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| Greetings! |
The sights, sounds and smells of spring and summer have arrived. This issue is jammed packed with healthy choices for you and your family this summer and reports on our busy spring so far. Read, enjoy, get active! |
| Report to our Communities:
How we build strong families
Just click on the cover to read an e-magazine version with flipping pages that is easy to search and print.
Hard copies available at YMCA sites and by request. 2008 Donor Lists found on our websites. | |
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| Challenge your child to dream and achieve at a YMCA Camp |
YMCA Day Camps offers your child a day of adventure and has them home in time for dinner so you can hear all about it. There are many options including a wide range of special interest camps in
New this year for the YMCA of Cambridge is a day camp at Shade's Mill Conservation Area called Discover Y. Other adventures awaiting your child are soccer and canoeing day camps. Read Cambridge's day camp booklet to learn more.
In Kitchener-Waterloo, the number of special interest camps has expanded. In addition to day camps at the A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA and YMCA RIM Park, there are camps for kids on the west side of Waterloo at a YMCA site on Erbsville Road. |
| YMCA Healthy Kids Day |
| Saturday, May 30 is YMCA Healthy Kids Day--a national initiative by the YMCA to encourage kids to be active and healthy in spirit, mind and body.
Locally, a greater emphasis is being placed on health in a variety of YMCA programs that involve kids in the week leading up to and the week afterwards. Both the Chaplin Family YMCA and the A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA have a day of special activities planned for May 30 for members and their guests.
The public is invited to attend a YMCA Healthy Kids Day Celebration hosted by the Virtual YMCA at St. John's Catholic School, 99 Strange Street, Kitchener. Between noon and 2 p.m., there are activities for the whole family: · Drumfit · Pickelball · CATCH Parachute Games · Face Painting · YMCA Campfire - sing along · Healthy Snacks · Community Resource Information |
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Zehrs to help YMCA build strong kids |
 The week of June 5 to 12, our local Zehrs stores will be raising funds for the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. Zehrs' cashiers will be inviting shoppers to add $2 to their grocery bill to help send a kid to YMCA summer camp. Zehrs support comes at a time when many families are facing economic challenges.
The one-week campaign is part of Loblaw Companies Limited's national "Give a Little, Help a Lot Campaign". "As part of our broader investment in enabling children's participation in recreation, health and fitness, Zehrs is pleased to support YMCA summer camp," says Peggy Hornell, Senior Director of Community Investment.
"Each summer our YMCA provides kids from low income families the opportunity to attend summer camp. This is a great opportunity for these kids to learn, grow and have fun. Donations to the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign make this possible" explains Alice Michaud, Director of Development, YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo.
"We are honoured that Zehrs has chosen to raise funds for YMCA summer camp at a time when our community needs it most. We encourage all of our members, staff and friends to visit their local Zehrs stores and make a gift during the week of June 5 to 12" announces John Haddock, CEO, YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo.
Want to give more than $2? Make a gift to help your community's kids online now at: ymcastrongkids.ca. |
| 50 Ways to help your whole FAMILY Thrive |
- Take care of yourself first.
- Play and laugh with your children.
- Compliment your kids on the good things that they do.
- Let your kids be kids.
- Admit your mistakes and say you're sorry.
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| YMCA Ontario Early Years Centre on the move |
We've found a great new, long-term home for the main YMCA Ontario Early Years Centre. Everything that you love about us-including Padma's warm welcome at the entrance--will stay the same. In fact we expect to be able to offer you more programs and services at our new larger site. Beginning July 6, join us at our new location:
161 Roger Street, Waterloo (near Weber & Union) map
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| YMCA of Cambridge looking for Cultural Diversity Ambassadors |
The YMCA of Cambridge's Cultural Diversity department is launching the Ambassadors Project this month. The purpose of the ambassadors project is to reach out to various cultural groups across Cambridge who may not be accessing community services and give them the information and tools they need to do so. By making these connections in a variety of languages with a variety of individuals and groups, we are building a more inclusive Cambridge. To become involved, please contact John Madzingo at 519-621-3250 ext. 307. Funding from both the City of Cambridge and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration has made this project possible. |
| FIT TIP: Kids need sleep to stay healthy |
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by Dave Patterson, BSc (Kin), MTS
A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA Volunteer
A recent study shows yet another good reason why little Johnny and Sally need a consistent, early bedtime. It appears the better sleep habits of children, the less chance of becoming obese. That's right: Sleepy kids become fatter kids!
