The New Canaan Community Young Mens Christian Association Inc

Programs: Youth developmentnurturing the potential of every child and teenyouth development encompasses childcare, education and leadership, aquatics, sports and recreational programs. The new canaan ymca offers full-day childcare, and after-school programs for children 6 weeks old through age 12, providing a safe and nurturing childcare environment for 104 families. Our childcare programs offer a community experience not only for children, but for families as well. The ymca recognizes that it can be a challenge for parents to find safe and fun activities for their children on school holidays. Approximately 90 children participated in the y's vacation camp programs, providing programs for children k-7th grade including archery, sports and educational programs. The new canaan ymca offers several summer camp options designed to meet the needs of our community. Campers learn consideration and cooperation with others, fairness, independence and leadership. Summer camp helps to build self-confidence, self-esteem and a healthy attitude. Approximately 140 teens participated in the y's leader-in-training and counselor-in-training programs. In 2017, over 400 children (including approximately 45 children with special needs) attended y summer camp. The y's special cares camp program for children with a variety of special needs (e. G. , down syndrome, autism) allows the children to be included in a mainstream camp by providing one-on-one staff to children with special needs at no additional cost to their families. Ymca aquatic programs provide specific swimming and water-safety skills while promoting good health through regular exercise. In 2017, approximately 500 children learned to become safer and more confident in the water through swim lessons. Approximately 450 children and young adults participated in the ymca's three competitive aquatic teams and programs. All teams focus on the development of proper mechanics, goal setting, leadership and time management skills, self-esteem and the ymca four core values within the realm of a safe and motivating environment. As a result, our athletes are responsible student-athletes and are great role models for our community. In addition to athletic and personal character development, the competitive programs provide members of the community with the opportunity to develop friendships at the youth and adult level by bringing different families together in social outings and volunteer experience. During the school year, one saturday night per month, the ymca is open exclusively to youth in grades five through eight. The program is open to all in the community, regardless of membership status. The youth work out in the wellness center, gym, and pool, and partake in special events in a safe, supervised environment under the direction of y volunteers and staff. An average of 70 (children (ages 10-13) attended each event in 2017. Over 860 (including 6 on the ysn wildcats team) children from kindergarten to high school age learned sportsmanship, teamwork, and had fun in the new canaan ymca's recreational basketball programs emphasizing community and social skills as well as the y's core values. The new canaan ymca continued its partnership with the non-profit organization "girls on the run international" an after-school program offered to girls (age 8-13) that encourages self-respect and healthy living. The girls are empowered with a greater self-awareness, a sense of achievement, and a foundation in team building to help them become strong, respectful, and self-confident young women - all while training together to walk or run in a 5k event as a team. Enrollment in the 10-week program, started with 15 participants in 2011 and in 2017 we served nearly 430 girls.

healthy livingimproving the nation's health and well-beingwith a mission centered on balance, the y brings families closer together, encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. The y provides the youth and adults in our community support, guidance and resources needed to achieve greater health and well-being. The y-adventure guide program for father and child instills closer family relationships and fosters togetherness through joint projects and outings. In 2017, an average of 300 participants attended each of the 3 weekend overnight outings. The new canaan ymca is a community resource dedicated to promoting wellness among people of all ages through good health and exercise habits. Our programs are designed to help people set realistic goals for self-improvement and disease prevention through an active lifestyle, proper nutrition, and health education. Members ages 15 through senior may participate in a variety of cardiovascular, strength training, mind-body and nutrition programs. The y offers over 120 drop-in health and wellness classes per week. Approximately 67 children learned how to safely achieve a healthy lifestyle at the y through our families in training program, which encourages families to work-out together and for kids ages 12 and older to begin making healthy choices. In 2017, approximately 20 individuals participated in one or more sessions of a cancer survivor physical activity program called livestrong at the ymca. Livestrong at the ymca is a twelve-week, small group program designed for adult cancer survivors. The program is offered at no charge to any cancer survivor in the community. In addition to the physical benefits, the program provides participants a supportive environment and a feeling of community with their fellow survivors, ymca staff and members. To maintain the level of quality of the program and service to our participants, our instructors are required to stay current on their trainings and encouraged to gain as much knowledge and understanding of the population they are working with. The y is also home for a local parkinson's support group, supporting over 80 individuals.

