Hanover Area Ymca

TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL.

THE PURPOSE OF THE HANOVER AREA YMCA ACADEMY OF EARLY LEARNING (AEL) AND THE SOUTH HANOVER EARLY LEARNING CENTER (ELC) ARE TO PROVIDE A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AGES TO ASSIST THEM IN GAINING SKILLS FOR SCHOOL READINESS, AS WELL AS DEVELOP AND ENHANCE SOCIAL, COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS. OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR OVER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. THE AEL PROGRAM IS LOCATED AT OUR NORTH HANOVER SITE, AND IS FOR CHILDREN AGES 12 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS. THIS PROGRAM IS OPEN YEAR ROUND FROM 6:15 AM TO 6:00 PM, AND IS NAEYC ACCREDITED AND A KEYSTONE STAR 4. CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED BREAKFAST, TWO SNACKS, AND LUNCH USING CACFP GUIDELINES. THE ELC PROGRAM IS LOCATED AT OUR SOUTH HANOVER SITE AND IS FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 5 YEARS. THIS PROGRAM IS OPEN YEAR ROUND FROM 7:00AM TO 5:00PM, AND IS A KEYSTONE STAR 2. CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED WITH BREAKFAST AND TWO SNACKS DAILY. OUR TEACHERS USE THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM AS A PLANNING TOOL THAT IS BASED ON LEARNING THROUGH PLAY. THIS CURRICULUM IS CROSS-WALKED WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE LEARNING CENTERS, CIRCLE TIME, CREATIVE ARTS, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, MUSIC, MATH, SCIENCE, COOKING AND GROSS MOTOR PLAY. CHILDREN AGE 3 TO 5 PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS AND SWIMMING LESSONS, AND HAVE MUSIC CLASSES TWICE PER MONTH. THE AEL IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE CARE FOR 150 CHILDREN. THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT IS 75 CHILDREN. THE ELC IS LICENSED FOR 33 CHILDREN, THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT IS 20. LAST SCHOOL YEAR, 38 CHILDREN GRADUATED FROM OUR PRE-K CLASSES AND WENT ON TO KINDERGARTEN. OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED IN THE PROGRAM, FIFTY-TWO PERCENT ARE FEMALE AND FORTY-EIGHT ARE MALE. EIGHTY-SIX PERCENT ARE CAUCASIAN, NINE PERCENT ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND FIVE PERCENT ARE HISPANIC. SIXTY PERCENT OF CHILDREN IN THE ELC RECEIVE SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND FIFTEEN PERCENT RECEIVE CCIS FUNDING.THE PURPOSE OF THE HANOVER AREA YMCA SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE (SACC) PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND NURTURING CHILD DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT DURING THE CRITICAL HOURS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT RISKY BEHAVIOR OCCURS DURING THESE TIME PERIODS WHEN WORKING PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THEIR CHILD. OUR PROGRAM IS HELD AT OUR NORTH HANOVER LOCATION, AS WELL AS IN SOME OF THE AREA SCHOOLS, AND PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH AGE-APPROPRIATE SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. WE FOCUS ON OUR YMCA VALUES OF HONESTY, CARING, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY AND FAITH. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES ARE SCHEDULED WITH INPUT FROM THE STUDENTS. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH A QUIET AREA TO DO HOMEWORK AND/OR RELAX. SACC STAFF PROVIDE HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP. SEVERAL CENTERS ARE OFFERED EACH DAY IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO. CENTER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BLOCK PLAY, DRAMATIC PLAY, SCIENCE ACTIVITIES, CREATIVE ARTS, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND LIBRARY. GROSS MOTOR PLAY IS SCHEDULED DAILY. CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST AND AFTERNOON SNACK. ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY AT A KEYSTONE STAR 2. THE YMCA'S SACC PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 35 YEARS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE SACC PROGRAM PROVIDED A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR 188 YOUTH IN GRADES K - 6, REPRESENTING ALL RACES, RELIGIONS, ETHNICITY, INCOME LEVELS AND ABILITIES. FIFTY-TWO PERCENT OF OUR CLIENTS ARE FEMALE AND FORTY-EIGHT PERCENT ARE MALE. EIGHTY-SEVEN PERCENT OF OUR CLIENTS ARE CAUCASIAN, SEVEN PERCENT ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, FIVE PERCENT ARE HISPANIC AND ONE PERCENT ARE ASIAN. TWELVE PERCENT OF OUR CLIENTS ARE AGE 5; EIGHTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF OUR CLIENTS ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 12. FORTY PERCENT OF CHILDREN IN THE SACC PROGRAM RECEIVE SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, FIVE PERCENT ALSO RECEIVE CCIS FUNDING. WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM TEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND ONE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL LOCATED IN FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE GREATER HANOVER AREA.

