Fall is right around the corner, and you need to look no further than your local YMCA to fill your fall social and activity calendar.
With school beginning, many parents are wondering what to do to keep their middle schoolers active and engaged. Our first Middle School Night Out will be held on Friday, Sept. 8, 7–9 p.m. After the Y closes, we are turning it over to the 6th–8th graders. We will offer swimming, open climb on our rock wall, open gym, 3-on-3 basketball, music, pizza and snacks and more. We’d love to have your kids join us on Sept. 8. $5 for members, $15 for guests. Call the Y at 860-653-5524 or stop by the desk to register.
If you are looking for a great place for your K–5th graders to be after school and you would love a free membership to the Y, we have a deal for you. When you register your child for our after-school program five days a week at the Farmington Valley Y, you will receive free membership to the Y for the entire family. This program offers free bussing from both Kelly Lane and Wells Road schools.
Daily schedules include academic support, character development activities, art, music and service-learning projects. Participants in the program have access to our state-of-the-art climbing wall, multipurpose pool, gaga pit, gymnasium and more.
To support families who need assistance, we accept Care 4 Kids and thanks to our generous donors, financial assistance is available. Our program runs from 3:30 to 6 p.m. with half days included. We hope to see your child in our program and your whole family at the Y.
The Y is offering a range of sports for kids and adults of all ages. We have jukido and archery for youth and adults, Sports of All Sorts for preschool and kindergarteners and rock-climbing classes for various age groups. If you are available during the day, come play pickleball. Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports around and we have a conditioned gymnasium that is the place to be on Mondays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., and Tuesdays, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Join us and get involved in the next best form of fun and exercise.
On Wednesday nights, our gym is just for volleyball. If you would like to play, join us on our two volleyball courts. We have a core group of great players who would love to have you join in.
If you come to the Y in the afternoon, you are sure to see smiling faces working hard in the pool as part of our competitive swim team. Swimming is a great answer for kids who want to be a part of team while competing as an individual. Children ages 8 years to high school work with our Director of Competitive Swimming Mario Francisco and his coaching staff on one of the strongest teams around. Call Francisco at 860-707-5569 to schedule an evaluation to join our team.
We recently held our first Farmer’s Market in many years, and it was a great success so we are gearing up to do it again. Our monthly Farmer’s Markets will be held on the second Saturday of every month starting on Sept. 9 and continuing throughout the year including an indoor market during the cooler months. Come support your neighbors, shop small, shop fresh. Please contact Cristina Marsh at Cristina.marsh@ghymca.org for more information or to become a vendor.
Mark your calendars for free upcoming community events at the Y including Healthy Kids Day (Oct. 21, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.), Halloween (Oct. 27, 6–8 p.m.) and though it is too early to talk about…Breakfast with Santa (Dec. 9, 9–11 a.m.).