Ymca Of Cass And Clay Counties

Causes: Human Services, Physical Fitness & Community Recreational Facilities, Sports, Young Mens or Womens Associations

Mission: The ymca works to put christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body. The ymca is a community service organization, governed by a volunteer board of directors. The board is committed to nobody being turned away for inability to pay the full cost.

Programs: Child care and family life program- the ymca is the largest provider of child care and family programming in the area. Programs are provided for infant care through school age. In addition, there is a kinderkamp preschool and a middle school program. Over 3,200 children participated in our programs and through support for the united way, grants (including 21st century grand) and our partner of youth drive 1,394 children received scholarships. We operate 31 child care sites and many of the school age sites are done in cooperation with elementary schools. Ymca child care is designed to build mind, spirit and body in each child. The values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and health are incorporated into the curriculum. All staff are properly trained and attend ongoing training. In addition to child care, the ymca provides a variety of family activities and trainings. The ymca operates child care programs at the following locations: ymca fercho; ymca schlossman; ymca child care south; ymca child care at calvary; ymca child care at west fargo; ymca school age at dilworth; ymca school age at eastwood; ymca school age at l. E. Berger; ymca school age at westside; ymca school age at aurora; ymca school age at horace; ymca school age at harwood; ymca school age at oak grove; ymca school age at madison; ymca school age at jefferson; ymca school age at mckinley; ymca school age at roosevelt ; ymca school age at horace mann; ymca school age at osgood; ymca school age at freedom; ymca school age at barnesville; and ymca school age at all moorhead schools. All programs are fully licensed and two school age sites and three early childhood sites have received naeyc certification. The ymca strives to create an environment where parents and staff are partners in helping all children grow up healthy, happy and strong. Like all ymca programs, scholarship assistance is available.

health enhancement program- since its inception in 1886, the ymca of cass and clay counties has been a leader in healthy activity for our community. Programs build mind, spirit and body for all persons. There are programs for youth, teens, adults, and seniors. Last year, 55,000 individuals used ymca facilities; 19,250 which were youth. Health enhancement programs are available for people at all levels of fitness, 120 group fitness classes are available with a ymca membership including an eight week starter class orientations on cardiovascular and weight training equipment. Classes for seniors are helping keep individuals active into their 90's. The ymca of cass and clay counties is an activate america ymca and also a pioneering healthy communities ymca. Activate america is a program designed to reach out and encourage health seekers to get involved in a healthier lifestyle. Our ymca is one of 81 ymca's in the country to be part of pioneering healthy communities. The phc is a collaboration between the national ymca and the center for disease control. Its purpose is to bring community leaders together to focus on policy and environmental change in communities to promote healthy lifestyles. This effort has created the cass-clay healthy initiative. The initiative has broad based support and recently hired a staff person with the goal of being the nation's healthiest people by the year 2020. All programs and membership at the ymca have scholarship funding available. Last year over 2,000 individuals benefited from scholarship assistance in this area. In addition, the following agencies bring clients to use the ymca at reduced cost: access; anchorage; anne carlson center; ccri; cooper house; dakota boys ranch; easter seals; fraser ltd. ; friendship inc. ; lakeland mental health center; luther hall; mcrs; path inc. ; red river recovery center; robinson recovery center; solutions; sehsc; share house; sisters path; united women of moorhead; va medical center; vocational training center; youth education services.

youth activities program- the ymca serves, 19,250 youth with a variety of programs. Programs help youth build mind, body and spirit. The values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and heath are incorporated into programs and activities. The ymca collaborates with a variety of organizations to provide these programs. Scholarship assistance is available for all youth programs through united way funding and our partner of youth drive. The following are some of the programs offered: swimming lessons for youth of all ages; swim team; youth basketball program in collaboration with area schools; xerzone- a workout area just for youth, staffed by americorp workers, youth are encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle; baton; gymnastics; special trips and overnights; healthy kid's day; youth fitness; teen leaders; climbing wall; and youth/teen center. Our ymca has been a leader in providing youth activities for many years. We receive a variety of grants each year to help support our programming. All ymca youth programs help build self-esteem in our children and work to help each person reach their full potential

camping program- camps include camp koda, a day camp experience and camp cormorant, a residence camp experience. Last year, 396 youth participated in camp koda and 1,140 youth participated in camp cormorant. There were 353 scholarships given out to youth participating in camp. The goal of camp is to provide a safe, enjoyable, creative and challenging opportunity that fosters individual growth in the areas of self-esteem, responsibility, communication, independence, leadership, environmental awareness and christian values, concern for the children is the top priority. Camp cormorant is an american camping association (aca) accredited camp. Activities include crafts, sports, water skiing, horseback riding, ropes course, kayaking and much more. Camp cormorant was established in 1903. Specific campers outcomes include: helping participants build self-esteem; provide positive, caring adult role models; and promoting and developing environmental awareness.