social responsibilitygiving back and providing support to our neighborsthe ymca strives to provide a welcoming, affirmative environment where all individuals can feel comfortable and receive the support they need to improve their overall wellness regardless of economic circumstances. Our mission is to ensure that all who seek our services have access to them and with the support from the y's annual campaign, the new canaan ymca awarded financial assistance of over $83,000 to approximately 155 individuals for membership and over $70,000 to approximately 123 individuals toward program assistance. The ymca provided over $47,000 in assistance for 13 children enrolled in the y's childcare center and more than $66,000 in financial assistance to 73 campers to attend summer camp. Approximately $48,000 in assistance was appropriated from the proceeds of y's annual golf tournament and a grant from the new canaan community foundation to cover the employment costs of the aides and a nurse. Without a nurse on site the children with special needs would not be able to attend camp. In 2017, the new canaan y's special needs department offered 14-16 specialized programs every 12 weeks to address a growing need for youth and young adults with special needs. The y provided one-on-one support for 2 children with special needs in ymca programs throughout the year and 45 children with special needs during summer camp. The y hosted two community events for the special needs community. Approximately 250 people participated in the 7th annual world down syndrome day celebration. 50 families with children with special needs attended an all out for autism beach ball (family dance party). The y also hosted several social or recreational activities and workshops for teens and young adults with special needs including trips out to dinner, drama and art workshops, bowling, magic show, science night, and african drumming. 6 of our teens with special needs participated with peer athletes in a special olympic basketball tournament and 7 children with special needs participated in our spring sports program. 10 teens participated in a new therapeutic creative arts program called theater works. Overall, the the new canaan ymca serves in several capacities approximately 100 individuals with special needs. The new canaan ymca, in conjunction with the town of new canaan, hosted two "family dinner nights", a free community event providing families the opportunity to dine together and enjoy each other's company and participate in a variety of activities. Approximately 230 participants attended. The new canaan ymca's togetherhood program hosted several community projects. Over 600 pairs of shoes were collected and delivered to those in need at our local homeless shelter and canned goods were collected for our local food pantry. Our y, community partners, and a community college collected and provided food, clothing, bags and toiletries to approximately 130 homeless individuals via a breakfast run to nyc. Volunteers served breakfast, lunch and dinner at our local homeless shelter feeding approximately 90 individuals. Volunteers also cooked and brought dinner to 40 residents of inspirica, a local homeless shelter for single moms and their children. 60 participants attended a sunday supper to celebrate dr. Martin luther king's legacy. With the generous support of new canaan youth services as our sponsor, we were able to host the event, provide food and a speaker. The togetherhood's "adopt-a-box" program sold 15 boxes (to cover the cost of shipping) to members of our y and community. Each participant filled the box with items for the men and women in the armed service. In fall 2017, the new canaan ymca launched a foreverwell program in response to a need to enhance the physical and social lives of individuals over 55. Three foreverwell pop-up-lunches served approximately 30 participants in which they had time to engage in social conversation, meet new people, and learn what the y has to offer for them. The new canaan ymca hosted the grit n wit obstacle dash 5k and kids run event, providing a fun and unique outdoor event for individuals, families, and teams, while supporting financial assistance for the y's summer camp program. The course featured 17 physical and mental obstacles, including climbing and agility obstacles, as well as fun puzzle challenges. The event was designed to be fun and inclusive, allowing participants to tackle at their own pace and comfort level. A mix of individuals, teams, and families participated together. A separate kids' obstacle run was held specifically for those ages 5-9. The new canaan ymca continued its partnership with stamford hospital offering health lectures free and open to the community. The new canaan ymca maintains an office for a registered nurse employed by stamford health systems. The wellness nurse coordinator provides on-site referrals and wellness information and screening services to the new canaan ymca members. The new canaan ymca maintains a relationship with other nonprofits and municipal partnerships including: new canaan park & recreation, new canaan high school, arts for healing, youth and family services, 21 strong, sped net of new canaan, new canaan public schools launch program (the public school's transition program for post-high school ages 18-21. The teens fulfill work study at the ymca and use the gym and wellness center for physical education. Free memberships are provided to participate during school hours), town of new canaan human services and norwalk & stamford hospitals. The lions club of new canaan, the open door (a local homeless shelter), midnight run (an organization that feeds and clothes the homeless in nyc), national charity league and service leaque of boys, both volunteer groups located in our community, person to person (emergency service organization) inspirica (homeless shelter), brien mcmahon high school internship program and norwalk community college internship and service learning program. The ymca also offers use of our facilities at no charge to other local nonprofits: south avenue cottage (an assisted living facility for adults with special needs), abc house (a residence for inner-city youth attending new canaan public schools), a-home (provider of safe and affordable housing for low income older adults and disabled individuals), star inc. (day service program for adult with disabilities), the chabad jewish sunday school and movers and shakers parkinson's support group and girl scouts of america, new canaan cares, new canaan community foundation and the new canaan squash club. In 2017 the new canaan ymca was asked to participate with other key organizations in a town pilot project called facing addiction. The purpose is to provide information, events and support to destigmatize the opioid epidemic that we are facing today. Representatives from the new canaan ymca have played an integral part in the process by providing space for events and participating in this town-wide strategic plan. As part of the y's world service initiative, the new canaan ymca continued its partnership with facing the future("fafu"), an organization located in the kenyan slum of kibera, nairobi, africa. Currently, the organization serves approximately 330 needy children with childcare, food, medical attention and education. In 2017 with the help of generous donors, the new canaan ymca appropriated $27,000 to this initiative. A board member emeritus of the new canaan ymca continues as executive board member of fafu to ensure quality and consistency with programs and communication between both organizations. To further the mission and provide a greater chance for the fafu children to live productive and purposeful lives, the new canaan ymca established a high school scholarship fund in 2017. This year, the fund granted a scholarship of $1,000 to each of two qualified students to defray the cost of continuing their education. In 2017 the new canaan ymca kibera connections committee organized and implemented a summer "lemonaid" project, a coffee fundraiser, and partnered with west school elementary for a walk-a-thon. All efforts raised over $3,500 appropriated for fafu. The committee has raised awareness of fafu by speaking to public and private schools in and outside of the new canaan community. The 2016 playground project was completed in january of 2017 when a new playground was successfully delivered to the facing the future school and constructed for the kids. The ymca childcare participants continue to participate in skype calls with the children and teachers of facing the future to engage and cultivate relationships new and old. The new canaan ymca continues to be an integral partner in the peru coalition with yusa and other united state ymcas to cultivate and build a y to y relationship via on-going communication between all parties.