.

Parent/Legal Guardian Statement of Agreement

I understand the expectations for my child as outlined above and I will support him/her as he/she strives to respect and uphold them.

Campouts

One of the goals of the Pathfinder leadership is to help our young people develop a love for nature and the outdoors. The use of electronic devices (phones, iPods, gaming devices, etc) creates a major distraction, as well as a risk. Each family has its own rules regarding what is and isn’t allowed with electronics; one family may approve of a video that another family does not approve of. When Pathfinders are sharing a tent together, their counselors are not in the tent with them; thus counselors are unable to provide appropriate supervision regarding what is being viewed and shared with others. Additionally, those who choose to stay up late on electronics may not get the sleep they need, and may keep others from sleeping as well. For these reasons, Pathfinders are not permitted to bring electronic devices on campouts. We offer young people the opportunity to unplug from media, and plug into the great outdoors!

• Communication: If you need to reach your child, or your child needs to reach you, you may do so through the counselors or director, who will have their phones with them at all events. For a faster response, please text instead of calling.
• Pictures: Traditional cameras are allowed and encouraged for those who would like to take pictures. Additionally, counselors and staff often take pictures and are happy to share these with parents.

Club Meetings

Electronic devices are permitted at meetings, but must be on silent and stowed away. They may be taken off silent and used after club dismissal at 8:30.

Violation of Policy

Pathfinders who violate this policy will have their electronic device(s) taken away, and their parent will need to pick it up from the counselor. Repeat offenses may result in loss of camping privileges or in extreme cases, dismissal from the club.

Note: McDonald Road Church and the Pathfinder Club will not be responsible for damaged, stolen, or lost electronic devices that are brought on campouts or to club meetings.

Pathfinder

By my signature below, I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to support and abide by the club’s electronic device policy as stated above.

Parent

I have witnessed my child read this, and I agree to support and abide by the club’s electronic device policy as stated above.

All events will be sponsored by the Georgia-Cumberland Conference and/or the McDonald Road SDA Church. I have completed the GCC Pathfinder Health and Medical Form (this is on the next page) detailing my child's complete medical history. I do hereby state that said child is physically and mentally able to participate in the club activities. I do hereby release and discharge the McDonald Road SDA Church and its authorized representatives and staff from all liability of any kind and character upon any claim, demand, or cause of action which might be asserted in behalf of said minor and/or myself against the McDonald Road SDA Church, representatives, or staff. Furthermore, in the event of an accident, if said staff or representatives are unable to contact the undersigned, I hereby grant permission to said staff or representative to administer first aid, and/or to take the applicant to a medical facility for treatment.

I hereby give my consent for said child to ride in the vehicles provided for any Pathfinder-related activities. I also release all photos and videos taken for Pathfinder promotions. This consent shall remain in continuous effect until revoked. I give permission to photocopy this form. A photo copy of this form shall be as effective and valid as the original.

Please upload your Pathfinder Health History Form below.

If you haven't filled it out yet, the Pathfinder Health History Form can be found at the link below. It can be filled in electronically or you can print it, fill it in, and scan it. For both options, save it to your computer so it can be uploaded.

• Pathfinder Health History Form

Please upload photos of the front and back of your insurance card below.