Archive: Around Town

On April 14, the Ithaca YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event for kids and families in and around Ithaca.  More than 1,900 Ys across the country are taking part in the celebration, meant to kick start physical activity and learning throughout the summer – a critical out-of-school time for kids.

Healthy Kids Day, a national initiative of the Y to improve the health and well-being of kids, is filled with fun, active play, and educational activities that will help parents improve their kids’ lifestyles for the long term.  Research shows that without access to activities that stimulate the mind and body, kids are more prone to gain weight and fall behind academically over the summer months.

“At the Ithaca YMCA, we know that when the school year ends, many kids lose exposure to activities that keep them moving and learning. Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to stay physically and intellectually active in the summer,” said Frank Towner, CEO, of the Ithaca YMCA. “Summer is just around the corner and is an ideal time for kids to get out and grow so they are healthier and sharper when the next school year begins.”

The Ithaca YMCA event, in conjunction with the main sponsor, Wegmans, will take place in the Y’s huge gym from 2:00 to 4:30pm and will feature activities and community organizations such as the Sciencenter, Cayuga Nature Center, Ithaca Youth Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension, AXE; the Professional Chemistry Fraternity, Cornell Chess Club, SPCA, Wegmans, and Dan the Snake Man. The YMCA will offer demo classes in Karate, ZumbAtomic, Capoiera, and Kids Yoga. There will be a bounce house and healthy snacks.

Participants will receive a "challenge card". The youth are then invited to go through 12 exercise activity stations. At each station they perform the easy and fun activity presented to them, and  after completion they receive a sticker. At the end they will turn in the card for a free t-shirt to the first 100 children!  The activities will be appropriate for all abilities and ages.

A leading not-for-profit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the Y promotes the annual Healthy Kids Day to teach wholesome habits and inspire a lifetime devoted to physical activity through active play. As part of this initiative, the Y – along with hundreds of thousands of parents and kids nationwide – is taking on summer by addressing critical gaps in health and education that cause kids to be at risk for childhood obesity and suffer summer learning loss.

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