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YMCA

Sponsored Post: Try the Y in July with a 5 class pass

By Lisa Ace

Try the Y in July! Stop in at the Genesee County YMCA and try the Y in the month of July!

Starting July 1st when an individual mentions this promotion they will receive a Class Pass to try any of our group exercise classes five times for free! If an individual uses all five punches on their pass card and decides to join the YMCA, we will waive their Joining Fee as well (a savings up to $75).

The YMCA also offers scholarships to help subsidize membership dues for individuals and families who qualify. If you have any questions, contact Josh Bender at 585-344-1664 or jbender@glowymca.org.

Sponsored Post: Register now for YMCA Summer Camp

By Lisa Ace

YMCA Summer Camp 2017 registration is underway! Register today for YMCA Kinder Camp or traditional Day Camp. Spaces are limited and programs fill up fast. This summer's dates are from June 26th – Aug. 25th. You can register for a week or as many as you’d like.

•  Kinder Camp is for children ages 3 to 5 and is ideal for families looking for safe, structured play this summer. Kinder Camp fosters social development, problem solving, team building and self-esteem. With two options to choose from, 5 day or 3 day, we have something to fit the needs of all parents.
•  Traditional Day Camp is for ages 6 – 12 and is the perfect place for children to have a fun and safe summer. Day Camp allows children to grow and thrive while working with peer groups and enjoying a variety of both indoor and outdoor games and activities. Each week is based around a special theme and we offer age-appropriate activities like sports and games, arts and crafts, weekly field trips, swimming and more.

Our caring and nurturing staff are carefully selected based on their previous experience and schooling. This ensures that our staff is the perfect fit for making your family's summer experience one you will never forget.

YMCA Day Camp is certified by the New York State Health Department and we adhere to strict safety regulations. Register for one week or join us for all nine. The YMCA offers flexible enrollment and payment plans to fit the needs of any family. The Y also provides scholarships to those who qualify which makes YMCA summer camp one of the most affordable options around. For more information on the YMCA’s summer camp programs or to register, contact the YMCA at 585-344-1664 today.

Y tops $100K, beating goal, in Strong Communities campaign

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The GLOW YMCA on Tuesday announced record-breaking support as they raised just over $100,000 in its Annual Strong Communities Campaign, exceeding a $91,000 goal.

“This year’s contributions shattered our expectations! We had so much incredible support. I would like to publically thank the more than 500 donors that helped us to make this happen,” said Rob Walker, CEO of the GLOW YMCA.

The Genesee Branch specifically raised $38,613 or 108 percent of its $36,000 goal. With 90 new donors and 158 renewed donations , a total of 248 generous donors helped to achieve this year’s local campaign record. The money raised helps the YMCA meet its charitable mission by offering scholarship support to children, families and seniors in our community that otherwise could not afford to experience the many benefits of the YMCA.

YMCA Camp Hough also had a record-breaking year; exceeding its campaign goal by 112 percent and doubling its donor support!
As a leading nonprofit for strengthening community, gifts made to the Annual Strong Communities Campaign help the Y advance programming and services that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. More importantly, 100 percent of gifts made will make a direct impact on the residents in our communities.

To find out more about how you can help volunteer for the Annual Campaign at the Y or to make a donation that will have a meaningful, enduring impact right in your own community, visit www.glowymca.org or call the GLOW YMCA at 585-344-1664.

Preschoolers at YMCA donate $1K to Strong Communities Campaign

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia YMCA Preschool Team presented a check to Rob Walker, CEO of the GLOW YMCA, and Paul Marchese, board chairman, in the amount of $1,000 to be donated to the Y's annual Strong Communities Campaign.

A special thank you to all of our students, families and our teachers for their donations and commitment to raising charitable children.

Submitted photo and information.

Sponsored Post: YMCA Preschool registrations for Fall 2017 is open

By Lisa Ace

YMCA Preschool Registration for Fall 2017 is now OPEN! The YMCA offers structured preschool programming for children ages 2- 5. Playgroup, designed for children turning 2 before Dec. 1, 2017, teaches children social, emotional and play skills while being introduced to a classroom environment. Nursery School, also designed for children turning 3 before Dec. 1. 2017, focuses on inquiry based learning, social and emotional development, along with introduction to swimming. Pre-K Plus is designed for children old enough to attend kindergarten, but may need an additional year of Pre-K due to a late birthday or simply needing an extra year of prekindergarten learning. Swim lessons included for Nursery School, UPK and Pre-K plus.

Registration for Playgroup, Nursery School and Pre-K Plus is done through the Batavia YMCA. Need more information? Contact Maria Thompson, preschool director, at 585-344-1664.

