Meeting Waters Ymca

BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES BY INSPIRING ALL TO DEVELOP HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. WE ENVISION COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES; EMBODY THE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, REEPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY; DEEPEN CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER, THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR COMMUNITY; AND ARE STRONG IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. OUR PROGRAMS SERVE OVER 500 CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS FROM TWO DOZEN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT COMMUNITITES OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY

SEE SCHEDULE OSCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAMSSINCE 1895 MEETING WATERS YMCA HAS BEEN RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. OUR Y-ASPIRE PROGRAM IS A STATE-LICENSED SCHOOL-AGE CHILDCARE PROGRAMS WHICH ENSURES HIGH STANDARDS OF SAFETY, PROPER STAFF TRAINING, AND AN AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM. Y-ASPIRE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN FOUR SITES, SERVING CHILDREN AND PARENTS FROM BRATTLEBORO, GUILFORD AND DUMMERSTON. WHILE WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RE-OPEN AT ALL OF OUR PREVIOUS SITES, WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. Y-ASPIRE RUNS FROM THE CLOSE OF SCHOOL UNTIL 6:00 ON EACH OF THE 180 SCHOOL DAYS AS WELL AS FOR FULL-DAYS ON ALL VACATIONS, TEACHER IN-SERVICE DAYS, AND MOST HOLIDAYS. EACH DAY OF THIS ASSET-BUILDING PROGRAM INCLUDES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, NUTRITIOUS SNACK/MEAL, STUDY TIME AND A GROUP PROJECT. IT IS OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE CARE IN A FUN, ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPHASIZES HEALTHY PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, STUDENTS IN THE Y-ASPIRE PROGRAM DEVELOP "LIFE SKILLS" SUCH AS COOPERATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, GROUP DECISION-MAKING AND LEADERSHIP. THEY ALSO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR WORLD. MOST ACTIVITIES ARE CENTERED AROUND A MONTHLY THEME SUCH AS CELEBRATING DIVERSITY, OUR COMMUNITY, KINDNESS AND JUSTICE, HEALTHY KIDS AND HEALTHY FAMILIES, AND OUR NATURAL WORLD. WE INCORPORATE LITERACY, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND STEM INTO EACH MONTH OF ACTIVITIES. Y-ASPIRE PARTICIPANTS ENJOY A VARIETY OF FUN READING, WRITING, ART, DRAMA AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED DIRECTLY TO OUR YMCA CORE VALUES (CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY) AND OUR Y-ASPIRE MONTHLY THEMES. EACH DAY ALSO INCLUDES 20 MINUTES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN KEEPING WITH OUR HEALTHY EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STANDARDS. AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, WE COLLABORATE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO UTILIZE THE AT-RISK AFTERSCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE "SUPER SNACK"/SUPPER TO ALL OF OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT BUILT INTO OUR PROGRAM WHICH INVOLVE THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN FAMILY STRENGTHENING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING OUR HEALTHY FAMILY HOME INITIATIVE. IN FY23, PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN Y-ASPIRE RECEIVED OVER $92,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND STATE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY.

SEE SCHEDULE ODAY CAMP PROGRAMSOUR SUMMER PROGRAM RETURNED AS IT HAS FOR 58 YEARS, PROVIDING 8 WEEKS OF ENRICHING SUMMER CAMP AT OUR SPRINGFIELD LOCATION. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WITHOUT ACCESS TO LEARNING ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, KIDS FALL BEHIND ACADEMICALLY AND EXPERIENCE "SUMMER LEARNING LOSS." FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE CHALLENGED ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY, SUMMER LEARNING LOSS PUSHES THEM EVEN FARTHER BEHIND THEIR PEERS. OUR Y DAY CAMP, MTN BIKE CAMPS AND RISING LEADERS PROGRAMS PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, ASSET-BUILDING SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES FOR MORE THAN 165 DIFFERENT CHILDREN AGES 5-15 OVER EIGHT WEEKS OF THE SUMMER BREAK. THESE CHILDREN COME FROM 27 VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITIES SUPPORTED BY OUR BUSSING SERVICE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE LOW COST OF OUR CAMP. OUR Y DAY CAMP STAFF FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE CHILD BY PROVIDING A WIDE-VARIETY OF FUN, AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH, AND THE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. CORE CAMP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: YMCA SWIM LESSONS, SPORTS, ARTS & CRAFTS, FREE SWIM, COOPERATIVE GAMES, HIKING, THEATER & MUSIC, ARCHERY, NATURE EDUCATION, AND CANOEING. SESSION THEMES PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR MANY ACTIVITIES. OUR RISING LEADERS PROGRAM, WHICH CONSISTS OF BOTH A LEADER-IN-TRAINING PROGRAM FOR 13 14-YEAR OLDS AND A COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING PROGRAM FOR 14 AND 15-YEAR-OLDS, IS DESIGNED TO BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN BEING A MEETING WATERS YMCA CAMPER AND A CAMP STAFF MEMBER. BUT, THE LIT PROGRAM IS MORE THAN THAT. IT IS A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. IT IS A MENTORING PROGRAM. IT IS GREAT TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT MIGHT WANT TO GO INTO TEACHING, SOCIAL SERVICES, YOUTH WORK OR OTHER GROUP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. THIS PAST SUMMER OUR MOUNTAIN BIKE CAMP RETURNED FOR TWO SESSIONS. IN FY23, PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN THESE PROGRAMS RECEIVED MORE THAN $60,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND STATE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY.IN ADDITION, THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH WNESU, WE ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY OFTEN A CHALLENGE IN THE SUMMER. ALL OF OUR SUMMER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND AN AFTERNOON SNACK AT NO COST TO THE FAMILY. OVER 5,200 MEALS WERE SERVED AT CAMP WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2,600 SNACKS. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SPRINGFIELD ROTARY CLUB ALSO PROVIDED WEEKEND FOOD BAGS TO THOSE FAMILIES MOST IN NEED.