YMCA News Archive

YMCA of the North Offers First-Of-Its-Kind Digital Health Program Benefitting Members and Kids Through YMCA MN Apple Watch App

nathan.hippenmeyer@ymcamn.org — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 13:34:32 +0000

YMCA of the North Offers First-Of-Its-Kind Digital Health Program Benefitting Members and Kids Through YMCA MN Apple Watch App nathan.hippenm… Thu, 01/23/2020 - 07:34

First Apple Watch Connected Y helps members transform their fitness experience with Apple Watch while supporting youth programs through Move for Good

Minneapolis, MN - The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, is offering a unique community digital health program with Apple Watch designed to help its members reach their health and well-being goals while giving back to the community by providing kids access to YMCA programs and services.

This revolutionary digital health program allows YMCA of the North’ members to enhance their well-being journeys through real-time tracking and community engagement at their Y or wherever they are active via their Apple Watch. With the YMCA MN Apple Watch app built by the YMCA of the North and three other Ys, Y members can check-in, find classes, track exercise, participate in challenges and more by a tap at their wrist. They also can use their Apple Watch to connect to the Y’s Apple GymKit-enabled cardio fitness equipment to provide the most seamless and accurate fitness tracking experience.

“We recognize many of our members are using Apple Watch in the Y and we are thrilled to offer our members this new cutting-edge digital health experience as well as the opportunity to join our ‘Move for Good’ health challenges,” said Nathan Maehren, senior vice president of digital at the YMCA of the North. “Members who participate in ‘Move for Good’ during monthly challenges with their Apple Watch not only benefit their health but also help send kids to life-changing programs at the Y like swimming lessons, camp, sports and the Y’s signature Youth in Government program.”

Other YMCAs across the country that have GymKit-enabled cardio fitness equipment will also be able to offer this program to their members. As the program rolls out, Y members will be able to use Apple Pay to purchase personal training, swimming lessons, youth programs and more.

“We’re excited by this innovative program which supports our vision for improving the health and well-being of our members, our communities and our nation,” said Kevin Washington, president, and CEO of YMCA of the USA. “The Y is constantly looking for new and unique ways to help members achieve their goals and strengthen their communities, and we see tremendous potential for this program as YMCAs across the country begin to roll it out over the next several years.”

As one of the first Apple Watch Connected facilities in the United States, the St. Paul Midway YMCA invites all current and new members to experience the transformational social giving element based on their health activity. The Y’s Apple Watch Connected St. Paul Midway location includes:

Move for Good community digital health challenges
YMCA MN Apple Watch app
Apple GymKit-enabled cardio equipment
Apple Pay

The benefits of the YMCA MN Apple Watch app and “Move for Good” are available now in all 26 YMCA of the North fitness locations. The Y will be offering more Apple Watch Connected sites later this year.

For more information and to download the YMCA MN Apple Watch app, click here.

YMCA Celebrates Mentors Being Positive Role Models For Young People

nathan.hippenmeyer@ymcamn.org — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 16:39:38 +0000

YMCA Celebrates Mentors Being Positive Role Models For Young People nathan.hippenm… Tue, 01/21/2020 - 10:39

According to the National Mentoring Partnership, youth at risk for falling off track are 55 percent more likely to enroll in college and 130 percent more likely to hold leadership positions when they had a mentor in their lives.
According to Youth.Gov, studies show that youth who form supportive, healthy relationships with mentors are less likely to initiate alcohol and drug use
The National Mentoring Partnership reports that studies show every dollar invested in quality youth mentoring programs yields a three-dollar return in benefits to society at a minimum.

The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, offers educational and enrichment programs for youth that encourage supportive relationships with mentors and positive adult role models.

Studies show that young people who have mentors in their lives are less likely to engage in risky behaviors and more likely to pursue post-secondary education or hold leadership positions. The YMCA provides programs that connect young people of all ages and backgrounds to caring adult mentors and role models and works to identify and eliminate barriers to participation.

"Youth development is a key tenet of the YMCA's mission," said Glen Gunderson, president, and CEO for the Y. "Our programs create safe spaces for young people to learn, grow, and be themselves, and to receive support and guidance from positive adult role models."

