Union County Family Young Mens Christian Association

THE UNION COUNTY YMCA IS A CHARITABLE, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT INCLUDES MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, INCOME, RACES AND RELIGIONS. WE ARE DEDICATED TO BUILDING STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES AND STRONG COMMUNITIES BY PUTTING CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, DEMOGRAPHERS PROJECT THAT CHILDREN WILL LIVE SHORTER LIVES THAN THEIR PARENTS AND FACE A DECLINING STANDARD OF LIVING EVERY DAY. THE YMCA HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE DEEPEN POSITIVE VALUES, THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND THEIR MOTIVATION TO LEARN. YMCA PROGRAMS OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH A CHILD'S COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. EXPENSES INCLUDE SUBSIDIES AND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. LAST SCHOOL YEAR THE YMCA AVERAGED 15-20 CHILDREN IN THE BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM AND 25-30 CHILDREN IN THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. APPROXIMATELY 25-30% OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. PRESCHOOL CLASSES ARE OFFERED FOR 3-4 YEAR OLDS AND THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNION COUNTY BOARD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. WE OFFER AN INTRODUCTORY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOR 2-3 YEAR OLDS CALLED TOTS N TOW. OUR SUMMER CAMP PROVIDES ALL DAY CARE FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 12 DURING THE 11 WEEKS OF SUMMER. CAMPS PROVIDE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, SWIMMING, AND FIELD TRIPS AND WE PROVIDE AIDS TO SUPPORT SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN FROM OUR COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 20-25% OF OUR CAMPERS ARE FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. IN ADDITION, EACH YEAR WE DISTRIBUTE TEN CHARACTER AWARDS TO ALL SCHOOLS IN UNION COUNTY. THESE AWARDS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE OUTSTANDING VALUES AND ENTITLE THE RECIPIENTS TO A FREE WEEK OF CAMP. THE YMCA OFFERS SUMMER TEEN OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING THE COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING (CIT) PROGRAM AND THE TEEN ADVENTURE CAMP. OUR CIT PROGRAM GIVES TEENS EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP WHILE WORKING WITH AND ASSISTING CAMP COUNSELORS IN OUR SUMMER CAMP. OUR TEEN ADVENTURE CAMP EMPHASIZES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND TEAM BUILDING AND INCLUDES AN OVERNIGHT STAY IN A STATE PARK. WE ALSO OFFER THREE DIFFERENT FITNESS CLASSES FOR TEENS. A FITNESS ORIENTATION CLASS GIVES TEENS AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR FITNESS CENTER AND TEACHES THEM HOW TO USE FITNESS EQUIPMENT AND CARDIOVASCULAR MACHINES. OUR SPORTS CONDITIONING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE EACH PARTICIPANT'S OVERALL COORDINATION, SPEED, AND POWER IN PREPARATION FOR SPORT PARTICIPATION. OUR FIT KIDS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES PARTICIPANTS AGES 9-15 TO DEVELOP HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS WITH HELP FROM A PERSONAL TRAINER PROMOTING STRENGTH TRAINING, CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS AND GOOD NUTRITION. THE YMCA OFFERS A VARIETY OF YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES INCLUDING BASKETBALL, SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, T-BALL, AND BASEBALL, SWIMMING AND GYMNASTICS. WE ALSO OFFER YEAR-ROUND SWIMMING LESSONS WHICH FOCUS ON SWIMMING SKILLS AND WATER SAFETY. OUR GYMNASTICS PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS YEAR-ROUND CLASSES FOR CHILDREN FROM 18 MONTHS THROUGH THEIR TEEN YEARS. ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS FOCUS ON THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN AND PROMOTE THE YMCA CORE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY.

AT A TIME WHEN 17 PERCENT OF CHILDREN AND NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF ADULTS ARE CLASSIFIED AS OBESE, THE YMCA PROVIDES ALL OF OUR MEMBERS WITH THE SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND ENVIRONMENT THEY NEED FOR THEIR SUCCESSFUL PURSUIT OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING 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. WE OFFER MANY PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR CHILDREN INCLUDING KIDS COOKING CLASSES, MARTIAL ARTS, YOUTH TRIATHALON AND HEALTHY KIDS DAY. OUR FIT KIDS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES PARTICIPANTS AGES 9 TO 15 TO DEVELOP HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS WITH HELP FROM A PERSONAL TRAINER PROMOTING STRENGTH TRAINING, CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS AND GOOD NUTRITION. OUR KIDS COOKING CLASSES TEACH BASIC COOKING SKILLS, NUTRITION AND KITCHEN SAFETY TO PROMOTE LIFE LONG HEALTHY HABITS. HEALTHY KIDS DAY IS THE NATION'S LARGEST HEALTHY DAY FOR KIDS. OUR PROGRAM INCLUDES A HEALTHY FAIR FOR KIDS, HEALTH SNACKS, FITNESS GAMES, CLASS DEMONSTRATIONS, SWIMMING AND MUCH MORE. MANY MORE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON ADULT HEALTH INCLUDING COMMUNITY CPR AND FIRST AID CLASSES, COMMUNITY CHALLENGE, AND LIVE STRONG. COMMUNITY CHALLENGE OFFERS TEAMS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES A CHANCE TO COMPETE IN A VARIETY OF HEALTHY ACTIVITIES IN AN ATMOSPHERE THAT PROMOTES FUN. WINTER MELTDOWN HELPS ADULTS LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIFESTYLE AND LOSE WEIGHT WITH A 12 WEEK WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE COMPLETE WITH BI-WEEKLY WEIGH-INS, NEWSLETTERS, DISCOUNTS ON PERSONAL TRAINING SERVICES, AND FUN COMPETITIVE CHALLENGES. SENIORS ARE SPECIAL AT OUR YMCA. SENIOR SUNRISE IS A FREE ACTIVITY ON FRIDAYS THAT GIVES SENIORS ACCESS TO THE YMCA FACILITY AND EXERCISE CLASSES. SENIOR AEROBIC CLASSES AND WATER EXERCISE CLASSES ARE OFFERED FOR ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS AND A SPECIALIZED ARTHRITIS CLASS IS OFFERED IN OUR WARM POOL. IN ADDITION, WE PARTNER WITH A LOCAL NURSING HOME TO PROVIDE GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES FREE OF CHARGE.

PARENTS NOW SPEND AN AVERAGE OF 10-12 HOURS LESS PER WEEK WITH THEIR CHILDREN 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. FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THESE CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND THEIR IMPACT, SEE SCHEDULE O. OUR YMCA STRIVES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO SPEND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER. WE OFFER A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES TO PLAY WITH OPEN GYM TIME, RACQUETBALL COURTS, AND VARIOUS FITNESS PROGRAMS. OUR FAMILY FRIDAYS ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO COME TO THE YMCA FOR A FREE EVENING OF FUN WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY SWIMMING, GROUP GAMES, AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. SPECIAL EVENTS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, EASTER, MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY AND THANKSGIVING ARE OPEN TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE OUR CORE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY. WE ARE PROUD TO PARTICIPATE IN AMERICA ON THE MOVE (AOM). AOM IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM AIMED AT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETY. THE YMCA OFFERS A VARIETY OF YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES INCLUDING BASKETBALL, SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, T-BALL, AND BASEBALL, SWIMMING AND GYMNASTICS. MANY PARENTS VOLUNTEER N OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS AS COACHES AND MENTORS TO THEIR OWN FAMILIY MEMBERS AS WELL AS FAMILIES THROUGHOUT OUT COMMUNITY.