Young Mens Christian Association Of Norwich

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HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTHTHIS AREA OF WORK WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND IMPACTFUL OF ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS IN 2021. OUR YOUTH DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO ADJUST OUR PROGRAMMING IN 2020 AND 2021 TO MEET THE DIVERSE CHILDCARE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY EVEN DURING AN ONGOING PANDEMIC.WE ADJUSTED OUR HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE PROGRAMMING THAT PROVIDED ALL-INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING FOR NURSERY, PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN THROUGHOUT CHENANGO COUNTY. WE AMENDED THE TRADITIONAL CHILDCARE FORMATS TO ASSIST FAMILIES WITH FULL DAY OPTIONS, REMOTE LEARNING, AND EMERGENCY CARE. OUR YMCA WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE FOR PRE K STUDENTS THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. IN 2021 WE CONTINUED TO ASSIST AND SERVE A WIDE VARIETY OF FAMILY NEEDS INCLUDING BEFORE SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL, HOLIDAY BREAKS, SNOW DAYS, AND SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD WE PROVIDED CHILDCARE PROGRAMMING TO 236 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN IN 2021. FAMILIES AND CHILDREN NEEDED NORMALCY, A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, CARING STAFF AND A ROUTINE DURING THIS SIGNIFICANT TIME IN OUR HISTORY. WE ARE PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HELP FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND UNTIL NOW. WE OFFER MANY DIFFERENT CHILDCARE OPTIONS TO ASSIST AND SERVE A WIDE VARIETY OF FAMILY NEEDS INCLUDING BEFORE SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL, HOLIDAY BREAKS, SNOW DAYS, AND SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2021 WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER ALL OF THESE AND MORE AS WE STRIVED TO BRING NORMALCY AND FUN BACK TO OUR CHILDREN DURING A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY. OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAMS ARE A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, WHICH DIRECTLY RELATES TO OUR MISSION AND OUR VALUES. YMCA CHILDCARE PROGRAMS ASSIST FAMILIES IN BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES. OUR PROGRAMS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN OUR CARE TO REMAIN GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND BEING CARED FOR ESPECIALLY DURING A PANDEMIC.THE YMCA PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDCARE PROGRAMS TOTALING OVER $21,061. THESE FUNDS WERE AWARDED TO FAMILIES THROUGH OUR OPEN DOORS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THIS YEAR. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 20% OF OUR CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAMS RECEIVE TUITION ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES FOR ALL YMCA PROGRAM AND FACILITY OFFERINGS WHICH EQUATES TO 64% OF ALL SCHOLARSHIPS GOING TOWARDS PROGRAMMING THE YMCA ANNUALLY CONDUCTS NURSERY AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY STUDENTS EACH YEAR. OUR PROGRAMS PREPARE EACH STUDENT WITH THE SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS THAT THEY WILL NEED WHEN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN INCLUDING READING, LITERACY, SHAPES, COLORS, LETTERS, SOUNDS, SAFETY INFORMATION, SWIM LESSONS, AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CLASSES. IN SEPTEMBER 2021 WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART OUR NURSERY SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THREE-YEAR OLDS. THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS WE WERE UNABLE TO OFFER THIS PROGRAM DURING THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR. OUR YMCA PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED OPERATING DURING THE PAST THREE SCHOOL YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC. OUR SKIPPERS PROGRAM INTRODUCES CHILDREN TO THE WATER, AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IT INTRODUCES PARENTS TO THE WATER AS CARE GIVERS. IT FOCUSES ON CHILDREN HAVING FUN AND BEING COMFORTABLE IN THE WATER, FOCUSING ON WATER EXPLORATION AND SAFETY. EARLY ACCLIMATION