Gunderson added that the YMCA offers an array of youth-oriented programs for all ages and backgrounds, including:

Child care programs for kids ages six weeks to five years to learn and grow from trained teachers and early childhood experts
School Age Care programs, including Beacons in Minneapolis and Richfield, and School Success in St. Paul, that provide engaging enrichment programs before and after school and allow young people to learn from positive adults role models outside the classroom
Camps that allow young people to develop relationships with caring counselors while experiencing the great outdoors
Youth sports programs that provide opportunities to build confidence and gain new skills while receiving encouragement and support from Y coaches
Teen Thrive Programs that allow older youth to experience leadership opportunities and learn from Y team members
Youth Intervention Services which connects young people facing barriers with Y life coaches who provide resources and support to encourage future success
University YMCA, where college students serve as near-peer mentors to youth in schools and community centers near campus, inspiring youth to explore their dreams for college and career in their future. The University YMCA also provides peer-to-peer support for students from different communities on campus, including first-generation college students.
YMCA Center for Youth Voice encourages students from across the state to participate in experiential learning opportunities where they can discover their voice, identify issues that matter to them and learn to take action.

Discover how Gio explores his strengths with the support of his YMCA mentors: Gio's Story.

Learn how YMCA Youth in Government creates generations of mentors helping youth prepare for their future: Generations of Mentors

Because the Y is a leading nonprofit committed to helping all young people thrive, financial assistance is available to those in need. With the generous support of community members, the Y ensures that all have the opportunity to participate. To learn more about the Y's programs, please visit ymcamn.org.

66th Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government Program Brings Youth Together for State's Largest Hands-On Civic Education Event January 9-12

jeffrey.needham — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 16:36:25 +0000

66th Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government Program Brings Youth Together for State's Largest Hands-On Civic Education Event January 9-12 jeffrey.needham Mon, 01/06/2020 - 10:36

St. Paul, MN – The YMCA, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, will welcome 1,550 students in grades eight through 12 to the Minnesota State Capitol January 9-12 for the YMCA Center for Youth Voice’s Youth in Government program.

At the 66th Youth in Government session, the state’s largest hands-on civic education event, participants from 56 delegations take on roles as legislators, lobbyists, lawyers, judges, justices and journalists and practice open government without the confines of partisanship. Youth in Government brings together a variety of students from across the state to share their perspectives.

11 percent of students come from Minneapolis and St. Paul, 66 percent come from the suburban Twin Cities, and 23 percent come from greater Minnesota
60 percent of participants are female
30 percent are students of color – matching the state average for youth of color in Minnesota

“Youth in Government helps students learn about current issues facing Minnesota,” said Orville Lindquist, state program executive for the YMCA Center for Youth Voice. “They also learn to listen to each other while they share their own experiences, in an environment based on respect and with an emphasis on allowing all perspectives to be heard.”

There will be over 400 bills debated by the Youth Legislature and its committees including topics such as:

Homelessness in Minnesota
Education – testing, college tuition, school funding, achievement gap
Government – change Electoral College, police reform and regulation
Health – medical marijuana, affordable healthcare
Transportation – helmet laws, funding for roads and/or mass transit
Consumer Affairs – regulate weapons, net neutrality
Ecology – renewable energy, public lands

Students elect their peers to leadership roles within each branch of government. The 2020 youth governor is David Scheerer, a senior from the Red Wing delegation, and the 2020 youth lieutenant governor is Justin Scheerer, a senior from Red Wing delegation. David and Justin are identical twins.

WHO:
YMCA Center for Youth Voice

WHAT:
66th Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government Session

WHERE:
Minnesota State Capitol Complex, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155

WHEN:
Sessions will be held at the Capitol Complex at the following times – photo opportunities:
Friday, January 10, 2020 and Saturday January 11, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Special Note and Photo Opportunity: Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 3:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m. in the Minnesota House of Representatives Chamber - Opening Joint Convention where the session formally begins; the Youth Governor is sworn in and gives the State of the State address.

About the YMCA of the North
The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 164 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, eight overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 370,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcamn.org.