YMCA News Archive

YMCA Hosts ForEverest East & West Climbing Events on May 7 at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi and May 21 at YMCA Camp St. Croix

jeffrey.needham — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 13:42:15 +0000

YMCA Hosts ForEverest East & West Climbing Events on May 7 at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi and May 21 at YMCA Camp St. Croix jeffrey.needham Thu, 04/27/2023 - 08:42

Kids, Adults and Seniors Invited to Find Out What it Takes to Reach the Top of the World

Minneapolis, MN – The YMCA, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, will host ForEverest events on Sunday, May 7 at Camp Ihduhapi and Sunday, May 21 at Camp St. Croix. ForEverest was previously the largest climbing event in the Midwest and has now evolved into a dual-experience event – the Camp Edition and the Ultra Climbing experience.

Fewer than 4,000 people have ever climbed Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth at 29,029 feet and the most epic climb in the world. To simulate a mini-version of the Everest climb, the YMCA has partnered with YMCA Camp Ihduhapi and Camp St. Croix to give people of all ages a taste of what it’s like to reach the Summit.

NEW for 2023:

The Experience: Reaching the top of the world is no easy feat – it requires physical and mental strength, dedication, perseverance, and belief in a person’s ability to overcome. At ForEverest, participants will use their custom passport to experience fun activity stations that help them fuel their body, build personal belief, be in awe of nature and have fun along the journey.

Ultra-Climbing Option: For the serious hikers, runners, and challengers that want to climb the equivalent of 12,000 feet of the journey from Basecamp to the Summit of Mt. Everest, the Ultra-Climber option also includes the Camp Edition experience, with 12 hours to complete your goal.

“There’s a universal intrigue about Mount Everest, and what it takes to reach the Summit. ForEverest gives us a taste of the Everest experience, and it’s fun for all ages,” said Betsy Grams, vice president of Adventure at the Y.

ForEverest offers a path to the summit for everyone, from hikers to runners, with fun and interesting learning opportunities along the way.

The registration cost is $18 per person for the Camp Edition, and $30 for the Ultra-Climbing Experience, with discounts for registering two or more climbers. For more information and to register, visit https://www.ymcanorth.org/adventure/experiences.

WHO:
YMCA Adventure, Camp Ihduhapi and Camp St. Croix

WHAT:
ForEverest West
ForEverest East

WHEN AND WHERE:
Noon -4:00 p.m.
Ultra-Climbing Experience 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday May 7, 2023 ForEverest West at Camp Ihduhapi on 3425 Ihduhapi Road in Loretto, MN 55357|Sunday May 21, 2023 ForEverest East at Camp St. Croix on 532 County Road F in Hudson, WI 54016

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 167 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.ymcanorth.org.

YMCA George Wellbeing Offers Community Nutrition Workshops

jeffrey.needham — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 13:58:23 +0000

YMCA George Wellbeing Offers Community Nutrition Workshops jeffrey.needham Tue, 04/18/2023 - 08:58

Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN – George Wellbeing, an initiative of the YMCA of the North which is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, will be offering nutrition workshops at various YMCA locations for Y members and the public.

The nutrition workshops are based on the Y’s nourish philosophy that food is foundational. Nutrition fuels an individual’s body, mind and spirit and satisfies senses, helps connect and celebrate with others, and supports sustainability. The workshop topics will include ways to be in touch with a person’s relationship with food through mindful eating; provide ways to support sustainability through practices such as seed starting, gardening and composting; and teach how nutrition impacts gut and brain health which supports overall health and wellbeing and reduce chronic disease.

“To nourish means to feed the spirit, mind, and body intentionally so that we may improve our lives, better our communities and care for the environment,” said Robin Hedrick, senior director of integrative health and wellbeing partnerships at the YMCA of the North. “Growing, creating, eating, and sharing delicious foods nourishes the whole you and in turn benefits our community.”

“The YMCA is honored to be working in partnership with Bill and Penny George and The George Family Foundation to provide nutrition learning experiences to the community,” said Sally St. John, vice president of whole-person wellbeing at the YMCA of the North. “When individuals and communities are given the right to access healthy foods as a part of their whole-person wellbeing plan, people start believing their lives matter, their choices matter and their journey can be something to embrace rather than fear.”

For more information and to register, visit www.ymcanorth.org/wellbeing.

