Hanover Area Ymca

Programs: The hanover area ymca is a membership based, charitable, community service organization dedicated to helping people build healthy spirit, mind and body through programs and memberships. We welcome and serve all people regardless of age, income, race, religion, gender, or ability to pay. Membership to the ymca enables people to utilize equipment and facilities designed specifically for improving personal health and wellness goals. Ymca staff assists and lead members through training of use of equipment and by assisting them with setting realistic goals. The ymca is a recreational and community hub in our town, people gather to socialize and feel a great sense of belonging at the ymca. All programs are open to non-members, as well, financial assistance is available to anyone unable to afford membership fees. The ymca is utilized by dozens of community groups, agencies, government, schools, churches, clubs, and more for a vast variety of activities and events. Ymca has an average 13,960 memberships throughout the calendar year.

the purpose of the hanover area ymca before and after discovery programs is to provide a safe and nurturing child development environment during the critical hours before and after school. Research shows that risky behavior occurs during these time periods when working parents are unable to adequately supervise their child. Our program is conveniently held at the school, making it easy for parents to pick-up and drop-off in addition to providing age appropriate social, recreational and educational activities, we focus on our ymca values of honesty, caring, respect, responsibility and faith. Special activities are scheduled with input from the students, students are provided with a quiet area to do homework and/or relax. Teachers provide homework assistance to those who need help. Several centers are offered each day in which students can choose what are they wish to participate. Center activities include block play, dramatic play, science activities, arts/crafts, cultural activities and library. We provide nutritious breakfast and snack foods and encourage physical fitness activities daily. All sites are licensed through the pennsylvania department of public welfare (dpw), and inspected annually. All of our programs are currently at a keystone star 2 or higher. The ymca's discovery program has been in existence for over 35 years. The discovery program provides a safe and nurturing environment for 279 youth in grades k - 6, representing all races, religions, ethnicity, income levels and abilities 52% of our clients are male and 48% are female. 85% percent of our clients are caucasian, 3% are african american, 4% are hispanic and 3% are asian. Five percent of our clients are between the ages of 0 and 5, ninety-fine percent of our clients are between the ages of 6 and 12, and forty percent of children in the discovery program received some form of financial assistance. We provide service to 8 elementary schools and 3 middle schools within five school districts in the greater hanover area. The purpose of the early learning center is to provide developmentally appropriate activities for children ages one to five to assist them in gaining skills for school readiness. Our south hanover branch offers a half-day kinder class program to children in morning kindergarten. Both programs offer a developmentally appropriate curriculum to develop and enhance social, cognitive, physical and emotional development. Our child development programs have been in operation for over twenty-five years. The early learning center is open year round from 6:15 am to 6:00 pm. We are naeyc accredited and a keystone star 4a. We provide breakfast, two snacks, and lunch using cacfp guidelines. There are several family events scheduled throughout the year, including our thanksgiving feast and family picnic. Our curriculum is based on the recommended "creative curriculum", which focuses on learning through play. This curriculum is cross walked with the pennsylvania early learning standards. Activities include learning centers, circle time, arts & crafts, language & literacy, music, math, science and cooking. Children age 3 to 5 participate in weekly gymnastics, swimming and fitness lessons. They also visit the library once a month. Our kinder class in aligned with the pa early learning standards and builds on the public school curriculum. Our teachers provide circle time, educational learning centers and physical activities. We transport students to the hanover area ymca twice a week for swimming and gymnastics instruction. An afternoon snack in provided daily following the cacfp guidelines. Family events are held throughout the school year and parent/guardian participation is encouraged. The early learning center is licensed to provide care to 163 children over the past year, we have served 152 children. Twenty of those children graduated and entered kindergarten this past school year. Our kinder class currently has 15 children enrolled over the past year, our kinder class served 15 children. Of the combined 162 children served in both program, fifty-three percent were female and forty-seven percent were male. Eighty-five percent are caucasian, eight percent are african american, and seven percent are hispanic. Seventy-six percent of children served were on some form of financial assistance of that seventy-six percent, seventeen percent received ccis funding in additions to ymca financial assistance.

gymnastics program: hanover ymca gymnastics is a multifaceted program that enriches the lives of the children in our community. Our program is divided into four key groups. Preschool - ages 14 months - 4 years. Developmental - ages 4 and up. In this program children are given progress reports and may move from beginner to intermediate and preteam based on the proficiency of skills taught. Team - our pre-team and team programs are available by invitation only to children ages 4-18. Specials - these are programs such as tumbling classes, open gyms, preschool field trips and birthday parties. These programs provide an introduction to gymnastics. What are the benefits of gymnastics training at the hanover ymca? Physical 1. Muscle strength: gaining muscle strength through tumbling, jumping, static flexing, and holding one's own body weight in various positions helps children develop strong and powerful bodies. 2. Healthy bones: these same types of movements assist children with developing strong healthy bones since gymnastics is a weight-bearing activity. 3. Flexibility: the ability to move the muscles through their full range of motion. Non-physical our gymnastics program provides stimulating age-appropriate curriculum and terrific instructors who care about their students, and help them yield other important non-physical benefits from their gymnastics. Cognitive and social benefits might not be as obvious as a toned muscle, but there is no question that they are there. 1. Cognitive benefits: when children are engaging in gymnastics, they are exercising their brains as well as their bodies. Every time you send your child to gymnastics class, he/she is engaging in physical exercise that encourages healthy brain function. Nerve cells multiply and connections in the brain are strengthened. It is not surprising that children who are engaging in consistent physical activity like gymnastics are more likely to get better grades than their inactive peers. 2. Social skills: children can also benefit socially from engaging in gymnastics. Aside from simply interacting with other children in their class, we encourage teamwork and partner drills in their practices. The more children can interact with different types of children both in school and after-school programming, the more they will learn how to handle conflict and positively relate to others. 3. Reduced risky behavior: gymnastics provides a stable, reliable physical activity source for both children and teens. Young people who are consistently physically active are much less likely to engage in using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. When children can find positive, active ways to keep busy in a place that you can trust, they will not have to make up ways to occupy their time that could lead to poor or risky choices. 4. Confidence: while physical activity tends to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, our instructors help children develop an "i can" attitude that can give them that intangible high of knowing they can count on themselves to succeed. 5. Character: we have incorporated age-appropriate character education into our team program. Children learn respect, self-control, responsibility, confidence, sportsmanship and other character - based concepts that help them strive to become their very best both within the gymnastics club and out in the community. 2017 measurable achievements such as clients served, sessions held, publications issued"preschool total session sign-ups for 2017 = 912"developmental total session sign-ups for 2017 = 1,302"team and pre-team individuals served for 2017 = 207"specialty individuals served for 2017 = 2,198 (b-days, field trips, tumbling and open gym)

day camp, youth and adult sports, aquatics, and wellness programs