Young Mens Christian Association Cortland

THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE YMCA IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IN A SPIRIT OF INCLUSION AND FELLOWSHIP. YMCAS PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL. YMCA PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FOUR CORE VALUES - CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. WE SERVE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, RACES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, NATIONAL ORIGINS, AND RELIGIONS. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. WE IDENTIFY NEEDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND RESPOND TO THEM SO THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM OUR EFFORTS.THE MISSION OF OUR YMCAOUR MISSION COMES ALIVE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT HELP PEOPLE:APPRECIATE DIVERSITYBECOME BETTER LEADERS AND LISTENERSDEVELOP SKILLS THAT BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, HEALTH AND CONFIDENCEHAVE FUN WITH OTHERS AND LEARN FROM THEMDEVELOP A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODYREACH OUT TO ONE ANOTHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS THAT THE COMMUNITY FACESOUR MISSION COMES ALIVE THROUGH THE

THE YMCA'S CHILDCARE PROGRAMS INCLUDE DROPIN CHILDCARE, UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN, WRAPAROUND AND JR. CAMP ADVENTURE. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER EXPERIENTIAL AND HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT PROVIDE CHALLENGE AND PROMOTE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, SOCIAL GROWTH, AND SELF-RESPECT. IN A NURTURING AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT, CHILDREN DEVELOP THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CAPABILITIES, RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF COOPERATION AND GAIN CONFIDENCE.

THE CORTLAND YMCA STINGERS SWIM TEAM HAS BUILT UP A REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN SWIMMING. DESPITE CORTLAND'S SMALL SIZE, THE CORTLAND Y STINGERS HAVE CONVINCINGLY PROVEN THAT THEY CAN COMPETE AGAINST LARGER UPSTATE CITIES, NEW YORK CITY AND LONG ISLAND TEAMS. OUR SWIMMERS HAVE SET RECORDS AND WON STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TITLES. MANY CORTLAND SWIMMERS HAVE GONE ON TO COMPETE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL ON SCHOLARSHIPS AT IVY LEAGUE, EASTERN, WESTERN AND MID-WESTERN UNIVERSITIES. MEMBERS OF THE CORTLAND Y STINGERS PROUDLY ENTER ANY MEET AS ONE OF THE TEAMS TO BEAT. AS IMPORTANTLY, ALL OUR SWIMMERS HAVE PROVEN TO BE WINNERS BY ACQUIRING, THROUGH THE PROGRAM, QUALITIES THAT WILL HELP THEM THROUGHOUT LIFE: SELF DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.

PROGRESSIVE GYMNASTIC CLASSES HELD AT THE J M MCDONALD SPORTS COMPLEX FOR BEGINNERS THROUGH COMPETITIVE LEVEL. YMCA COMETS GYMNASTICS TEAM AND PRE-TEAM ARE COMPETITIVE TEAMS WHERE SKILLS ARE ACQUIRED THROUGH THE PROGRESSIVE LESSONS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES CHALLENGE AND PROMOTES SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, SOCIAL GROWTH, AND SELF-RESPECT.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: YMCA YOUTH PROGRAMS SUCH AS YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT AND LEAD, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP TEENS DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM, STRONG MORAL VALUES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND A POSITIVE WORK ETHIC. THE SOCIAL INTERACTION, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST OTHERS, AND EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS AND IDEALS THAT EACH YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN YMCA PROGRAMS CAN WORK TO ACHIEVE.