YMCA Healthy Kids Day 2013

9 Days to go until Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA
Sunday June 2nd

Free Access for Families – 10am-1pm

Games, activities, health fair, entertainment and so much more!

See your local Calgary YMCA Branch for schedules of activities

This week at Camp Chief Hector YMCA, hundreds of students have been hiking, canoeing and playing – all in the falling rain and sleet. Right now, the whole great team of them are in the lodge, in front of a warm fireplace, singing in harmony. They’ve had a warm breakfast, and they’ve had an active and outdoor week – rain and shine, sleet and snow. They’re as content and as satisfied as can be. I think they will sleep well tonight!

The wonderful thing about the scene in front of me is how long kids have been active outside at camp. The relationships being made right now, in a lodge in the wet and snowy forest, are very much like the action stories kids have been making of their lives forever – whenever adults empower them to do so. An alumni of camp wrote to me about just such an experience he had, hiking and canoeing in the rain with students, twenty-five years ago.

He writes, “I can still remember that trip over twenty-five years later. For me, it wasn’t the weather. It was the kids wanting to live every minute of camp, and not miss a thing, regardless of the elements. It was the look of accomplishment on their faces that is forever in my mind. The pure joy that comes with doing something that you have always wanted to do. The weather probably made it more of a triumph for the kids. That fact that they did what they wanted despite the weather. That to me is camp, is Camp Chief Hector YMCA – is what being a kid is all about.”

The students will go home this afternoon, the elk will re-claim the meadows for two days, and on Monday several hundred new students will come to camp to make another round of action stories and to build new relationships.

When it is sleeting and raining, that’s when kids can get outside and have a great time!

Saturday May 25th from 4:30-7:00pm.

We are closing off our third floor area for a fun evening of family games and activities including: family court sports, basketball (ages 7 and up), preschool soft play area and crafts, family Zumba, pool games and much more!

Be Active, Stay Healthy

Open to YMCA members and their families.

A limited amount of cardio equipment is available on the 4th floor.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

8:00-9:00am – Performance Cycle – Nancy
9:15-10:15am – Variety – Chuck

Well firstly, let’s define what the word “die” means to each of us…. All kidding aside, it’s important to research the Bootcamp you are looking to join. What are its goals and what are the instructors like? Will it meet your needs?  It’s like any investment, you need to understand what your personal goals are and what you want to achieve by joining, then pick your experience accordingly.

I say FALSE on the “I must die to get fit” statement and I would also add, you don’t have to be yelled at, belittled or offended by the instructor in order to achieve results, unless that is what you are looking for… A good instructor understands what the class is looking for from the workout and plans accordingly. A good instructor looks at the fitness level of the participants and adjusts to ensure that everyone is challenged but not discouraged by their experience.  They are able to accommodate a number of different fitness levels in the class by offering safe modifications and alternatives for exercises. In order to ensure that participants return week after week, a good instructor also offers a value added component to the workout – that could be a one or any of a number of things, education, motivation, social experiences. Bottom line, they build a relationship with their group.

Most Bootcamp formats are based on interval training, meaning that your heart rate will go up and down in the training zone throughout the workout. Some take that theory even further and employ metabolic conditioning techniques that use really high heart rate training to challenge participants. Some use equipment and others use body weight training.

Outdoor Bootcamps are a great way to get your workouts in an outdoor setting. They allow those that live in climates where summers are short to get outside and enjoy the season! Whether outdoor or indoor, Bootcamps offer that component of socializing, meeting new people and building new relationships. Those who sweat together, hang together! When you’ve made some connections in the class, you are more likely to return week after week.

Once you have researched your class and are ready to participate – what will you need? Dress in cool, movable clothing  and if you are going outdoors, prepare for sudden weather shifts by throwing in a jacket. Appropriate shoes are also vital. Make sure you know how much running you will be doing during the class and choose your shoes accordingly (ie runner/jogger vs. cross trainer). Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray are recommended for outdoor experiences and of course that absolute staple the water bottle to keep hydrated (you might want to look at purchasing a fanny pack or waist belt to carry the bottle with you outside.)

