2013 is upon us - and now that the ball has dropped, the toasts have been made and the confetti has settled, it's time for us to start the New Year on a positive note.
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Here at the Y, we're really looking forward to the coming year! Our new group exercise class, R.I.P.P.E.D. has been jam-packed, our LIVESTRONG program is coming soon to all 3 facilities, and our Partners For Youth community support campaign is right around the corner. We hope you can be a part of some of these exciting times ahead!
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This February, we encourage you all to participate in our annual Community Support Campaign, Partners For Youth (PFY). This month-long scholarship campaign gives children, families, and people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy the YMCA experience. You can have an impact - together we can change lives. Click here to go to our PFY website, where you can learn more about this campaign. Also, stay tuned for more information in next month's member newsletter.
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Our Outside the Box program aims to prevent school dropouts by engaging with, and mentoring, teens that are transitioning from middle school to high school.
Currently, we have 13 students attending our Outside the Box program, and according to the North Central administration, there are more students to come. Each student has come to us with a specific need, and thankfully, with the help from our great staff members, we are able to meet those needs.
For example, Jacob, one of our sophomore students, has been a part of the Outside the Box program for two years. He came into the program with failing grades and poor attendance. Since then, he has brought his grades up to a C average, attends school regularly, and is now on track to graduate. As soon as he meets his graduation requirements, he will be the first person in his family to graduate from high school.
Another example of a successful student is Aries. Aries is a freshman and has been diagnosed with autism. Since he started the program in October, he has only missed one program day. His grades have been on the rise, and his counselor and teachers have seen an improvement in how he handles himself in class. Aries really needed someplace that he could feel safe, and has found that in the Outside the Box program and at the Central YMCA Teen Center.
We are very proud of our students and all that they have accomplished, and we continue to give them the support that they need to make sure they are successful in school and in their personal lives.
If you are interested in becomming a part of our Outside the Box program, contact Program Leader Jenny Jamison at jjamison@ymcaspokane.org
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 If eating more healthfully is one of your goals for 2013, one of your best tools is in your cupboard - your plate. The USDA's nutritional guidelines, and their MyPlate illustration, recommend that half our plates for any meal consist of fruits and vegetables. The other half should be made up of grains, mostly whole, and a small amount of lean protein. Here are some other suggestions for heating healthy. - Eat a variety of foods from the protein food group each week, such as seafood, nuts and beans, as well as lean meat, poultry and eggs. - Watch your sodium intake by reading labels for foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals - and choose foods with lower numbers. Visit ymca.net/healthyfamilyhome for more tips. |
Congratulations to Crystal McDonald, and Daryl Kingrey! Crystal and Daryl were selected at random from members who answered last month's question. Contact Marc at 777-9622 ext. 429 or at mmorris@ymcaspokane.org to receive your gift card to either Emerald City Smoothies or Starbucks! For a chance to win a $10 gift card this month, simply click the link below and answer the question about your goals / resolutions for 2013. 
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Ongoing: Small Group Personal Training Sessions @ Spokane Valley Y. 5-10 participants. Click here for times R.I.P.P.E.D. Group Exercise Class @ All 3 Y Facilities. Resistance, Intervals, Power, Plyometrics and Endurance as the workout portion along with Diet suggestions. Contact Sandy for more information on R.I.P.P.E.D at swasteney@ymcaspokane.org |
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The New Year is a time for new beginnings and to set goals that strengthen one's spirit, mind and body. There are also simple things families can do at home to improve their family's overall health and well-being.
Following are three New Year's Resolutions the Y recommends for 2013:
1) Volunteer Together:
Giving back and supporting neighbors benefits everyone involved. It teaches children and teens the value of helping others and is also a way to meet new people or discover a new interest. 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.
2) Unplug from Technology:
Limit screen time (television, video games, computer, etc.) and instead set aside an hour or two for activities that allow interaction and camaraderie. If weather permits, go for a walk, bike ride, trip to the park, or have a game night at home. If you do want to watch television, maybe have a movie night with the family.
3) Put Extras to Good Use:
Do you have extra canned goods or clothes that could benefit others in need? Clean out your pantry, closet or attic and donate extra items to homeless shelters or community outreach programs. You can also get the entire family involved and demonstrate to the children the value of giving.
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See what resolutions some of our Facebook fans have in mind for the New Year:
"Keep going to the 9am water sports with Kat on Fridays! She is awesome and it's a great work out! Thanks Kat!" - Deserai A.
"Compete for bodybuilding and get to 8% body fat" - Cody D.
"To begin giving back to this world that's in so much pain and hurt. As well keep an even A1C level." - Grace M.
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Things I Teach & Learn At The Teen Center
Written By: Alex Blackburn
I've worked at the YMCA Teen Center for just over five months now, and of all the great experiences I've had, and the many lessons I've learned, the most potent is this: Teens will teach me far more than I will ever teach them.
At the YMCA, and the Teen Center especially, we're big on our four core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. These values are our guideposts, assisting us through the everyday matters of teenage life, while keeping us in line with the mission of the YMCA. Every time I think I'm about to have a moment where I teach the meaning of a core value to a teen, I find a revelation of a deeper meaning deposited in my own vocabulary.
Caring:
* What we teach -"To help others and to be sensitive."
* What the teens have taught me - Caring isn't always as pretty as it sounds; sometimes it involves looking like the bad guy in order to provide the outcome that ensures the well-being of the party involved.
Honesty:
* What we teach -"To tell the truth and act in a way worthy of trust."
* What the teens have taught me - If you're not practicing what you're preaching, they will sniff it out like a bloodhound in a hot second. Authenticity is a prerequisite to living a life of integrity.
Respect:
* What we teach -"To value the worth of every person, including yourself."
* What the teens have taught me - Everyone struggles with self-identity at times, and with seeing oneself in a positive light. In order to give value to others, you have to be able to give value to yourself first. And that, often times, is the hardest part.
Responsibility:
* What we teach -"To do what is right."
* What the teens have taught me - Responsibility is something that is more caught than it is taught. The best way to pass on the importance of responsibility is to live it out.
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