Summer can be a learning opportunity

Next week YMCAs across the country are challenging kids and parents to stay academically sharp over the summer by celebrating Summer Learning Day on June 21. Many students lose more than two months of learning over the summer. Summer learning loss has the potential to be an enormous obstacle for kids when the school year begins next fall.

Here are a few resources suggested by www.summerlearning.org to make learning a part of your summer routine.

Visit your local library.  Libraries often sponsor reading activities during the summer and librarians can suggest grade level books that will interest your child. 

Take educational trips.  Several Westchester County libraries, including the Rye Free Reading Room, offer free museum passes to museums like the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and the American Museum of Natural History.

Get outside and play.  Physical activity and exercise contribute to healthy development.

Keep a schedule. It makes sense to continue daily routines during the summer and to continue to provide structure and limits. The key is providing a balance and keeping kids engaged.

Prepare for fall.  Find out what your child will be learning during the next school year by talking with teachers at that grade level.  Preview concepts and materials over the summer.

Do good deeds. Students learn better and “act out” less when they engage in activities that aid in their socialemotional development, such as community service.

There are also several websites filled with activities and ideas for summer learning.  Here are just two:

The Family Education website has reading lists, science, math and arts activites for ages preschool through middle school.

http://school.familyeducation.com/summer/family-learning/36089.html

The Thinkfinity website is another resource with educational games and activities.

http://www.thinkfinity.org/summer-fun-activities

What are some of the summer learning activities that you enjoy with your family?

Happy Birthday YMCA!

167 years ago the Y was founded!


The Y’s contributions—both past and current—are far-reaching as evidenced by these highlights on the Y’s timeline.

Y housing began in the 1860s. By 1940, rooms exceeded 100,000, more than any hotel chain. Andy Rooney, Dan Rather, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Jack Kerouac stayed at the Y.

In 1881, Boston Y staffer Robert Roberts coined “body building” and developed exercise classes. 

Camping became a cornerstone in 1885 when the Y started Camp Dudley, America’s first known summer camp program, at Orange Lake, N.Y.

In the 1890s, Y instructor William Morgan merged basketball, tennis and handball. In 1896, his invention became known as volleyball.

In 1891, James Naismith hung peach baskets to the bottom of a second-level running track and taught men his new game: basketball. It’s second only to soccer in popularity.

In 1893, evening classes began at the Boston Y. By 1950, Ys operated 20 colleges, many of which became institutions of higher learning.

In 1909, George Corsan arrived at the Detroit Y to teach swimming using radical methods: group lessons and confidence-building land lessons. He taught 800 boys to swim in four weeks.

In 1910, 25 Ys for African Americans were built in 23 cities. They included clean, safe rooms and eating facilities, which were a boon to black travelers in a segregated era.

During WWI, the Y operated 1,500 canteens, set up 4,000 recreation and religious huts and raised more than $235 million—equivalent to $4.3 billion today—for relief work.

During WWII, the Y and five other organizations founded the USO.

In 1950, Y volunteer Joe Sobek invented racquetball. Like previous Y inventors, Sobek was not paid; he bestowed his invention as a gift to all who play the game today.

Many Ys became rallying points for Civil Rights. In 1967, Ys banned racial discrimination.

In 1991, Y-USA formed the Public Policy Office in the nation’s capital. It champions the Y mission with lawmakers, and helps Ys advocate for kids, families and communities.
 
In 1992, Ys held the first Healthy Kids Day, the nation’s largest free health day for kids and families. An annual April event, it underscores play in keeping kids healthy and happy.

In 1998, Y-USA established the arts as a national program, spotlighting their importance to imagination, critical thinking, communication and social skills.

In the 1990s, baby boomers with families became prominent members. Ys created programs like family swim and fun night; providing positive opportunities to play and interact.

The Y responded to Sept. 11, the Pacific Rim tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti earthquake through rebuilding programs that rekindled hope, especially among youth.

In 2004, before a U.S. Senate hearing, Y-USA launched Activate America, beginning a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Activate America is helping millions of people in more than 150 Y communities make healthy choices.

In 2008, the Armed Services YMCA and Y-USA partnered with the Department of Defense in the YMCA Military Outreach Initiative, which funds memberships for families facing deployment. 

Positioning the Y as a partner in preventing disease and childhood obesity, Y-USA garners the support of public officials. In 2010, First Lady Obama launched her “Let’s Move” campaign at a Y. 

In 2010, the Y revitalized its brand and began officially referring to itself by its most familiar name—the Y—for the first time.

The Y is for Social Responsibility

523 Week: 423 children were able to use the Y's services last year because of financial assistance. We hope to reach another 100 more children this year. This is Project 523's goal!

THE WORST OF TIMES
THE BEST OF TIMES
An actual letter written by a Y Cares financial aid recipient
I have to say that the first good thing that happened to me after losing my job was walking into the Y and meeting with Barbara Hughes. I am a single mother, with not much family or money, and Barbara offered me a lifeline.

