NEWS & EVENTS
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GARDEN CLUB Are you creative, like the outdoors, enjoy getting down in the dirt?!?! Then the YMCA Garden Club is for you!!! This new club will help enhance the newly landscaped areas around the YMCA. If you are interested, please sign up at the Welcome Center or 762-9622. Garden Club would help with design/painting/weeding/watering our new landscaped areas. |
Registration is now open for “Cops for a Cure” 5K Run and 5K Family Walk. The Portage Township YMCA will be sponsoring this walk in conjunction with the Portage Police Department. On March 29, 2010, Officer Flora Ryan of the Portage Police Department was diagnosed with breast cancer. “Cops for a Cure” represents the law enforcement community’s effort to generate breast cancer awareness and encourage examinations which may lead to early detection. The 5K will start and end at the Portage Township YMCA on Sept. 18. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. and the race will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. Registration forms can be picked up at the YMCA. Sponsors and volunteers are still needed for this event. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Flora’s name. For more information please contact Ryan Penrod, Senior Program Director at 219-762-YMCA(9622) or at ryan@ymcaofportage.org.
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Gym and track are open for members during all open building hours. Gym use will be limited by practices and league activity but will be open all day and half court use will be available most evenings.
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K-Care/Y-Care Craft Supplies: pencils, construction paper, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, kids scissors, scrap booking materialsGym Equipment: balls, jump ropes, Board Games, Puzzles, Legos, Toys, Electric Pencil SharpenersElectronic Equipment: DVD players, TVs, Wii games, CD playersFurniture: bean bag chairs, carpets, lampsPreschool Academy Board puzzles, age-appropriate toys, Clear Storage Totes, CD’s (Preschool music), clipboards, Big floor pillows, shelving units, Craft Supplies: stickers, tacky glue, glue sticks, foam craft sheets, felt, plastic string, scrap booking paper, ribbon, pipe cleaners, feathers, foam craft shapes, wiggly eyes, glitter Child Care Center Toys, children’s music cd’s, puzzles, stickers, math manipulatives, Plastic food for kitchen sets, pencils, Shaving cream, Playdoh, Dramatic play sets, computer games, children’s art smocks Maintenance Ratchets, wrench set, hard bristle push broom, compound miter saw, horses (2), gas detector, tool box chest, stripe painter for parking lot, stencils for handicap parking area, outdoor trash can, commercial vacuums, electric wiggy voltage meter Fun Zone Craft Supplies, gaming console (Xbox, Playstation, Wii) and games, DVD player and children’s DVD’s, playdoh, paint supplies, coloring books, window clings, craft table, Barbies, baby dolls, play food, balls, baby swing, play yard, excersaucer, bouncy seat, foam play mat Sports 6 NADA dodge balls, size 3 & 4 soccer balls Aquatics Goggles, Water Toys, Water noodles, Life jackets (child), Water barbells, Kick boards (adult) Gymnastics Star stickers, hemp string, athletic tape, Icy Hot Gel, Ace bandages Plastic Beads: red, yellow, blue, green, purple, Stapler, big fans, Foam Hop Scotch Set, Small Hand Weights (5 lbs or less),Velcro Ankle & Wrist weights, Clear Packing Tape, stop watches, Bungie Cords Fitness Bosu balls (10-15), Body bars(15-25), rack for hand weights, 5 sets of 5# dumbbells, 5 sets of 8# dumbbells, dyna bands for Pilates, speakers for Cybex room Teen Programs basketballs, kickballs, dodgeballs, volleyball net, soccer ball, video game system & games, Fun prizes (bouncy balls, yo-yo’s, stickers, drawstring backpacks, etc.), blue pens, pencils, colored pencils, flashlights, tents, paper plates, radio, DVD player, paint, painting materials
Questions???? Please contact 219-762-9622 |
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(Thanking Our Employees) "Because every great achievement starts with the first step" Employee name: ____________________ Reason for recognition: ______________ _________________________________ _________________________________ |
*Is there a YMCA employee you would like to thank? *Has a YMCA employee made a difference in your child’s life? *Would you like to recognize a YMCA employee? Don’t just thank them, give them the Big T.O.E. Award! Fill out the coupon and drop it off at the YMCA or email your recognition to dave@ymcaofportage.org
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Families Who Make Play Part of Every Day Will Reap Benefits
Demands of work, school, homework and never-ending to-do lists often make play time a luxury that does not always make it into the daily schedule. But experts agree that making play a priority brings a multitude of benefits for kids, including improved health and emotional well-being and increased positive academic performance.
“Families are under increased stress
and struggle to balance work, family and health and to find
supportive communities,” says Neil Nicoll, President and CEO of YMCA
of the
Recent studies suggest children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. As many schools reduce their focus on physical education and activity in order to meet academic goals, it is increasingly important that families ensure their children’s physical activity needs are met. YMCA experts believe it is important for kids to enjoy a balance between structured activities or sports and relaxed free play and offer the following tips to help parents put more play in their kids’ days:
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Avoid TV, video games and computers
for at least 30 minutes after school. Taking a bike ride, walk
or just playing outdoors not only gets bodies moving, but also helps
kids decompress before homework time.
o Lose the guilt and do not think of free play as wasted time. Play is as much a part of a healthy day as eating nutritious foods and brushing teeth. A regular dose of play can boost test scores, self-esteem and metabolism.
o
Commit to spending time outdoors
almost every day—rain or shine.
Just getting out the front door
greatly increases the opportunities for physical activity through
play.
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Make play a part of family rituals.
Shooting hoops before
dinner, walking the dog, taking a Saturday morning bike ride to the
park gets everyone moving and provides great opportunities for
building family connectedness. o Get creative and incorporate play into “necessity” activities. Visit a park for 30 minutes on the way home from a doctor’s appointment; walk or bike to nearby errands like the bank or post office; crank up some music and engage the family in a Saturday morning clean–the-house dance party.
Leading national
companies dedicated to improving the health and wellness of American
kids and families are joining with YMCA of the
YMCA Healthy Kids Day also is supported by leading health organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Public Health Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. |
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