West Cook YMCA 053018

West Cook YMCA S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

2018

F O C U S E D O N H E L P I N G Y O U T H , M E M B E R S , A N D O U R C O M M U N I T Y L I V E H E A LT H I E R L I V E S

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Investing in Youth, Investing in Our Community Page 2

Healthy weight and your child Page 2

YMCA Youth: Acheivement, Growth, Fun Page 3

2 West Cook YMCA May 30, 2018

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Investing in Youth, Investing in Our Community

By Lacey Sikora

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Contributing Reporter

ne of the areas of focus for the West Cook YMCA is its investment in Youth Development and President and CEO, Phillip Jimenez, says that the Y’s commitment to America is to raise new generations of change makers who are capable of creating the kinds of communities we all want to live in.”

In today’s world, investing in developing youth first calls for minimizing inequities in society. Notes Jimenez, “We are very reflective on incorporating the realities of inequities facing our youth and families. We are working to help young people grow into thriving adults who can transform communities into places where everyone feels welcome and safe and has equal access to opportunity.

It is through the generosity of our members, donors, and community supporters, the Y is able to offer a mix of funding to support initiatives such as addressing the Achievement Gap through a summer learning loss program, offering safety PHILLIP JIMENEZ around water lessons in Maywood, and President and CEO of providing chronic disease prevention West Cook YMCA programs at multiple partner locations throughout the service area.”

One key outreach is the Y’s before and after school programming, Y-Kids. The new location of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Forest Park, offers larger facilities with more access for families and children. With nine classrooms, a gym and a playground, more children than ever can benefit from the Y’s school age programming. Y-kids offers the most exten-

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Participants in the Y-kids program catch up with each other after school during arrival activities. sive hours in the community for before and after school care, giving children a safe and educational place and enabling working parents the time to commute and work: a win-win for

Healthy Weight and Your Child

by Lacey Sikora

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Contributing Reporter

s part of its focus on healthy youth development, the West Cook YMCA is proud to offer Healthy Weight and Your Child, a familybased lifestyle modification program. The twenty-five session program is a childhood obesity prevention and weight management program which focuses on instilling healthy habits to last a lifetime.

Chronic Disease Program Coordinator, Jenny Kraak notes that with Healthy Weight and Your Child programming, the West Cook YMCA is participating in the YMCA of the USA program that is working to build healthy families across the nation. “It’s an evidenced-based program that incorporates physical activity with a discussion component.”

In order to qualify for the program, children must be between the ages of 7 and 13 and with a body mass index in the 95th percentile or higher. Youth participants

must receive permission from a health care provider or school nurse to participate, and adult participation is required.

Kraak notes that the 25 session program begins with 10 weeks of meeting two times per week, with each session focused on a particular topic. During the two hour meetings, parents and children meet for one hour with a facilitator. Parents continue to meet with the facilitator for an additional 30 minutes while children are led in games and activities. For the final 30 minutes parents and children join in family games geared towards incorporating activity into everyday life and fun. For the final five weeks of the program, participants meet once weekly for two hours.

“What this does is build relationships between the youth and the family. The families really come together; it’s a very supportive environment,” Kraak says of the program.

Each week, Healthy Weight and Your Child covers a new topic. Within each session, facilitators cover day-to-day decisions including food label reading, gro-

families and the community.

Camp Magellan also utilizes the St. John’s campus during the summer months. Jimenez points out that both afterschool and summer programming are a key part of the Y’s commitment to youth and community. “We provide $100,000 in scholarships for families for Y-Kids and Camp Magellan throughout the twelve months of the year. Our members and donors help facilitate this by giving back to the community.

When you’re working out, you’re also facilitating the improvement of your community.”