U.S. Researchers found that every additional hour per night a third-grader spends sleeping reduces the child's risk of being obese in sixth grade by 40%. The less sleep they got, the more likely the children were to be obese by sixth grade, no matter what the child's weight was in third grade. Apparently sleep loss messes with young ones' hormone regulation of appetite. As well, sleepy kids are lazier, engaging in less exercise.
And the magic number? Pediatric researchers determined third-graders require nine hours, 45 minutes of sleep. So moms and dads, yank the video game controller from the bedroom and let them get to bed---for their health! Help your children be well rested and stay fit for life!
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Social Club formed by Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP) in Cambridge |
If you are new to Canada (including recent citizens and refugees) and living in Cambridge, come on out to a Social Group organized by the Newcomer Settlement Program. You can meet new people, learn different skills and discuss topics of interest to you such as Gardening, Nutrition, Money-Saving Tips, Safety, etc.
Join us the first and third Wednesday of each month 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.YMCA Cross Cultural & Immigrant Services
Cambridge Free Bus tickets & Free Childcare To learn more, call 519-621-1621
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| Large crowd attends Annual General Meetings |
The YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo both held their annual general meetings on April 28 in the gymnasium of the Chaplin Family YMCA. The guest speaker was Wayne Perkins, CEO & President of YMCA Canada. There were about 130 people present for the first time the two YMCAs held their AGM at the same time and place. The incoming Chair of the YMCA of Cambridge's Board of Directors is Laurie Hornell.
2008 Highlights in Cambridge: Reported by Board Chair Bruce McDonough
- Newcomer Youth Programs launched
- Host Mentorship Program
- Language Conversation Circles
- A new Strategic Plan in common with the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA
- And I am pleased to indicate that the successes continue...on April 14 of this year, the YMCA of Cambridge opened its first Virtual Y at St. Peter's Elementary School
2008 Highlight in Kitchener-Waterloo - Reported by President Mike Stork
- Two new YMCA Child Care Centres opened at public schools - J.W. Gerth and Edna Staebler
- Wind-turbine erected at the YMCA Outdoor Centre
- New Leaders-in-Training Site at YMCA Camp Wabanaki in Huntsville
- Legal Agreement with the City of Waterloo for the new Stork Family YMCA in Waterloo
- Strategic Plan - in common with the YMCA of Cambridge.
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| What's your story? |
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The Report to Our Communities at the start of this e-news features some great stories about how the YMCA builds strong families. What's your story?
Tell us how the YMCA has made an impact upon your life or on someone close to you. Use our fillable PDF form or send us an e-mail to ymcastories@ckwymca.ca. We would love to share your story with people interested in the benefits of making the YMCA a part of your life.
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| A Special Thank You! |
- Canadian Tire JumpStart donated $5,000 to each our YMCAs ($10K total) to be used towards Y Kids Memberships - 88 kids in Cambridge were supported and 94 kids in KW were supported (182 kids total).
- We received $5,000 from General Mills for the Virtual Y in KW.
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| An Artsy Affair to remember |
The YMCA of Cambridge held the 30th annual Artsy Affair in support of the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign on Saturday, April 4. The evening included Cambridge artist Laurie Wonfor Nolan creating a painting, gourmet hors d'oeuvres by the Blackshop Restaurant and music from musicians from the KW Symphony. The YMCA greatly appreciates the support of all of its sponsors and donors of silent auction items. We are especially grateful for the support of Scotiabank as our lead sponsor and the volunteers on the organizing committee. |
| Upcoming Events |
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The YMCA Ontario Early Years Centre has its Summer Reading Program
Kick Off at its main site at University & Bridge on June 19, 9:30 a.m. - noon. Registration is required. To learn more, call: 519-741-8585.
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The YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo |
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