Young Mens Christian Association Of Defiance County Ohio

THE DEFIANCE AREA YMCA IS A CHARITABLE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT INCLUDES MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDERN OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, RACES AND RELIGIONS. WE ARE DEDICATED TO BUILDING STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES, AND STRONG COMMUNITIES BY PUTTING CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, STRONG VALUES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY INTERACTION. ALL PERSONS ARE WELCOME AT OUR YMCA, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. OUR YMCA IS FOUNDED AND LED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY; VOLUNTEERS ALSO SERVE AS MENTORS, COACHES, PROGRAM LEADERS, INSTRUCTORS AND MORE.

HEALTH LIVING FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS-HELPING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES DEVELOP HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY IS AT THE CORE OF THE YMCA MOVEMENT. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE CREATE REALISTIC GOALS FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND EMPHASIZE DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE, PROPER NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION. SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND ADULTS PROMOTE TEAMWORK, INTERACTION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL SKILLS. OUR "ARTHRITIS AQUATICS" IS AN AQUATICS PROGRAM THAT KEEPS SENIORS ACTIVE AND FLEXIBLE; OUR TADPOLES AQUATICS PROGRAM HELPS TO DEVELOP PHYSICAL SKILLS IN TODDLERS; OUR FAMILY NIGHTS GIVE ADULTS AND CHILDREN SHARED TIME IN THE POOL TO APPRECIATE ONE ANOTHER AND PROMOTE INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. OUR SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT AFFORDABLE FEES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WITH REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FULL FEE. IN LIGHT OF THE RISING OBESITY RATES IN THIS COUNTRY, OUR YMCA PARTICIPATES IN THE ACTIVATE AMERICA INITIATIVE AND ENGAGES IN A VARIETY OF EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO HELP THE "AT RISK POPULATION" DEVELOP HABITS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY-OUR YMCA WORKS IN COLLABORTATION WITH GOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT HELP ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION TO BUILD STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES, AND STRONG COMMUNITIES. IN THESE PROGRAMS, WE DEVELOP AND BUILD ON PEOPLE'S STRENGTHS, RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON THE DETRIMENTS IN THEIR LIVES. OUR PROGRAMS OFFER MENTORING PARTICPANTS TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS, DEVELOPE SELF-ESTEEM, AND SELF- RELIANCE, AND BUILD HEALTH RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PEERS AND WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THESE PROGRAMS CREATE AN ATMOSPHER IN WHICH LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND AN ETHIC OF SERVICE CAN GROW AND FLOURISH.

YMCA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS-YMCA YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS GIVE KIDS GOOD ROLE MODELS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM AND GOOD VALUES, INCLUDING CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND A STRONG WORK ETHIC. OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM EXPOSES YOUNG PEOPLE TO CIVIC LEADERS AND HELPS THEM DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF CIVIC INVOLVEMENT. OUR SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM HELPS YOUTH DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION OF CHARITABLE SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. MANY PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR FEE-BASED PROGRAMS, SO A YOUNG PERSON'S ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT A BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION. THE YMCA DAY CAMP PROGRAM PROVIDES A LASTING EXPERIENCE OF PERSONAL ENRICHMENT. DAY CAMPS OFFER ADVENTURE AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT PROVIDE CHALLENGE AND PROMOTE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL BEING, SOCIAL GROWTH, AND SELF-RESPECT. CAMPING HELPS YOUTH BECOME AWARE OF THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CAPABILITIES, TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF COOPERATION, AND TO GAIN CONFIDENCE. CHILD CARE-OUR YMCA PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN DRAWING ON DIVERSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE PROVED BOTH FULL AND PART TIME OPTIONS TO SERVE A WIDE RANGE OF FAMILY SCHEDULING NEEDS. WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THE YMCA MISSION IS A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. YMCA CHILDCARE PROGRAMS RELIEVE THE BURDEN OF BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN OUR CARE TO REMAIN GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE THRIVING IN A SAFE, DEVELOPMENTALLY SOUND ENVIRONMENT.