The West Cook YMCA also addresses specific needs in the community through youth programming via targeted partnerships and collaborations. This summer, the Power Scholars Academy will work with students in Districts 90 and 91 to address the summer learning loss gap. In Maywood, the Y partners with the Village of Maywood, YMCA of the USA Strategic Initiatives Fund, Maywood Rotary Club, and USA Swimming Foundation to provide free water safety classes to over 250 individuals at the Fred Hampton Aquatic Center in Maywood. The Healthy Weight and Your Child program in partnership with Loyola University Health System at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park provides support to prevent childhood obesity through weight management and lifestyle changes for families and PCC Community Wellness has sponsored the program that is offered at the West Cook YMCA. All of the West Cook YMCA’s work in academics, enrichment and health are part of the larger picture of building community through youth development. With over $200,000 in scholarships per year targeted for family programming, Jimenez says the Y is focused on providing the tools needed to support all aspects of Youth Development. “It’s not a matter of can you afford it. It’s can you afford not to?”

cery shopping, portion control, healthy eating and physical activity. Whether the week’s topic is nutritional information, goal setting, food groups, or moving, Kraak emphasizes that the program moves slowly over a long period of time to facilitate the families learning how to make choices for themselves.

Now in its second season, Healthy Weight and Your Child offers classes at both the West Cook YMCA sponsored by PCC Community Wellness and at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park through a partnership with Loyola University Health System. The West Cook YMCA is also exploring other partnerships to increase accessibility throughout the community. At the end of the program, Kraak says that families and children are better equipped to move forward in a healthier direction. “Families are getting the information they need, and then they can make the choices for themselves that will lead to a healthier future.”

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

by Lacey Sikora

West Cook YMCA May 30, 2018 3

YMCA Youth: Achievement, Growth, Fun

Contributing Reporter

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t the West Cook YMCA, Youth Development is a key component to building strong communities. Through structured activities and plenty of time for play, the Before and AfterSchool Program, Y-Kids, and Camp Magellan summer camp are helping children cultivate the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behavior, better health and educational achievement.

Y-Kids serves children in kindergarten through grade eight and provides crucial support for families during before and after school hours, operating from 7 a.m. in the morning until 7 p.m. in the evening.

Rebecca Boblett, School Age Coordinator, says that the day’s after school schedule is designed with a purpose. “We focus on relationship building. We create a sense of belonging with our programs and instill confidence by helping youth try new things and learn new skills.”

Each day begins with arrival activities, which help the children unwind after a long day at school. Ice-breaker time follows in which the children problem solve with their classmates and teachers. Snacks are provided, and students can get assistance with homework or work quietly on their own.

Each day includes a project-based activity, which focuses on science, art or physical activity.

The Y-Kids program moved to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Forest Park this year, and Youth Development Director Elizabeth Lopez says the new space has provided room for more students as well as an increased flexibility in programming. “We can use best practice programming because we don’t have to coordinate times with other groups. We have access on-site to the gym and kitchen that is dedicated to our programming.”

The proximity to the West Cook YMCA means that students can still participate in swimming classes or youth sports at the Y, which Lopez says is a big convenience for busy families. “The kids can have a snack, do their homework and get in swim lessons, all before going home for family time with their parents.”

When school is out for the summer, the transition to Camp Magellan is easy as campers are already familiar with the St. John’s space. Like Y-Kids, Camp Magellan focuses on achievement, relationships, belonging, and character building.

Summer is a great time to get outdoors, and Camp Magellan campers swim outside and have nature time each week at nearby forest preserves. Youth Choice lets campers

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

(Top) Hannah Nelson, camp counselor and Y-Kids lead teacher with a group of boys. (Bottom Left) Youth in Y-Kids proudly displays his progress report from school. (Bottom Right) Y-Kids participants line up to take the bus to the Y for their swim lessons and sports classes. (Far bottom Right) Y-Kids participants made cards for Mother’s Day. infuse their ideas into some of the activities during the camp day. Campers plan and implement activities for the camp day, which Lopez says builds a sense of confidence.

There is something about summer camp she says, that really helps children build strong relationships. “At summer camp, achievement can be so much more than just doing well in school. There are a wide variety of ways to succeed from softball skills to reciting a poem at the talent show. Our counselors really help hone in on that with each

camper.”

Camp Magellan operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, providing options for working parents that may not exist elsewhere in the community. With Y-Kids and Camp Magellan operating out of the same space, Lopez sees a real benefit to both participants and the neighborhoods served by the West Cook YMCA. “Being at the same location for the entire calendar year builds a great sense of community.”