HANOVER YMCA GYMNASTICS IS A MULTIFACETED PROGRAM THAT ENRICHES THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR PROGRAM IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR KEY GROUPS.PRESCHOOL AGES 14 MONTHS - 4 YEARS. DEVELOPMENTAL AGES 4 AND UP. IN THIS PROGRAM CHILDREN ARE GIVEN PROGRESS REPORTS AND MAY MOVE FROM BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE AND PRETEAM BASED ON THE PROFICIENCY OF SKILLS TAUGHT.TEAM OUR PRE-TEAM AND TEAM PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE BY INVITATION ONLY TO CHILDREN AGES 4-18. SPECIALS THESE ARE PROGRAMS SUCH AS TUMBLING CLASSES, OPEN GYMS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION TO GYMNASTICS. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GYMNASTICS TRAINING AT THE HANOVER YMCA?PHYSICAL 1. MUSCLE STRENGTH: GAINING MUSCLE STRENGTH THROUGH TUMBLING, JUMPING, STATIC FLEXING, AND HOLDING ONE'S OWN BODY WEIGHT IN VARIOUS POSITIONS HELPS CHILDREN DEVELOP STRONG AND POWERFUL BODIES. 2. HEALTHY BONES: THESE SAME TYPES OF MOVEMENTS ASSIST CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPING STRONG HEALTHY BONES SINCE GYMNASTICS IS A WEIGHT-BEARING ACTIVITY. 3. FLEXIBILITY: THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE MUSCLES THROUGH THEIR FULL RANGE OF MOTION.NON-PHYSICAL OUR GYMNASTICS PROGRAM PROVIDES STIMULATING AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM AND TERRIFIC INSTRUCTORS WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS, AND HELP THEM YIELD OTHER IMPORTANT NON-PHYSICAL BENEFITS FROM THEIR GYMNASTICS. COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL BENEFITS MIGHT NOT BE AS OBVIOUS AS A TONED MUSCLE, BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THEY ARE THERE.1. COGNITIVE BENEFITS: WHEN CHILDREN ARE ENGAGING IN GYMNASTICS, THEY ARE EXERCISING THEIR BRAINS AS WELL AS THEIR BODIES. EVERY TIME YOU SEND YOUR CHILD TO GYMNASTICS CLASS, HE/SHE IS ENGAGING IN PHYSICAL EXERCISE THAT ENCOURAGES HEALTHY BRAIN FUNCTION. NERVE CELLS MULTIPLY AND CONNECTIONS IN THE BRAIN ARE STRENGTHENED. IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE ENGAGING IN CONSISTENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LIKE GYMNASTICS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET BETTER GRADES THAN THEIR INACTIVE PEERS.2. SOCIAL SKILLS: CHILDREN CAN ALSO BENEFIT SOCIALLY FROM ENGAGING IN GYMNASTICS. ASIDE FROM SIMPLY INTERACTING WITH OTHER CHILDREN IN THEIR CLASS, WE ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK AND PARTNER DRILLS IN THEIR PRACTICES. THE MORE CHILDREN CAN INTERACT WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHILDREN BOTH IN SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, THE MORE THEY WILL LEARN HOW TO HANDLE CONFLICT AND POSITIVELY RELATE TO OTHERS.3. REDUCED RISKY BEHAVIOR: GYMNASTICS PROVIDES A STABLE, RELIABLE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SOURCE FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND TEENS. YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSISTENTLY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN USING TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, OR OTHER DRUGS. WHEN CHILDREN CAN FIND POSITIVE, ACTIVE WAYS TO KEEP BUSY IN A PLACE THAT YOU CAN TRUST, THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO MAKE UP WAYS TO OCCUPY THEIR TIME THAT COULD LEAD TO POOR OR RISKY CHOICES.4. CONFIDENCE: WHILE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TENDS TO REDUCE FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, OUR INSTRUCTORS HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP AN "I CAN" ATTITUDE THAT CAN GIVE THEM THAT INTANGIBLE HIGH OF KNOWING THEY CAN COUNT ON THEMSELVES TO SUCCEED.5. CHARACTER: WE HAVE INCORPORATED AGE-APPROPRIATE CHARACTER EDUCATION INTO OUR TEAM PROGRAM. CHILDREN LEARN RESPECT, SELF-CONTROL, RESPONSIBILITY, CONFIDENCE, SPORTSMANSHIP AND OTHER CHARACTER- BASED CONCEPTS THAT HELP THEM STRIVE TO BECOME THEIR VERY BEST BOTH WITHIN THE GYMNASTICS CLUB AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. PRESCHOOL TOTAL SESSION SIGN-UPS FOR 2021 = 442DEVELOPMENTAL TOTAL SESSION SIGN-UPS FOR 2021 = 1036TEAM AND PRE-TEAM INDIVIDUALS SERVED FOR 2021 = 139SPECIALTY INDIVIDUALS SERVED FOR 201= 1564 (B-DAYS, TUMBLING, PRIVATE LESSONS, AND OPEN GYM)

THE HANOVER AREA YMCA IS A MEMBERSHIP BASED, CHARITABLE, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY THROUGH PROGRAMS AND MEMBERSHIPS. WE WELCOME AND SERVE ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME, RACE, RELIGION, GENDER, OR ABILITY TO PAY. MEMBERSHIP TO THE YMCA ENABLES PEOPLE TO UTILIZE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR IMPROVING PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS GOALS. YMCA STAFF ASSISTS AND LEAD MEMBERS THROUGH TRAINING OF USE OF EQUIPMENT AND BY ASSISTING THEM WITH SETTING REALISTIC GOALS. THE YMCA IS A RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY HUB IN OUR TOWN, PEOPLE GATHER TO SOCIALIZE AND FEEL A GREAT SENSE OF BELONGING AT THE YMCA. ALL PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS, AS WELL, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE UNABLE TO AFFORD MEMBERSHIP FEES. THE YMCA IS UTILIZED BY DOZENS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS, AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, CLUBS, AND MORE FOR A VAST VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. YMCA HAS AN AVERAGE 8,900 MEMBERSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR YEAR.

DAY CAMP, YOUTH AND ADULT SPORTS, AQUATICS, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS