Pathfinders (Seventh-day Adventist)

Pathfinders (Seventh-day Adventist)

The Pathfinder Club is a worldwide program organized and directed by the Youth Department of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It offers a wide range of learning experiences for young people 10 to 15 years of age (and older) and is operated by the international Seventh-day Adventist church under the direction and control of the local conference youth director. There are pathfinders all over the world.

Pathfinder clubs are sponsored by a local Seventh-day Adventist Church or school and meet on a regular basis - often weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

Annually, each conference will hold a large event known as a camporee where Pathfinders from throughout a local conference will come together to participate in events, activities, competitions, and religious meetings.

Every so often a camporee is held during which clubs from a large area such as North American or South Pacific divisions come together and enjoy fellowship and do activities together.

An estimated 38% of Adventist youth aged 18 and under "Are members of Pathfinders or a similar church-sponsored youth group", according to a 2002 worldwide survey of local church leaders.

Activities include community service, camping, crafts, classwork, marching, Bible study, Seventh-day Adventist Church history, and leadership training. Staff to student ratio is said to be about 1:5, which the organization stresses as an important learning benefit for participants. Participants are children and teenagers aged 10–15, progressing through different ranks called class levels each year.