TO THE WATER PROMOTES COMFORT, CALMNESS, AND INCREASES FLEXIBILITY. IN 2021 WE SAW SIXTY-ONE CHILDREN AGES 6 MONTHS OLD TO THREE YEARS OF AGE GET BACK IN THE WATER WITH THEIR PARENTS.THE YMCA INSTRUCTIONAL SWIM PROGRAM WAS DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2020, IN WHICH OUR FACILITY WAS REQUIRED TO CLOSE FOR SIX MONTHS AND WHEN WE REOPENED, WE WERE LIMITED WITH ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS AND FACILITY LIMITATIONS OF 33% OCCUPANCY. THIS LIMITED OCCUPANCY CONTINUED THROUGH 2021. OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION WAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED AND WAS NOTICEABLY LOWER THAN PRE COVID. IN 2021 WE ACCOMMODATED 147 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN IN OUR SWIMMING PROGRAMS. FIELD-TESTED ACROSS THE NATION BY AQUATICS EXPERTS, Y SWIM LESSONS STRESS A DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH BASED ON CURRENT RESEARCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, MOTOR LEARNING AND MOTOR CONTROL. SWIM LESSONS ARE MORE CHILD CENTERED AS OPPOSED TO GROUP CENTERED AND FOCUS ON THE PART-WHOLE STROKE METHOD OF TEACHING. YMCA INSTRUCTORS GUIDE CHILDREN THROUGH A PROCESS OF INDIVIDUAL EXPLORATION. CHILDREN BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM IN THIS CARING ENVIRONMENT. THIS SWIM PROGRAM TEACHES MORE THAN SWIMMING LESSONS IT DEVELOPS CHARACTER VALUES (CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY) AT EVERY LEVEL. YMCA SWIM LESSONS ADDRESS COMMUNITY ISSUES OF SAFETY IN AND AROUND WATER, LIFESAVING, SURVIVAL AND SAFE BOATING SKILLS WHILE DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERISM.YMCA YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS GIVE KIDS GOOD ROLE MODELS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-RESPECT, AND GOOD VALUES INCLUDING COOPERATION, ACCEPTANCE, RESPECT, CITIZENSHIP, AND A STRONG WORK ETHIC. THE YMCA EMPLOYS MANY TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS THAT WORK WITH OUR YOUNGER MEMBERS TEACHING THEM TO SWIM, WATCHING THEM IN CHILDCARE PROGRAMS, OR COUNSELING THEM WITHIN OUR SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAMS.OUR YMCA CAMPING PROGRAM WAS DIRECTLY IMPACTED AS WE WERE NOT ABLE TO OPERATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIFTY YEARS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020. WE WERE EXCITED TO REOPEN YMCA SUMMER CAMP AT OUR CAMP THOMPSON FACILITY IN 2021, WHILE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH YEAR OF PROGRAMMING AT THE FACILITY. FAMILIES WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND EXCITING FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITH A PRIORITY OF BEING OUTSIDE, IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND WITH A FOCUS OF FUN. IN 2021 OUR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM RETURNED WITH 188 DIFFERENT CHILDREN ATTENDING YMCA SUMMER CAMP.

HEALTH AND WELL BEING FOR ALL THE 2021 CALENDAR YEAR WAS A CONTINUATION OF UNCERTAINTY AND OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS AS MANDATED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK. ALTHOUGH WE REMAINED OPENED, WE WERE LIMITED TO A MINIMUM OCCUPANCY AND OPERATING STANDARDS THAT MADE THE CALENDAR YEAR CHALLENGING. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE NEEDED PROGRAMMING TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH A MEMBERSHIP BASE OF APPROXIMATELY 2100 MEMBERS. A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE BY 50% DUE TO COVID-19 IN 2020. IN 2021, WE STARTED TO OFFER MANY OF OUR PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES AGAIN. THE YMCA OFFERS UNIQUE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR CREATING SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR SUCCESSFUL PURSUIT OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELL BEING AT THE YMCA. IN 2021, WE PROVIDED OVER $34,236 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OVERCOME ECONOMIC BARRIERS FOR PARTICIPATION IN YMCA PROGRAMS AND USAGE OF THE YMCA FACILITY. IN 2009 THE YMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO IMPLEMENT A NEW MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY AND YMCA MEMBERS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS WITHIN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS. A