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Youth Programs Your child will find
a world of activities, adventures, learning and FUN at the Rochester
Area Family YMCA, helping them to grow in spirit, mind and body.
Our youth programs give kids a welcoming place to make friends
and learn new skills in an environment that emphasizes respect,
responsibility, honesty and caring. All YMCA programs aim to
build competence and confidence in children in a safe, secure
environment for social and emotional growth.
Y-SPACE is a free program for children in 1st-12th grade; that offers a fun and safe environment for teens and tweens at the YMCA. This program provides free afterschool care during the school year and also offers morning and afternoon fun during the summer when school is not in session. YMCA Staff monitor all activities in Y-SPACE while kids can enjoy all of the fun. Core value based education, homework help, group activities, recreation such as pool and ping pong, arts and crafts, homework help, monitored computer time, group activities, and much more will keep your child busy either after school or while you work out.
Parents must fill out a Child Information form prior to a child attending Y-SPACE. This form is available at the Y Welcome Center. An adult must check-in and check-out a child that is under age 10. Children that are older than age 10 can check themselves in and out of Y-SPACE.
9:00am-Noon 4:30pm-7:30pm
Mission: The mission of Y Space is to provide a safe and fun environment where our community's diverse tweens and teens engage in activities and programs that foster individual emotional and physical health, strengthen personal and family relationships, and teach respect, honesty, caring and responsibility.
Objectives: • Provide a safe and secure environment • Provide structured programming based on the 40 Developmental Assets outlined by the Search Institute • Empower youth to make healthy choices using the four Y values.
Contact Jessica Wacek for more information at 507-287-2260, ext. 335, jessicaw@rochfamy.org
What: The Delicious and Nutritious Garden Where: Rochester Area Family Y Who: 130, 1st -6th grade youth who participate in Discover Y Day Camp (65, 4 th -6 th graders are primarily responsible for the garden, 1st -3rd grade have a weekly taste testing) More Information.....
Community Partners: • Olmsted County Public Health Services, Steps to a Healthier Rochester (Jo Anne Judge Dietz) • Helped start the preliminary planning and plans to provide financial support for upcoming years • Master gardener, Pat Mack • Has donated countless hour teaching kids in the garden, donated all the plants and seeds, and helped prepare the plot and continues almost daily maintenance • Sargent's Nursery and Landscape Gardens • Donated use of equipment (tiller and sod cutter) to prepare plot • Olmsted County Recycling Center • Donated 12 tons of compost • RNeighbors • Posts pictures and a weekly garden update on their website • Pork and Plants • Donated annual flowers around the perimeter of the garden • Home Depot, Target, Walmart (North and South), and ShopKo • All donated gift certificates to purchase garden supplies • Rochester District Dietetic Association, Rochester Public Library, Rochester Flower and Garden Club, Rochester Community and Technical College-Horticultural Dept, other Master Gardeners • Have not yet volunteered, but all showed interest in the preliminary planning stages
Who is involved with the Youth Garden? Youth will be involved in garden activities twice a week for 12 weeks. Youth will learn to plant, weed, water and harvest the garden. Garden-based activities will focus on nutrition, particularly fruits and vegetables. Youth will receive lessons regarding the origins of food, plant parts, nutrient needs of humans and plants, the environment (soil, worms, insects), MyPyramid, serving sizes, food labels, goal setting, and the preparation of healthy snacks and meals.
Youth will have a weekly taste-test of a fruit or vegetable. In the end, youth will create a cookbook based on the food grown in the garden.
What will be grown in the YMCA's Youth Garden?
Why teach kids to garden? A garden is a great way for kids to learn about healthy eating, specifically fruits and vegetables through hands on learning. If kids truly understand where their food comes from (not just the Cub Foods) they may start to make the connections with the food they eat, their health and the health of our land and community.
It can often take more than 12 exposures before a child (or adult) will begin to like a new food. So the weekly taste testing is a fantastic way for kids to get the opportunity to try new fruits and vegetables.
How can families encourage gardening at home? • Start a small garden with your kids or just start with one tomato plant. • Take your kids to the farmer's market on Saturday mornings and let them talk with the farmers who grow their food and let them choose their own fruits and vegetables • Get kids involved in their food, whether it's getting a starting a community plot from the City of Rochester or taking a cooking class with them. You may be surprised at how excited they are to learn about how their carrot grows or how to prepare it.
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Rochester Area Family Y
709 First Ave. SW Rochester, MN 55902-3396 507-287-2260 |
