lincoln ymca august update - YMCA of Lincoln, Nebraska

LINCOLN YMCA
AUGUST UPDATE
Dear Valued YMCA Supporter,
We hope you have had a wonderful summer. Our facilities are buzzing with activity: Children are
enjoying the outdoor pools at Cooper and Fallbrook and were active in day camps, swim lessons,
sports, YMCA Camp Kitaki, and more. We work every day to build a stronger Lincoln by building up our
youth.
In September, we are kicking off our Annual Campaign-Strong Kids. The funds we raise give young
people in need the tools they need to reach their potential and empower people of all ages to lead
healthier lives. Your support allows us to offer Financial Assistance so every child can take part in our
life-shaping programs. Donate today at YmcaLincoln.org/give to help kids reach their potential!
The Copple Family YMCA will open attached to Moore
Middle School at 8700 Yankee Woods Drive next spring!
We are busy planning for the facility’s staff and activities,
including an afterschool program, life-saving swimming
lessons, and more in under-served Southeast Lincoln. Our
neighbors are already asking us when they can join!
This facility is coming to life because of your generous
donations. This location is in one of the fastest-growing areas
of Lincoln, and we can’t wait to serve more kids and families.
Cooper YMCA’s membership levels and Crocodiles Swim
Team grew to their largest yet, keeping even more families
active and helping kids build teamwork and water skills.
The summer day camps and child care programs were full with
kids staying busy and having fun. At one of our family night
events, the Arctic Blast on June 21, we went through 120
pounds of ice for snow cones! Our popular Family Luau raises
money for the Annual Campaign-Strong Kids each year.
Downtown YMCA’s monthly Sundays on the Square have
been a successful collaboration with the Lincoln Running
Company and the Downtown Lincoln Association. In the
summer, we hold organized runs and free yoga for the
community at Tower Square. Halfsy Training has also begun,
inspiring and training runners how to run a half marathon.
Our Delay the Disease program is held every Monday helping
those with Parkinson’s symptoms stay active, while improving
their strength, balance and ease of movement.
The biggest event at Fallbrook YMCA this summer was, of
course, the opening of the Outdoor Pool! Families have loved it
ever since we opened, and we held new Family Nights including
an event with Branched Oak Observatory. The Fastest Splash in
the West Family BBQ at the pool drew more than 160 people.
Looking ahead, staff members have been trained to teach
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA ® for cancer survivors as part of our
growing chronic disease offerings. All of the branches will soon
offer this program that we’re so excited to bring to Lincoln.
Summer day camp at Northeast YMCA served nearly
100 kids each week. Thanks to a grant to start a Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math program, we created STEM
kits and activities that the camp used each week.
The Elliott Community Learning Center had 96 students
participating in our 3-week summer school/YMCA day camp.
Thanks to a Learn to Swim grant from YMCA of the USA, 93
kids from the Elliott CLC could walk to swimming lessons at
Lincoln High, where they learned to be safer in and near water!
YMCA Camp Kitaki was packed with activities and
campers making memories. All camps sold out this summer!
See many photos of the fun here: https://www.flickr.com/
photos/campkitaki. Also, two sessions of our first-ever Ranger
Camp sold out! Adding these sessions allowed us to add more
campers to our regular programs.
Specialty camps were held this summer for children who have
heart ailments, asthma, juvenile arthritis, learning disabilities,
and those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
YMCA Youth Sports didn’t slow down in the heat either!
Our Jr. Huskers Baseball/Softball/T-ball program had 2,660 kids
playing on 223 teams. We also held weeklong sports camps in
10 sports, an Itty Bitty Sports Clinic, and Get Golf Ready.
The morning of July 4 was cool and cloudy, but that didn’t stop
over 175 runners from coming to our fourth annual Adventure
Run fundraiser for the Annual Campaign-Strong Kids. The
runners raised enough funds to pay for a full season of sports
for 75 Lincoln kids in need!
We could not have accomplished all that we have without volunteers and supporters like you. I would like to sincerely
express my gratitude for your support of the Lincoln YMCA. Together, we will take on many of the challenges facing our
young people, our health and our community and continue to build a stronger Lincoln.
Sincerely,
Barb Bettin, President/CEO of the Lincoln YMCA