WHO:
YMCA of the North George Wellbeing

WHAT:
George Wellbeing Community Nutrition Workshops

WHERE AND WHEN:
Workshops run for 60 minutes

Sustainable Seed Starting at Home
Learn how to grow seeds from beginning to end
Saturday, April 22 at 11:00 a.m.
St Paul Midway in the YMCA Teaching Kitchen
1761 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
and
Tuesday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Woodbury YMCA in The Scene Room
2175 Radio Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125

Grow Your Own Microgreens
Learn to grow microgreens in a way that works for your home
Sunday, April 30 at 11:00 a.m.
St Paul Midway in the YMCA Teaching Kitchen
1761 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
and
Friday, May 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Blaisdell YMCA in the Youth Development Room
3335 Blaisdell Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Composting Sustainably in Your Backyard
Identify steps to create an at-home composting plan
Saturday, May 6 at 11:00 a.m.
St Paul Midway in the YMCA Teaching Kitchen
1761 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
and
Saturday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m.
Camp Day Croix in The Big Red Barn
345 Riverview Dr, Hudson WI 54016

The Joys of Juicing and Smoothies
Learn to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your diet with smoothies and juicing
Saturday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m.
North Community YMCA in the Cargill Teaching Kitchen
1711 West Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Price is $24 for YMCA members and $26 for non-members

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 167 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across 12 counties of the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 28 Y locations and program sites, seven 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.ymcanorth.org.

Minnesota YMCA Youth Day at the Capitol Brings 350 Youth Together to Learn About Advocacy on April 17

jeffrey.needham — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 14:05:51 +0000

Minnesota YMCA Youth Day at the Capitol Brings 350 Youth Together to Learn About Advocacy on April 17 jeffrey.needham Thu, 04/13/2023 - 09:05

Minneapolis, MN – The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, will bring together more than 350 students in grades 6-12 at the Minnesota State Capitol on April 17.

Different than many other “days on the hill,” Youth Day at the Capitol (YDAC) is unique because youth participants aren’t given a list of predetermined legislative priorities. Rather, they start the day by working in small groups to identify issues that impact their local community. Youth advocates from Minneapolis will likely end up focusing on different issues than youth advocates from Big Lake or Duluth, for example. All participants attend a one-hour, youth-led “Advocacy Best Practices” workshop and then have the opportunity to practice those skills in small pre-arranged meetings with their local elected official(s).

“Many people don’t realize that legislators welcome the chance to meet with their constituents, including young constituents,” said Amy Anderson, executive director for the YMCA Center for Youth Voice. “Our goal with this program is to teach students how to be effective advocates and how to engage with decision makers to bring about change that is meaningful to them.”

WHO:
YMCA of the North’s Center for Youth Voice

WHAT:
Youth Day at the Capitol

WHERE:
Minnesota History Center on 345 W Kellogg Boulevard in St Paul, MN 55102 and the Minnesota State Capitol on 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard in St Paul, MN 55101

WHEN:
Monday, April 17, 2023 at 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Media Invited:

Monday, April 17, 9 -11:30 a.m., at Minnesota History Center and 11:45 a.m.– Noon students will march from the Minnesota History Center to the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol for a photo with several constitutional officers.

About the YMCA of the North

Minneapolis College and YMCA Celebrate Beacons Next Generation Launch April 12

jeffrey.needham — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 16:38:52 +0000

Minneapolis College and YMCA Celebrate Beacons Next Generation Launch April 12 jeffrey.needham Mon, 04/10/2023 - 11:38

MINNEAPOLIS, April 10, 2023 – Minneapolis College and the YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, celebrate Beacons Next Generation, the expanded Beacons initiative that grows the program from its current K-12 model to K-Career on April 12.

Beacons participants and partners will gather on the Minneapolis College campus Wednesday, April 12, 11 a.m. -1:30 p.m., for a light lunch, program space tours, and a brief presentation beginning at 12:15 p.m. The event is free, however, pre-registration is required.

The Beacons Network is a collaborative initiative between schools, community, and families with the mission to improve academic, social, and lifework development of young people in low-income communities.

“Minneapolis College is the most attended post-secondary institution for our Beacons grads and Beacons Next Generation seeks to impact levels of postsecondary access, retention, career preparation, and overall wellbeing for young people facing barriers in the transition to adulthood,” said Jenny Collins, Executive Director at the YMCA of the North. “We accomplish this by co-creating with students a space for joy, belonging, career exploration, connection to trusted adults and peers, and navigation of resources on and off campus to help ensure students reach their desired future.”

“College can be difficult to navigate and the new Beacons Next Generation K-Career model provides continuity of support throughout a student’s educational experience,” said Heidi Aldes, Dean of Enrollment Management at Minneapolis College. “The same trusted caring adults who have been there for students from K-12 continue to be there for students as they navigate the next step of their lives, providing guidance on college, career, and life choices.”

“Before Beacons, I didn’t know where most things were on campus or understand the resources available,” said Beacons Next Generation participant and student leader. “It was hard to navigate college alone and it felt overwhelming. Once I came to Beacons, I found people who could help me find opportunities, I am doing much better in my classes and I get to lead and create the campus experience I want and know my peers also want.”

