Young Mens Christian Association

TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, BODY AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING FOR ALL.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURES & CAMP: OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN AND PRIDES ITSELF IN PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT INSTILL HEALTHY AND POSITIVE VALUES AND SKILLS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. OUR AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURES (236 KIDS) HAS DELIVERED COOKING, ART AND STEM ACTIVITIES WHILE PROVIDING THEM A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE YOUTH ALSO VOLUNTEER TO CLEAN PARKS, HELPING DEVELOP THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AT A YOUNG AGE. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE MANKATO FAMILY YMCA, SO THEY HAVE A SAFE RELIABLE WAY TO GET TO US. SUMMER CAMPS, INCLUDING OUR LIT-CIT (LEADER/COUNSELOR IN TRAINING), PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN PREP, SPORTS CAMPS, SKATEBOARDING, WEEK-LONG RESIDENT CAMPS AND A VARIETY OF YOUTH AGE, PRETEEN AND TEEN DAY CAMPS, GAVE 1,340 KIDS UNIQUE EXPERIENCES LAST YEAR. WE STRIVE TO GIVE BUSY PARENTS WHAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR KIDS, CANOEING, ARCHERY, SWIMMING, FIELD TRIPS, SPORTS, SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY ARE ALL COVERED, GIVING KIDS A VARIETY OF CHOICES AND EXPERIENCES. ALL THESE PROGRAMS ARE GUIDED BY OUR CORE VALUES AND DEVELOP THE YOUTHS' MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT, WHILE TEACHING THEM SOCIALIZATION FUNDAMENTALS.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: WE PROVIDE OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO HELP OUR CONTINUALLY GROWING MEMBERSHIP. SOME OF THOSE IMPACTED AREAS INCLUDE ALMOST 4000 VISITS TO OUR INDOOR/OUTDOOR SKATE PARK. THE BROTHER/SISTER PROGRAM PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR 210 TERRIFIC KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BUILD UNIQUE FRIENDSHIPS WITH ADULT VOLUNTEERS. THE STRIDE PROGRAM HELPED 45 YOUTH DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM, LESSONS AND A 5K TO FINISH OUT THE SEASON, FOCUSING ON THEIR MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. OUR LICENSED PRESCHOOL (124 KIDS) OFFERS A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL GROWTH. VARIOUS SPORTS PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED DEVELOP 530 YOUTH WHO ARE SHOWN THE FUNDAMENTALS AND VALUES OF SPORTSMANSHIP. WE HAVE YOUTH SOCIALS EACH YEAR WHERE KIDS CAN CONNECT WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND MAKE NEW ONES IN A SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT. OUR MARLINS SWIM TEAM SERVED 176 YOUTH AND SWIM LESSONS HELPED 660 YOUTH DEVELOP SKILLS AND A SAFE APPRECIATION FOR WATER. WE PROVIDE NON-SCHOOL DAY CAMPS FOR KIDS TO LEARN AND HAVE AN ADVENTURE WHILE THEY ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. WE HOST BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY RENTALS. WE STRIVE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR PARENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE FUN AND EXCITING EXPERIENCES. OUR Y OFFERS CPR, FIRST AID AND LIFEGUARD TRAINING. WE HAVE HOSTED THE UNITED WAY READING FESTIVAL, PEDAL PAST POVERTY FOR THOSE FACING HOMELESSNESS, BLOOD DRIVES AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS. WE FIND A WAY TO HELP WHEN WE ARE ASKED. IT IS OUR MISSION TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY- MEMBERSHIP: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE MANKATO FAMILY YMCA. OUR YMCA BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS, PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE TO IMPROVE THEIR MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S SOCIAL NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND OPEN TO ALL FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS. IN 2023, $225,900 WAS PROVIDED IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE IN NEED. OUR YMCA HAS 1 IN EVERY 8 MEMBERS TAKING PART IN OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS INCLUDES ALL PROGRAMMING AND MEMBERSHIP, ENSURING OUR COMMUNITY HAS A SAFE AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO BE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE NO MATTER THE PRICE OUR MEMBERS PAY. WE FOCUS ON HOW WE CAN SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND HOLD TRUE TO OUR 150-YEAR MISSION BY PROVIDING WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ASKING US TO. WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR LIVESTRONG PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON THE JOURNEY OF CANCER FROM DIAGNOSIS TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. WE HOLD WEEKLY GET TOGETHERS FOR 12 WEEKS FOR ALL LIVESTRONG PARTICIPANTS, CONNECTING THEM WITH EACH OTHER AND SERVICES THEY MIGHT NEED. WE LEARN FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITY TO OFFER OTHER PROGRAMS AND CLASSES BASED ON THEIR NEED. WE APPROACH OUR DAY WITH OUR CORE VALUES OF RESPECT, HONESTY, CARING, RESPONSIBILITY AND FAITH GUIDING THE DECISIONS WE MAKE. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY TO SERVE THEIR NEEDS AND PROVIDE A SPACE WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME AND CELEBRATED.

HEALTHY LIVING- WELLNESS: IN 2023, WE CONTINUED WITH OUR FOREVERWELL PROGRAM FOR OUR OLDER ACTIVE ADULTS, DELIVERING EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THIS PROGRAM CATERS TO THE OVER 55 MEMBERS WITH CLASSES, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, BOOK CLUB, GAMES AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES, ALL INCLUDED IN THEIR MEMBERSHIP. WE EXPANDED OUR FITNESS CLASS OFFERING THIS YEAR WITH MORE YOGA, PILATES, BODY PUMP AND CYCLING, FEATURING VIRTUAL AND MORE IN PERSON INSTRUCTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN MIND. WITH OVER 100 CLASSES OFFERED DURING THE WEEK WE HAVE MANY OPTIONS FOR ALL TO HELP ACHIEVE THEIR WELLNESS GOALS. WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT CARDIO, FREE WEIGHT AND CABLE WEIGHT AREA TO HELP OUR MEMBERS STAY ON THEIR JOURNEY. WATER AEROBICS CLASSES PROVIDE A LOW IMPACT AND JOINT FRIENDLY WORKOUT. WE STRIVE TO LISTEN AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, ADAPTING TO CLASSES THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. WE WORK WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO MAKE SURE OUR FACILITY IS ONE FOR ALL AND WE HAVE THE PROGRAMS FOR ALL OUR MEMBERS TO EXPAND THEIR MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT.