RIDGEWOOD Y CREATIVE PRESS NAME
RIDGEWOOD YMCA 69-02 64th Street , Ridgewood, NY 11385 July 2012 ymcanyc.org/ridgewood
The RIDGEWOOD YMCA NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS, STAFF AND FRIENDS
SUMMER FAMILY HEALTH TIPS
In This Issue Teen Program 2012 Winds Up Look for National Night Out
Make health a priority for your family this summer. The Y Core Values Ridgewood YMCA offers the following tips to help keep Meet the Staff your family cool, happy, and active all summer long: 1. “Net Rewards”: Play outdoor sports this Summer Family Health Tips summer, especially net sports like basketball, volleyball, and tennis. P.S. 305 After-School Carnival 2. “Dive into Summer”: Help your child learn to swim or improve his or her skills. And adults – please remember to be active by the poolside. Free Family Sundays are a Go! Note: Ridgewood members pay member rates at any other NYC YMCA for swimming lessons! Summer MLA Kicks Off! 3. “The Cool and the Sweet”: Instead of traditional summer treats Laughter – the Best Medicine! like ice cream and sugary flavored ices, try substituting frozen yogurt or homemade fruit juice pops! And explore seasonal fruits like kiwis, mangos, melons, and dragon fruit. How about a family dinnertime ―summer fruit of the week‖?! Enjoy This Issue? 4. “Prevent Summer Learning Loss”: Help your child with a summer reading list; and commit to keeping up with current events as a family every Feel free to share this newsletter with day. anyone you think may find it interesting, fun or useful. 5. “Protect Your Skin”: Always use sunscreen, even on overcast days. Encourage your child to wear a hat or cap when playing outdoors. Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to learn about keeping your Questions, Comments, skin healthy. Ideas? 6. “Avoid Screen Addiction”: Limit television and video-game time during summer daylight hours. Encourage kids to get up, get out, and stay Contact Caitlin Moonesar at active. cmoonesar@ymcanyc.org; 7. “Explore Nature”: Spend time this summer introducing your child to the glories of nature with picnics in the park, hiking and camping trips, or Charles Geyer bird-watching or stargazing. Make sure children are provided frequent opportunities for outside play and exercise in ways that are unstructured and (newsletter editor) at: exploratory. cgeyer@ymcanyc.org 8. “The Big Payback”: Give back to the community by volunteering as a family, especially in ways that will get you all outside and moving – like park clean-ups or charity-sponsored walks and races. 9. “Keep Cool, Stay Green”: Be environmentally conscious by avoiding air-conditioner use (especially during peak evening hours, which really strains the city’s electrical grid); instead, try opening windows for crossventilation and use electric and ceiling fans whenever possible. 10. “Commit to Family Fitness: Use the Ridgewood YMCA”: During a time when families struggle to eat right, stay physically active, and find enough time to be together as a family, the Ridgewood YMCA is here to help parents meet these challenges through programs like family group fitness classes, Fit Family Zone, and Free Family Fun Sundays. It’s not summer in New York without the Y—the city’s authority on helping families build healthy spirits, minds, and bodies.
FREE FAMILY FUN SUNDAYS ARE A GO!
Ridgewood Y's Youth and Family Department launched its Free Family Sundays on June 3. Families enjoyed arts-and-crafts and fitness dance, both programs led by educators from GlobalArts to Go. Masks were created from recycled materials and, in the gymnasium, the fitness dance action was a family sensation. Water, fruit, juice, and tips on healthy family lifestyles were provided free to all. This month’s Family Fun Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, July 29th from 1 – 3pm 1
LOOK FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT On Tuesday, August 7th, we’d like to invite you to join us in Joseph Mafera Park for Ridgewood’s annual National Night Out event. Sponsored by the Ridgewood YMCA and the 104th Precinct, National Night Out encourages community members to build stronger relationships with each other and with local law enforcement. The event will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and will be a blast! There'll be rides and games, as well as information, giveaways, health screenings sponsored by local businesses – and free food! So we'll see you there.
Y CORE VALUES IT’S GREAT TO SEE THE Y’S FOUR CORE VALUES IN ACTION: CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE WE RECENTLY NOTED. TELL US ABOUT SOME YOU’VE SEEN! Responsibility – Sonia, Carmen, Cathy, and Kasia demonstrated their responsibility by coordinating a Zumbathon to help the Healthy Lifestyles Department meet its Strong Kids Campaign 2012 goal, and ensure that no one is turned away from the Ridgewood YMCA due to an inability to pay.
MEET THE STAFF -
SIMONE SPENCER
Q.: Please share your current position and a little bit about what you do for Ridgewood Y? A.: I am the Site Coordinator for the Ridgewood Y Afterschool Program at P.S. 305 and a Unit Leader for 5 – 8 year olds during the summer. I basically run an afterschool program that provides families with the Y experience, offering support, recreational activities and homework help. Q.: And your first job with the Y? A.: My first job with the Y was working as a "CIT," or counselor-in-training. Q.: Best advice you received or would give someone who was considering moving with the Y? A.: Always be open to change, understand the devotion needed for building strong family programs, and be passionate about all that you do. Q.: Tell us something about Simone that we might not know? A.: I am very organized, dedicated, hard-working, and creative. I always stand by my decisions, and keep an optimistic outlook. Q.: What is your favorite song of all time? A.: Oh, I love all types of songs!
P.S. 305 AFTER-SCHOOL CARNIVAL On Thursday, May 31, our P.S. 305 YMCA after-school site held a carnival that raised over $600 for our Strong Kids Campaign. There were games, contests and prizes, and even (as pictured, left) a magician on hand to delight and astound. Most importantly, families had the opportunity to spend quality time laughing and bonding.
TEEN PROGRAM 2012 WINDS UP In mid–May, our teen Junior Leaders program its their awards ceremony, with leader Otis Washington present to give recognition to outstanding middle-school student leaders. And on June 14, both of our Ridgewood Y Teen Programs – Leaders Club and Junior Leaders Club – got together to reflect on and celebrate a year well concluded. We congratulated our graduating seniors, and wished them well on their journey toward college in the fall. Both programs will resume in early October. Until then, if there are any questions regarding these outstanding programs, please contact Teen Director Jenna Korn at 212-912-2574.
SUMMER MLA KICKS OFF! This summer's Ridgewood Y "My Little Academy" has kicked off for an excited group of participants, many who are new and many returning from last year. This year's MLA theme is ―I Love New York,‖ with campers set to learn great facts about our city and the diversity of its boroughs. We'll be picnicking at Mafera Park, and cooling off in its refreshing sprinklers. Plus, we look forward to field trips sponsored by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
LAUGHTER – THE BEST MEDICINE! A GRAB-BAG OF YMCA GOOFS, GAGS AND GIGGLES… Two hikers round a bend and see a huge brown bear 75 yards up the trail. The bear begins running toward them at a full gallop. One hiker drops his backpack, throws off his boots, and starts lacing up a pair of running shoes. The other hiker asks: "What are you doing? You'll never outrun that bear!" The first replies: "I don't have to outrun the bear...." How did the basketball court get wet? The players dribbled all over it! How does a physicist exercise? By pumping ion!
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