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West Cook YMCA and Maywood Partner for Summer Success

By Lacey Sikora

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Contributing Reporter

he West Cook YMCA has long been known for its onsite swimming programs, and in keeping with the long-standing tradition of teaching generations to swim, the West Cook YMCA has partnered with Maywood’s Fred Hampton Aquatic Center to bring water safety skills to one of its core communities. Since the partnership began, summer attendance at the pool has grown nearly tenfold, with an increase from 950 visitors in 2013 to over 9,100 the summer of 2017.

Kyle Sandine, Director of Aquatics and Quality Assurance says the Aquatic Center has become an integral part of the summer in Maywood through the partnership with the Y and provides much-needed recreational space. “This is the only pool in Maywood that I’m aware of. It’s a real community asset. Having a recreational facility is key to community. We want to continue our efforts to make sure people know it’s a safe place to go.”

With a goal this summer of welcoming 11,000 guests to the pool, Sandine says one of the Y’s important roles is providing an annual Safety Around Water program at the pool. The eight week program serves preschool-aged children through adults and aims to bridge the gap between non-swimmers and those prepared for swimming lessons. The focus of the program is on building comfort in the water and viewing the water as a fun place to be. Through two-week sessions, that meet for eight times, participants will be able to experience the water in a non-threatening way.

The West Cook YMCA also partners with Proviso East High School in lifeguard certification classes. The classes, which meet seasonally at the high school, enable students to become certified life guards during the school day. Sandine says the program builds a pipeline, allowing students who

Submitted photoher

Proviso East High School Lifeguards show off their skills at the inaugural lifeguard certification ceremony last year. live in Maywood to work in Maywood.

At the end of the day, the West Cook YMCA’s partnership with the Fred Hampton Aquatic Center and Proviso East makes the pool a useful asset for the community. Sandine sums up the positive influence the pool has on the communi-

ty, “We are making the pool a safe, quality place that people can rely on. In this under-resourced, diverse community, the pool provides residents an opportunity they might not otherwise have to gain skills and comfort in the water while also having a fun and safe time.”

Bridging the Gap: Power Scholars Summer Academy

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his summer, the West Cook YMCA is partnering with school districts 90 and 91 to help stop the learning loss that can occur over the summer break from elementary school. As a part of Y-USA’s Achievement Gap Program, the program is open to rising grade one through five students from Forest Park and River Forest and is offered at no cost to families through the support of local school districts 90 and 91, West Cook YMCA, YMCA of the USA Strategic Initiative Fund, John G. Symons Trust Charities, and an anonymous donor.

West Cook YMCA Youth Development Director, Elizabeth Lopez, is excited to be taking part in the program which showed measurable results last year in other communities. “Last summer, over 7,400 students participated and the children experienced gains the equivalent of two months in math and one and a half months in reading.”

The Forest Park and River Forest school districts identified students who would qualify for the program, and the first summer will see up to 120 students taking part at Field Stevenson School. Teachers from local districts will be supple-

THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP Middle-& UpperIncome Youth

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By Lacey Sikora Contributing Reporter

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GRADE mented with enrichment guidance from West Cook YMCA. Each six and a half hour day will have academic and community building activities. In the morning, students will focus on math and reading. After lunch, there will be an enrichment focus with physical activity, art, music, drama and STEM activities. Students’ horizons will extend outside

the four walls of the school with once a week field trips and special guest speakers.

Data collected from 2017 Power Scholars programming points to a successful summer. 91% of teachers reported that their scholars increased their self-confidence over the summer, and 90% of parents reported that their children were more confident in their abilities. Parents also rated highly their children’s’ improved ability to meet challenges.

Lopez says of these results, “It’s not just academics. It’s not just social-emotional learning. It’s the whole package.”

Power Scholars is free for participating students and interested students can sign up for extended care programming via the West Cook YMCA’s Camp Magellan for a weekly fee.

Scholarships are also available for the extended portion of camp which runs from the time of Power Scholars Academy dismissal until 7p.m., with bus service available between the two programs.

Lopez says of the Power Scholars program, “We’re really excited to work with the Forest Park and River Forest school districts. I think we’re the only program to work with two different districts. The diversity factor is important here as the kids build new relationships and meet new people. We’re looking forward to an impactful summer.”