I was awarded financial assistance and immediately put my family to work at the Y. I enrolled my son in camp, went for a workout, took group exercise classes and was enveloped in the Y family. It was just good to get out of the house and be productive. All of this has had an extremely positive impact on my overall well-being and confidence.

I don’t know where we will end up once I get a job, but I do know that the Rye Y and the people that work there have been an incredible support and community to me during one of the worst times of my life. I will never be able to find the words to tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for me.

*******************************

How Can You Make a Difference? Project 523 is our goal to reach over 523 children through financial assistance, a hundred more children than we connected with last year. We’re stronger when we work together. Click here to learn more about the  Y Strong Kids Campaign and donating online.

March Healthy Family Home

The March Healthy Family Home newsletter focuses on  healthy eating and sleeping well plus several tips, tools and activities.    Click here to read.

I am a Spartan

Ed Philipp, Rye Y Chief Operating Officer

OK, not really. I did play varsity basketball and soccer for the Spackenkill Spartans but that was a long time ago and that still doesn’t make me a Spartan. I am however, someone that struggles to maintain my motivation to be as healthy as I possibly can. Growing up I was an athlete, not only did I play varsity sports, but I was constantly playing pickup sports in my yard, at the park, or at the Y with my friends. It was easy to maintain an active lifestyle, eat whatever I wanted to, and stay in shape. Most of us have figured out that all changes as you grow older.

For me it was first college, then the career, then the spouse and then the kids. Each one of these steps in life changes your lifestyle in a way that you don’t expect. In my case the changes were all positive, except I started to have less time to “play” and stay active. It becomes so easy to skip a workout because you have to stay late at the office, or pick the kids up from daycare/school. So how do we get motivated and stay active? For many it is making the commitment and joining a facility like the YMCA but that doesn’t work for everyone. For others, it is joining a group; the support you can get from the members of a group can be amazing. (The stories I have heard from some of our members experiences in our small group personal training program are remarkable.)

For me the motivation to be active and healthy is my kids. As a parent it is my responsibility to model a healthy lifestyle for them and additionally I would like to be around to see them grow up and have children of their own. The challenge for me is this; how do I do this on a daily basis?

I have found that if I appeal to my competitive nature, it is easier for me to stay engaged in an active lifestyle. I have been using the FitLinxx system here at the Y for the last two years, it allows me to track my progress but also measure myself against others, including my boss. A few years ago I entered into a bet with a couple of friends to see who could become the “fittest”. We trained for 6 months and then took a fitness test, and while I didn’t win, I did lose 20 lbs. in the process.

This year my plan is to compete in the Spartan Race on June 4th in Tuxedo Park, NY. The race is described as a muddy 3+ mile event with 10 or more obstacles. Now that I have registered and the training has started, I am going to see if I can get some of the staff here at the Y to join me in the mud. Sounds like fun and maybe I will become a Spartan after all.

Follow me on twitter at RyeYCOO

If you want to join me, you can get more info on the Spartan Race at http://spartanrace.com/

Healthy Family Home

The February Y Healthy Family Home newsletter is out.  The issue includes ideas for active play and healthy eating.

Click here to view.

New Year's Resolutions

Set New Year’s Resolutions as a Family

The New Year is a time for new beginnings and for many to set goals that make them stronger in spirit, mind and body. For the Y – a leading nonprofit for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility – one of the most important resolutions is to build or maintain family connectedness. Following are five things the Y recommends families do to be healthier and stronger throughout the year:    

1.    Eat Together – Sitting down for a meal together is a great time for parents to talk with their children, helping the family become more connected with one another. Set aside time for the family to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner at least once a week or every day if scheduling permits.

2.    Volunteer – Giving back and supporting neighbors benefits everyone involved. It helps develop new relationships and teaches children and teens the value of helping others. Find an opportunity in your community that the entire family may enjoy, such as cleaning your neighborhood park or distributing food at a local food bank. Click here to find out about volunteer opportunities at the Rye Y.

3.    Learn Something New – Step out of your comfort zone, have fun and grow by exploring personal interests. Try something new together that you’ve always wanted to do. View our spring program guide for ideas.

4.    Start a New Tradition – Traditions are an excellent way to create activities that bring families together. Talk with each other to discover common interests and then create an activity everyone can participate in weekly, monthly or yearly.

5.    Be Active – It’s important to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Incorporate physical activity into your daily routines and spend more time walking places instead of driving improve your health and well-being. The Y offers many fun opportunities for families to be active together. Visit our calendar for upcoming family events like the  Family, Skate, Swim and Dinner on January 15 or Ski Trip on January 29.  Try the Family Fitness class (for children ages 8+) in the Freestyle Fitness Zone at 11:00 am on Saturday and Sunday. 

(Adapted from ymca.net)