Whether you are looking for that military inspired, high intensity experience or just something different to get fit, Bootcamps are a great way to challenge yourself. Make sure you do your research and find the right one for you!

An exclusive system has been developed for us which enables families to fill out their Camper information online at Family Zone.

Family Zone Features:
* Secure site
* Families create own account and password
* Update camper’s info at any time (changes accepted up to 2 weeks prior to camper’s start date)
* Upload your camper’s photo (no photo developing required)
* Information is saved reducing time required to complete forms in future years

To get started visit http://yycymca.campfax.com. Click on “Log in as Family” and then “First time visiting Family Zone.”

Please complete your Camper Information forms by June 15, 2013.

Need a hand? Contact member services at your local branch.
Crowfoot YMCA 403-547-6576
Eau Claire YMCA 403-269-6701
Saddletowne YMCA 403-237-2393
Shawnessy YMCA 403-256-5533
South Health Campus  403-956-3900

 Although he is responsible, reliable and always engaged at YMAP, Charles is a quiet individual who takes a little longer to get to know. I began to understand him on a deeper level when he attended the Western Canadian Leadership Conference at Camp Chief Hector this February. Although this was his first time seeing the Rocky Mountains, his excitement and appreciation for the outdoors seemed very natural. I watched him open up and gain a sense of confidence, which has continued to grow over the past months. Since then, I have gained a better understanding of his leadership style; Charles is one of those who may not speak often or loudly, but when he does he makes sure that what he has to say is meaningful and worth listening to.

This week at YMAP our group was working on a fundraising project and I noticed that Charles was writing something on the laptop, which was projected for the room to see. I was not only surprised and touched to read his thoughts about the group, but also blown away by how he expressed such a deep understanding of YMCA values in his poem. Without further ado, I will let Charles tell you the rest – please enjoy his wonderful piece of work!

AWESOME YMAPERS.

By: Charles Ibe

A COMMUNITY THAT IS DIFFERENT IN CULTURE AND LANGUAGE.

A COMMUNITY THAT IS DIFFERENT IN AGE, COLOUR, AND HEIGHT.

A COMMUNITY THAT IS DIFFERENT IN EVERYWAY YOU COULD IMAGINE.

A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU COULD TELL IT IS A FAMILY.

A COMMUNITY THAT IS UNITED IN EVERYWAY.

A COMMUNITY THAT IS SPECIAL IN EVERYWAY.

A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU CAN’T BREAK DOWN THINGS.

A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE SMILES AND LAUGH.

A COMMUNIY WHERE WE ARE DIFFERENT IN NATURE.

A COMMUNITY WHERE WE ORGANIZE THINGS THAT COULD NEVER BE DONE.

A COMMUNITY WHERE ONCE SOMEONE IS DOWN, EVERONE IS THERE FOR THE PERSON.

A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE IS INVOLVED.

A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU DON’T FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE GROUP.

AFTER A DAY OF YMAP, YOU GO HOME FEELING SPECIAL AND CONNECTED.

Adult and youth players were treated to a 40 minute clinic learning the in’s and outs of badminton strategy from these Olympians and were then thrilled as the two players engaged in an exhibition game and skills demonstration. (It was unbelievable when they played with two birdies at the same time!)

Our own weight floor personality and badminton enthusiast Elysia Atkinson paired up with Nicole to play against Charmaine and her partner. What a thrill! She rocked it!

Eau Claire squash regular Tom Emerson, who was there with his three kids, thrilled the crowd by returning 3/5 of Charmaine’s powerful smashes – they travelled crazy fast! He might be switching to the badminton court after that great effort!

Did you know – during a game of badminton, players can experience more than 5 kms of movement, that’s more than during a tennis game and it’s a bigger court.

Did you know – badminton is the second most played sport in the world beaten only by soccer!

Thanks to everyone who came out last night and thanks to our great badminton role models and mentors Charmaine and Nicole!