COMPLIMENTARY THREE-MONTH MEMBERSHIP WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES THAT QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM. IN 2021, THE PROGRAM WAS REINSTATED AS WE WERE ABLE TO REOPEN AND OPERATE. IN 2021, ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM OFFERING. IT IS GREAT TO SEE THIS PROGRAM OPERATING AND BEING UTILIZED AGAIN, AS IT IS SUCH A BENEFICIAL PROGRAM TO THOSE THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM IT. HELPING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES DEVELOP HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY IS THE CORE OF THE YMCA MOVEMENT. WE ENCOURAGE THROUGH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION, PROGRAMS THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS CREATE REALISTIC GOALS FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND EMPHASIZE DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE, PROPER NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION. RECREATIONAL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS PROMOTE TEAMWORK, SPORTSMANSHIP, FAIR PLAY, INTERACTION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL SKILLS.WE OFFER MANY ADULT CLASSES AND LEAGUES SUCH AS: BASKETBALL, RACQUETBALL, SWIMMING, PICKLEBALL, GROUP EXERCISE, YOGA, PERSONAL FITNESS, AND ACTIVE OLDER ADULT CLASSES SOCIAL PROGRAMS. DURING 2021, MANY PROGRAMS STARTED TO RETURN BUT WITH LIMITED PARTICIPATION. LAP SWIMMING AND WATER FITNESS CLASSES GENERATED INTEREST WHILE THE CONTINUED USE OF THE FITNESS CENTER AND FITNESS CLASSES FOR OUR MEMBERS SLOWLY BEGAN TO RETURN.COLLECTIVELY WE ARE THE LARGEST YOUTH SPORTS PROVIDER IN CHENANGO COUNTY. PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE BASKETBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, TEE BALL, SWIM TEAM, INDOOR SOCCER, OUTDOOR SOCCER, INSTRUCTION SWIM LESSONS, AND PRESCHOOL GYM AND MOVEMENT CLASSES. WITH AFFORDABLE PARTICIPATION RATES AND INEXPENSIVE MEMBERSHIP RATES YOUTH PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE AT OUR FACILITY AND OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPANTS HAD OVER 612 YOUTH, AGES FIVE THROUGH TWELVE IN OUR VARIOUS YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS, WHICH REPRESENT ALL SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEMOGRAPHICS, RACES, AND RELIGIONS WITHIN OUR PROGRAMS.PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE NOTED THAT WATER FITNESS PROGRAMS ARE IDEAL FOR MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND INCREASES PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE WHILE USING THE WATER AS A NATURAL RESISTANCE. OUR CLASSES PROMOTE HEALTHY HABITS, DEVELOP NEW RELATIONSHIPS, AND INTRODUCE NEW ACTIVE LIFESTYLES. OUR WATER FITNESS CLASSES WERE IMPACTED BY COVID-19 AND MANY WERE NOT ABLE TO BE OFFERED FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME. ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO, WATER FITNESS CLASSES WERE REINTRODUCED TO THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE CLASSES GREW DUE TO THE SOCIALIZATION, AND THE DIRECT BENEFITS OF WATER EXERCISE FOR MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION TO HEALTH & WELLNESS CLASSES AT THE YMCA IN NORWICH, WE ALSO CONDUCT OUTREACH CLASSES IN THE FOLLOWING RURAL COMMUNITIES OF OXFORD, GILBERTSVILLE, NEW BERLIN AND GREENE. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF OUR OUTREACH LOCATIONS ARE HELD AT SCHOOLS AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO UTILIZE THE SCHOOLS DURING THE PANDEMIC AS AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION. IN 2021, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER PROGRAM OFFERINGS IN TWO ADDITIONAL COMMUNITIES BESIDES NORWICH. DURING 2021 THE NORWICH YMCA CONTINUED TO OPEN ITS DOORS TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AT NO COST. IT IS THE BELIEF AT THE YMCA THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY BASED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT IS SUPPORTED BY OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT IS OUR PHILOSOPHY TO ASSIST OTHER AGENCIES PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE NUMBER OF OUTSIDE GROUPS UTILIZING THE Y HAS SLOWLY STARTED TO RETURN AND OUR DESIRE TO SUPPORT LOCAL GROUPS IS STILL STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE.

