The Adventure Guides vest is a simple suede vest — no buttons, no zipper — that a dad and daughter decorate over the years. Event patches go on the vest. Compass pins go on her lanyard. Beads, fringe, and whatever she decides are up to her. Dads wear one too, and yes, it looks better on her.

Where to get one

You can find Adventure Guides (or “Indian Guides”) suede vests online — search for a child’s leather vest kit and you’ll get plenty of options. A lot of Soaring Spirit dads have had good luck going local with Dick Davis, a leatherworker in Long Beach who makes them in kit form (you assemble — a fun circle-meeting project) or pre-assembled. Fringe is extra and priced by the leather it takes. He doesn’t sell beads — Michael’s does.

Vest	Kit	Pre-assembled
Child’s XL (most daughters)	$60	$90
Adult L / XL (XL if you’re over 180 lb)	$70	$100

Pick up in Long Beach or ship for $15. Cash has no tax added; card and Venmo do. Prices are from one dad’s recent order and are obviously subject to change — confirm when you email.

Patches and pins

Event patches are handed out at each campout — usually Sunday morning. Compass pins are earned through the pin program and go on the lanyard. Circle patches come from your circle leader. Sew-on is traditional; a hot glue gun at 9 pm the night before a campout is also traditional.