Beacons engages young people as leaders and learners by transforming schools into active youth centers afterschool and in the summer, providing free high quality educational, recreational, and leadership development activities opportunities to more than 3,000 kindergarten–12th grade young people and their families at our 16 Beacons Centers located in neighborhoods in North, Northeast, and South Minneapolis, and Richfield. Beacons youth attend schools a week more per year than their peers and graduate at higher rates.

This Beacons Next Generation innovation was made possible through private philanthropy and the support of the Y of the North, Minneapolis College, and the Beacons Network (including the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Community Education, Minneapolis Public Schools, Richfield Public Schools, and the YWCA of Minneapolis) to empower young people beyond high school and eliminating barriers that limit their potential to learn, grow, and thrive.

For more information, visit www.BeaconsMn.org.

About Minneapolis College

Minneapolis College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and offers students more than 100 liberal arts, career and technical programs designed to prepare them for good jobs in high-demand professions or to transfer to a four-year college or university. Located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, nearly 10,000 students enroll annually in credit and non-credit programs. To learn more about Minneapolis College, visit www.minneapolis.edu.

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 167 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 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.ymcanorth.org.

Rochester YMCA and Threshold Arts Launch ForeverWell Singing Bowls Program Spring 2023

jeffrey.needham — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 16:43:04 +0000

Rochester YMCA and Threshold Arts Launch ForeverWell Singing Bowls Program Spring 2023 jeffrey.needham Fri, 04/07/2023 - 11:43

Rochester, MN – The Rochester YMCA, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, and Threshold Arts will offer free, YMCA ForeverWell Singing Sound Bowl Meditation & Relaxation programming on select Wednesdays in April and June from Noon – 1 p.m. at the Historic Chateau Theatre.

YMCA ForeverWell Singing Sound Bowl Meditation uses the pure tones of quartz crystal bowls to guide the body into deeper states of calm as a person lays or sits quietly. ForeverWell Singing Sound Bowls are a way to feel and maintain a relaxed state of mind, body, and spirit.

This program is free and open to the public through funding provided by the Start-Up Event Grant from the Rochester Downtown Alliance. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat or a rug to each session. Advanced registration required, visit https://www.thresholdartists.org/calendar to register.

WHO:
Rochester YMCA and Threshold Arts

WHAT:
Rochester YMCA ForeverWell Singing Bowls Meditation

WHERE:
The Chateau Theatre on 311 Broadway Ave Street in Rochester, MN 55904

WHEN:
Select Wednesdays from April 12 through June 28 at Noon-1:00 p.m.

April 12, 19 & 26
May 3, 17, 24 & 31
June 7, 14, & 28

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 167 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across 12 counties of the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin communities. The 28 Y locations and program sites, seven overnight camps, 10-day camps, and more than 90 childcare 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.ymcanorth.org.

YMCA Adventure in the Neighborhood Program Connects Over 600 Kids to Fun Outdoor Experiences at Local Parks

jeffrey.needham — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:12:32 +0000

YMCA Adventure in the Neighborhood Program Connects Over 600 Kids to Fun Outdoor Experiences at Local Parks jeffrey.needham Mon, 04/03/2023 - 09:12

Minneapolis, MN – The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, and local park partners offer Adventure in the Neighborhood, a day camp program offering outdoor educational and enrichment activities.

Participants will enjoy outdoor activities including canoeing, fishing, archery arts and crafts, and teambuilding. They will also learn about their local public park ecosystem and natural resources, through STEM programming lead by community partners.

“We know families are looking for high quality and fun opportunities for their kids, close to home,” said Betsy Grams, vice president of Y Adventure. “Adventure in the Neighborhood brings the best of the Y’s outdoor learning expertise to local outdoor spaces in a way that helps young people and their families grow in confidence and community.”

Along with the YMCA, Adventure in the Neighborhood partners include the City of Saint Paul, Wright County Park and Recreation, Dakota County Park and Recreation, Capitol National Park Service, YUSA, Wilderness Inquiry, Urban Roots, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and U.S. Forest Service.

The YMCA Adventure in the Neighborhood program is available at:

Lake Phalen Day Camp

July 17 – 20
July 24 - 27

Lake Phalen Regional Park on 1600 Phalen Drive in Saint Paul, MN 55106

Hidden Falls Day Camp

July 31 – August 3
August 7 – 10

Hidden Falls Regional Park on 1313 Hidden Falls Drive in Saint Paul, MN 55116

Robert New Day Camp

June 19 – 24
June 26 – 30

Robert Ney Memorial Park on 5212 73rd Street NW in Maple Lake, MN 55358

Otsego County Park Day Camp

July 17 – 21
July 24 – 28

Otsego County Park on 15186 96th Street NE in Otsego, MN 55330

Camp Sacajaweya

August 14 - 18

Camp Sacajaweya on 5121 McAndrews Road in Apple Valley MN 55124

For more information about the program, times and before and after care options and to register, visit https://www.ymcanorth.org/adventure/register/adventure_neighborhood.

About the YMCA of the North