To put christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Human Services , Physical Fitness & Community Recreational Facilities , Sports , Young Mens or Womens Associations

Our ymca is committed to nurturing the potential of every child. We believe all kids have great potential and deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. That's why we cultivate values and skills that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. We provide high quality child care by providing comprehensive activities from developmental activities, homework help to field trips for children six weeks old through age 15, drawing on diverse members of the community. We participate in the keystone stars quality initiative at all seventeen licensed child care locations. In addition, we provide healthy snacks and meals to all children and have adopted, along with y-usa, hepa (healthy eating and physical activity) standards at all locations. Our y served over 405,000 snacks & meals during the school year and during the summer at various locations including those identified as food deserts. Kids participate in enrichment activities and connect with caring adults. Meals adhere to nutrition standards outlined in y-usa's healthy eating & physical activity standards. A 72-passenger renovated school bus serves as a mobile meals site taking freshly prepared meals directly into identified food deserts. In 2017, the y began offering power scholars academy, an academic achievement gap program, in partnership with united way and pfeiffer burleigh school. The program enrolled 85 of the most academically at-risk children for a 6 week/5 days per week academic and enrichment program that focused on literacy and math gains as well as educational enrichment field trips. Outcomes show that participating children gained 1. 5 months in literacy and 3 months in math. Summer camp when school lets out for summer, kids who don't continue to read, learn and keep their minds and bodies active can fall behind their classmates that do. Some parents just don't have the knowledge/resources to keep their kids engaged and productive all summer long. Many families can't afford to enroll their children in a structured summer program. As a solution, the y offers day camps that go far beyond the typical camp experience. Our camp programs are packed with physical and educational activities, day trips, character building, arts/crafts, group games and more. Campers learn the importance of values and are encouraged to exhibit them in their actions. The y offers scholarships so that all children have the opportunity to enjoy this enriching experience. Early learning readiness recognizing that traditional preschool may not be the best fit for all families, the y's play & learn program reaches out to new american families and builds on the assets of the child's first teacher - their parents. Young learners get stimulating preschool-like experience and caregivers receive support. Play & learn is a free pre-school-like program that child and caregiver attend together that includes songs and 13 learning centers from books and puzzles, to listening and dress-up - all that reinforce learning in preparation for kindergarten. Y staff shows caregivers how a child learns through play and active engagement through everyday activities like running errands, emptying the dishwasher, sorting laundry and preparing dinner. Y staff shares oodles of learning ideas for at home or on the go. Woven into the fabric of the ymca mission is a commitment to strengthening families. Ymca child care programs relieve the burden of balancing work and families, and make it more possible for parents of children in our care to remain gainfully employed, knowing their children are thriving in a safe, developmentally sound environment that offers a range of experiences that enrich social-emotional, cognitive and physical growth. Expenses include subsidies and reduced fees that make participation possible to more than 50% of the children we engage. Our ymca provides reduced fees for child care services. $95,994 was awarded to 190 children to def