UPK follows the Batavia City School District curriculum and follows NYS Common Core Standard for Prekindergarten. UPK registration is done through Batavia City School District and will begin in early April. Contact the District beginning after April 1st to receive a registration packet.

Sponsored Post: GLOW YMCA’s kicks off its annual Strong Communities Campaign!

By Lisa Ace

GLOW YMCA’s is kicking off its annual Strong Communities Campaign.

Part of the Y’s charitable mission is the philosophy that we never turn away someone with an inability to pay for membership or programs. To that end, we raise funds annually through the Strong Communities Campaign to help subsidize scholarships for youths, teens, adults, families and seniors in our community.

  • This year’s campaign runs from Feb. 1st  – March 31st; 
  • Our goal is to raise $36,000;
  • We want to positively impact at least 700 people’s lives in the Greater Genesee Community;
  • Reaching our goal will insure that children and families regardless of their socioeconomic status will have the chance to benefit from the important lessons of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through YMCA programs and services.

We need your help! Please consider a gift to support us in achieving this goal and making our community stronger for all. To make a gift, contact Jeff Townsend, associate executive director at (585) 344-1664.

Sponsored Post: Join the YMCA this January and save!

By Lisa Ace

YMCA Waives Join Fee to Jump Start your January! Are you ready to shed those extra holiday pounds? Looking for a fresh start in 2017? Has cabin fever already started setting in? Join the Y during our membership campaign and save! Between 12/26/16 and 1/15/17 we will waive the full joining fee on any membership category.

New to the Y and not sure if you are ready to commit? Try the Y 5 times between 12/26 and 1/15/17 for just $15. If you decide to join during that same time frame we will take the $15 you paid off of your first month’s membership dues.

YMCA Membership entitles you and your loved ones the chance to become part of an organization that believes in and promotes active and healthy lifestyles, progressive skill development, fair play, family, and character development. The YMCA is not just another gym. When you join the Y, you join a family and what’s more you join a place where people are looking for changes to their overall health. The Genesee County YMCA offers a wide array of programs and services to meet the interests and needs of the entire family from memberships for youth, college students, families and seniors. From swimming lessons and sports, to childcare and summer camping, there is truly something for everyone at the Genesee County YMCA.

If you feel like you cannot afford a YMCA membership, it is the policy of the YMCA that no one is turned away due to an inability to pay. Financial assistance for membership and programs is available through the annual Strong Communities Campaign. The application process is easy and confidential. Please call or visit our member service desk to obtain an application.

For more information on membership or programs offered at the Genesee County YMCA, please call (585) 344­-1664 or log on to our website at www.glowymca.org.

Sponsored Post: Join the YMCA this January and save!

By Lisa Ace

YMCA Waives Join Fee to Jump Start your January! Are you ready to shed those extra holiday pounds? Looking for a fresh start in 2017? Has cabin fever already started setting in? Join the Y during our membership campaign and save! Between 12/26/16 and 1/15/17 we will waive the full joining fee on any membership category.

New to the Y and not sure if you are ready to commit? Try the Y 5 times between 12/26 and 1/15/17 for just $15. If you decide to join during that same time frame we will take the $15 you paid off of your first month’s membership dues.

YMCA Membership entitles you and your loved ones the chance to become part of an organization that believes in and promotes active and healthy lifestyles, progressive skill development, fair play, family, and character development. The YMCA is not just another gym. When you join the Y, you join a family and what’s more you join a place where people are looking for changes to their overall health. The Genesee County YMCA offers a wide array of programs and services to meet the interests and needs of the entire family from memberships for youth, college students, families and seniors. From swimming lessons and sports, to childcare and summer camping, there is truly something for everyone at the Genesee County YMCA.

If you feel like you cannot afford a YMCA membership, it is the policy of the YMCA that no one is turned away due to an inability to pay. Financial assistance for membership and programs is available through the annual Strong Communities Campaign. The application process is easy and confidential. Please call or visit our member service desk to obtain an application.

For more information on membership or programs offered at the Genesee County YMCA, please call (585)344­-1664 or log on to our website at www.glowymca.org.

Sponsored Post: Join the YMCA during our Fall Membership campaign and all fees are waived!

By Lisa Ace

Fall back into savings at the Batavia YMCA! Stop into the Y to get your joining fee waived during our fall membership campaign. The campaign runs now through Sept. 18th and we will waive the joining fee for any new or returning member. As an extra incentive, anyone who stops in during our campaign and signs up will receive a $10 off program coupon and a free family guest pass for a family friend to try the Y. For our current members, bring someone into the Y with you and if they sign up for a new membership* and complete the member referral form, you can receive a $50 credit toward future YMCA membership dues or program registrations. Stop in soon before these great deals are blown away! *Excludes membership upgrades. Click here for more information.

