By Yassira Huarcaya
I was a Spark Guide for many years, back when we had two Guides per Studio. At one point, we even had more than two. In those days, the idea of a Studio led by just one adult seemed unthinkable.
However, as time has passed, we have discovered new ways for Guides to let go of certain responsibilities and support one another. I hadn’t realized how many responsibilities we had let go of until a challenge from my Guide Squad helped me see it.
Here is a list of the things I used to do in 2023, when there were two of us in the Studio. Since Rosi is also taking on this challenge, I asked her about what she does now, and I was able to clearly see the differences between our responsibilities.
2023 Yass and Rosi
Tidy shelves, pull works forward
Remind them where to put their belongings
Sharpen pencils
Help with the snack
Guide the launch
Restock paper: Language, Math, Science
Take the snack bag out when the day is over
Take out the basket of toys to the garden
Check their gem color and number depending on how much they work
Remind them of the time when an activity changes
Let them know that the snack is ready and what food they can repeat
Sweep the snack area floor at the end
Read the story
Remind them what they need to take home
Accompany Peace Tables
Send emails to parents
Have Journey meetings with parents, without Pumas
2026 Rosi
Help with the snack (ONLY OPEN CANS)
Guide the launch
Restock paper: Language, Math, Science
Take the snack bag out when the day is over
Remind them of the time when an activity changes
Read the story
Remind them what they need to take home
Send emails to parents
Have Journey meetings with parents, AND Pumas included
What changed? Are the Pumas older? Are the Guides doing less? Does this affect the Tribe’s development? If so, how? For me, the answer is clear: having a well-established Tribe allows leadership to move in cycles, with older members taking on leadership roles while younger ones learn through imitation and prepare for the day when the Tribe will be in their hands.
What makes the difference is the Guide’s ability to reflect back to the Pumas just how capable they are. However, this perspective must be accompanied by tools, questions, and both close and more distant support.
What do I mean by close and distant support? I get close enough to observe every detail, but I do so with curiosity. This helps me move away from any preconceived judgments I might carry.
I can see the impact on the Tribe at a glance: an autonomous Tribe that seeks help when needed, prioritizes its responsibilities, and reflects on its actions with the youngest members in mind.
Having an established culture allows new members to adapt, struggle through challenges, accept support, and eventually become another pillar of the Tribe’s structure.
And what about the youngest Pumas? They need closer attention and support. This is where the Tribe’s culture makes a difference. While the Guide supports the youngest or newest members, the older and more experienced Pumas help keep the Tribe going.
Does it work this way every day? Not really. And that is where the support of the Guide Tribe comes in, because we are a Tribe, too. A small, timely intervention from another Guide can restore calm and provide the companionship needed at just the right moment. We are Guides, we are adults, but we need help, too.
And that is how Tribes work. That is how we, as Guides, keep moving forward: through trial and error, between moments of stability and, sometimes, a little bit of chaos. We support one another and accept that sometimes not everything is possible and that not every day is the same. Over time, we let go of certain responsibilities and take on others that are necessary for the Tribe we are supporting at that particular moment. In that moments being two adults is necessary. Our guiding principle remains the same: a Tribe that is autonomous yet safe, that knows how to ask for help and draws strength from its members. A Tribe that evolves and, in turn, helps the Guide understand when to step in and when to step back.