The YMCA helps all children reach their full potential by supporting their unique youth development journeys. Our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities nurture their curiosity, inspire creativity and teach them how to succeed.

Youth who participate in STEM activities:

• Learn how to solve a problem
• Develop critical-thinking skills
• Get comfortable with failure and trying again
• Learn to work successfully in teams
• Develop self-confidence
• Can see themselves in STEM careers

At the Y, we believe that all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. Books open entire worlds to kids, and literacy forms the foundation upon which all other learning depends.

Our program uses AfterSchool KidzLit during which children hear fiction and nonfiction books read aloud or read books independently and make connections between the stories and their own lives.

Working with partners or in groups, children express their feelings and explore big ideas through discussion, drama, art, movement and writing.

Y-Kids are Fit is all about giving children the opportunity to participate in regular physical activity and to learn about healthy choices. The program focuses on fitness, health and nutrition.

Our program features 30-45 minutes of physical activity daily (exercises, games, stretching) 3-5 days per week.

Youth learn teamwork and healthy living concepts and the components of a healthy exercise routine:

1. Warm Up: Activities to warm the body (stretches, walking, yoga).
2. Main Event: 20 minutes of a high-intensity workout in which everyone moves the entire time.
3. Cool Down: Youth learn to cool their bodies from the high-intensity main event.

We believe a healthy lifestyle is essential for all ages and encourage families to be active with their children. 

With so many demands on today’s families and the increased focus on early brain development, families need all the support they can get to nurture their youth's potential.

That’s why our Y-Club focuses on holistically nurturing child development by providing a safe, healthy place to learn foundational skills, develop healthy, trusting relationships and build self-reliance through the YMCA Core Values: Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

The Y is made up of people of all ages and from every walk of life who work side by side to strengthen communities. Together, we work to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation, has the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity.

Social and emotional skills are the tools both children and adults use in social interactions and to manage their emotional responses in daily life.

Building strong social and emotional skills helps us be more resilient when faced with adversity.

Our program utilizes eight foundational skills of social-emotional learning as defined by the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA):

• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Optimistic Thinking
• Personal Responsibility
• Social-Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Goal-Directed Behavior
• Decision-Making

Social Emotional Intelligence is the strongest indicator of student success.

Our families are always welcome in our programs! Parents know their children best, and research shows that parental involvement in their child’s education leads to better school outcomes.

Invite

• Family Information Surveys
• Open Houses
• Getting to Know You Activities 
• Open Door Policy

Communicate

• Newsletters
• Daily Notes
• Parent Meetings
• Sharing Community Resources

Engage

• Family Events 
• Parent/Child Activities
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Parent Input on Program and Goals

Partner

• Program Policies Reviewed during Parent Advisory Councils
• Program Surveys Focus on Parent Satisfaction
• Advocacy Opportunities
• Learning Opportunities

We help students immerse themselves in their inner artist. Our arts range from visual arts (art projects with different materials and mediums) to dramatic and/or musical performances presented to families during a Family Night.

Arts exposure helps youth build on their natural creativity and provides a creative outlet for self and group expression.

Our KidzLit curriculum fosters opportunities for children to build and develop their literacy skills and interests through drawing pictures, brainstorming, visualizing, drawing, pantomiming and incorporating music.

As the nation’s largest child care provider, we must help our families and communities build lifelong habits in youth that create healthy futures.

Our program educates kids about healthy lifestyles, models healthy behaviors and cultivates environments that encourage kids to make healthier choices.

We use Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) to teach children how to make healthy food choices and enjoy physical activity, which contributes to their social and physical development.

We offer children 20 minutes of structured academic support Monday – Thursday. Students may either read a book or work on a homework assignment.

During this time our Y-Club Teachers may read a book aloud or actively assist children.

It’s important for kids to be involved in the community, gain perspective about our neighbors' needs, and experience the joy of helping others.

Our children and staff connect with their community and give back through projects such as:

• Toy Drive & Crafts
• Quarterly Family Events
• Holiday Gift Giving
• Holiday Food Drive
• Pet Shelter Drive