Pickleball indoor or outdoor, it’s here in Batavia

By Steve Ognibene

(Photos by Steve Ognibene. Story by Phil Coburn.)

Pickleball you say? If you’re wondering what this is, it’s a relatively new sport activity in Batavia! It’s lots of fun, easy to learn, and is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. 

The game is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong, and is played over a net that is 2 inches lower than a tennis net. The court is 20 feet x 44 feet, about half the size of a tennis court. The ball is a perforated plastic ball similar to a whiffle ball, and the paddles are wood or composite material.

The game is adaptable to all ages from youth to seniors, and both male and female. Due to the smaller court and lighter ball, it requires much less running and has less impact on the knees, arms and shoulders than tennis.

Locally, it all started after Batavia residents Phil and Bonnie Coburn decided to travel in an RV across the United States in 2007. They had often said “What will we do if we can’t play tennis anymore?" Well, very quickly they saw some pickleball being played, and they became hooked! Upon returning to Batavia, they located a group in Ogden and played there for a couple years.

Then, after getting tired of driving 25 miles each way, they spoke to the people at the YMCA in Batavia in 2012, and they agreed to let them tape two courts in the gym. They got help from Dave Thomas in Rochester to do the layout, and he also gave them a portable net to use. They obtained grant money from the USAPA, and bought another portable net.

Thus, pickleball was born in Batavia with about six players participating.

About two years later, the gym floor was refinished, and the lines were painted on for a more permanent facility. At about the same time, Eric Volk lent a hand, and they worked with the Town of Batavia to have pickleball lines painted on the tennis courts at Kiwanis Park (replacing the tape which didn’t do too well in the elements), adding the first outside courts in the area.

This year, again with encouragement from Eric, the city, as part of the court renewal at Kibbe Park and Farrall Park, painted pickleball lines on the tennis courts, giving participants an additional five outdoor courts to play on in the area.

(At one of the newest lined courts at Kibbe Park, pictured below are some members of the Batavia Pickleball Club, from left are: Joann McCabe, Chloe Budenhagen, Becky Swanson, and founding members Bonnie and Phil Coburn.)

The YMCA has been very supportive of this activity, and currently there is play scheduled in the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday nights from 6:30-8 p.m.. Currently, every Saturday from 9:30-noon, players are welcome at Kibbe Park. Partners are not assigned, but use the "open" system of rotation for players waiting to play.

From the original six players, it has grown to around 30 fairly active players, and the ability level has definitely increased since those early days. There has been some discussion about holding a tournament next year for our local players, but there are no details available yet.

The club is always looking for additional players to try the sport, and to continue to help this activity gain momentum in Genesee County. Pickleball has become part of Physical Education in many schools, and is played in many parks and recreational facilities across the country. The Batavia YMCA has set the cost for non-Y members at $30 for a 10-play pass, $49 for a 7-week unlimited pass, or a $5 "drop-in" pass. No fee for Saturday play.

Photo: YMCA treadmills being replaced

By Howard B. Owens

Today, the YMCA replaced all of its treadmills as part of a plan that rotates in new machines every year.

Since the treadmills tend to wear faster, its more cost effective to lease, rather than own, the treadmills, explained CEO Rob Walker.  

The Y will make approximately $100,000 in lease payments on the machines over the next three years.

Sponsored post: The YMCA is hiring! Apply today!

By Lisa Ace

YMCA Help Wanted – The Genesee County YMCA is currently seeking dedicated part­-time employees in the following areas: 

Experienced Gymnastics Instructors: “Gymnastics Instructors” to teach progressive lessons for children ages 4 and up. Minimum age of 16, competitive pay and a free YMCA membership included. We are also seeking a “Gym Supervisor” to coordinate lessons, supervise instructors and oversee the gym. Minimum age of 18, competitive pay and a free YMCA membership included. For more information, contact Cady Hume, Gymnastics Coordinator. 

Welcome Center Staff (MSR): Essential Duties: Build relationships with members and guests, receipt transactions, answer phones, handle questions with excellent customer service. Part­-time, evenings and weekends necessary. Minimum age of 18, competitive pay and a free YMCA membership included. For more information, contact Josh Bender, Director of Membership and Wellness. 

Lifeguards: Essential Duties: Supervise swimmers, ensure safety, and monitor pool areas. Requires American Red Cross or YMCA Lifeguard certification. Minimum age of 18, competitive pay and a free YMCA membership included. For more information, contact Megan Boring, Aquatics Coordinator. 

To apply, complete an application from the Y’s website at www.glowymca.org and turn it into the YMCA. For more information contact 585­-344­-1664. 

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