FAMILY STRENGTHENING PARENTS SPEND LESS TIME PER WEEK WITH THEIR CHILDREN TODAY THAN THEY DID IN 1960. THE YMCA IS COMMITTED TO HELPING FAMILIES BUILD STRONGER BONDS BY BRINGING THEM TOGETHER IN A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT HELP FORM STABLE RELATIONSHIPS, ENHANCE COMMUNICATION AND PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES. OUR YMCA HELPS FAMILIES BUILD STRONGER BONDS, ACHIEVE GREATER WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND BECOME MORE ENGAGED WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN 2021, THE YMCA AWARDED $13,175 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE FACILITY ACCESS TO FAMILIES, SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES, ADULTS, AND CHILDREN. THIS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EQUALS 40% OF ALL YMCA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDED IN 2021. IN 2009 THE YMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO IMPLEMENT A NEW MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND YMCA MEMBERS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS WITHIN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS. A COMPLIMENTARY THREE-MONTH MEMBERSHIP IS AWARDED TO ALL QUALIFYING PARTICIPANTS WITH PROPER VALIDATION OF JOB LOSS. DURING 2021, THIS PROGRAM BENEFIT WAS UTILIZED VERY MINIMALLY, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER THIS ASSISTANCE AND WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER. THIS PROGRAM WILL REMAIN INTACT TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED AS WE CONTINUE TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC. THE YMCA FACILITY WAS ABLE TO WELCOME BACK SPECIAL EVENTS IN 2021 INCLUDING FAMILY NIGHTS, HALLOWEEN PARADE AND TURKEY TROT. THESE EVENTS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY CONNECTEDNESS AND OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER. OUR FAMILY SWIM PROGRAM GIVES FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TIME TOGETHER WITH THEIR FAMILY. OUR FAMILY TIME IN OUR KIDS GYMNASIUM PLAY ZONE PROVIDES CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WHILE EXERCISING, BUILDING TRUST, AND HAVING FUN. WE WERE THANKFUL TO WELCOME THESE TWO IMPORTANT FAMILY PROGRAMS BACK IN 2021. ALL OF OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS ALLOW FOR FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION. ALL OF THE COACHES, OFFICIALS, SCOREKEEPERS, AND ASSISTANTS ARE VOLUNTEER PARENTS ASSISTING WITH THEIR CHILDS RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE. IN 2021, FOUR HUNDRED AND FIVE FAMILIES SAW THEIR CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN YMCA YOUTH SPORTS, CONNECTING PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHILE LEARNING SKILLS, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND TEAMWORK.IN ADDITION TO PROGRAMMING AT THE YMCA, WE ALSO OFFER PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AT NUMEROUS OFFSITE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT CHENANGO COUNTY. IN 2021 THE YMCA WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING IN THE COMMUNITY OF GREENE AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES IN OXFORD. BY PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES, FAMILIES WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO RECREATE TOGETHER. THE YMCA OFFERS A CHILD WATCH PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES THAT WISH TO UTILIZE THE YMCA. CHILD WATCH IS A SUPERVISED PROGRAM THAT IS DESIGNED FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS AND YOUNG MEMBERS, IN A SUPERVISED SETTING, PERMITTING PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN YMCA PROGRAMMING FOR THEIR SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. WE WERE THANKFUL TO RESTART THIS PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITY IN 2021 FOR FAMILIES WISHING TO BEGIN A HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNEY AND FAMILY RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AGAIN AFTER MISSING SO MUCH THE YEAR BEFORE DUE TO COVID. WE HAVE FOUND THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS US MORE THAN EVER AS WE ALL TRY TO FIND A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDCARE, HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVES AND TO RECREATE FRIENDSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS. ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC CREATED A VOID, FEAR, AND AN UNCERTAINTY, IT DID PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NORWICH HELPING HANDS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW AS WE PROVIDE FOOD, HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS, HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND MORE TO FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY IN NEED. EACH MONTH ONE HUNDRED PLUS FAMILIES HAVE DIRECTLY BENEFITTED FROM THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY COLLABORATION. THIS IS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT DID NOT STOP DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND WE COLLECTIVELY BECAME STRONGER WHILE HELPING MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN NEED.