DOWNTOWN DULUTH YMCA - PAGE 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATION - PAGE 13
COMMUNITY SERVICES YMCA - PAGE 6
YMCA CAMP MILLER - PAGE 9
DULUTH AREA FAMILY YMCA
COOK COUNTY COMMUNITY YMCA - PAGE 11
YMCA AT THE ESSENTIA WELLNESS CENTER - PAGE 2
BRANCH UPDATES - December 2024
This past winter break, the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center was buzzing with excitement thanks to a series of successful youth programs.Our Fun Days were a huge hit, with a full roster of kids enjoying activities like bracelet-making, watercolor painting, swimming, and snowy adventures. A huge thank you to our dedicated volunteers who made the week so memorable! In December, we also hosted aGrinch-themed Parents’ Night Out, giving parents a well-deserved evening off while the kids immersed themselves in Grinch-inspired crafts, gym games, a pizza party, and a special screening ofThe Grinch. The highlight of the night was a surprise visit from the Grinch himself—brought to life by our Youth Development Coordinator—much to everyone’s delight. These events brought joy and lasting memories to the kids and families in our community!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
After years of dedicated service, Nancy Walsh is retiring from her role overseeing Essentia Health's clinic and services at the Essentia Wellness Center on campus here in Hermantown. As a skilled physical therapist with a passion for outpatient orthopedics, Nancy has been a cornerstone of patient care, helping individuals of all ages improve their quality of life through movement and function. Nancy has been the Y's ‘go-to person’ for years, ensuring that our valuable partnership is not only running smoothly but constantly improving to best serve both Y members and Essentia patients. In retirement, we hope Nancy enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, embracing activities like camping, hiking, and fishing—things she truly loves. We will miss her dedication, expertise, and the warmth she brought to the Essentia Wellness Center in Hermantown!
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Chuck-A-Puck took a brief hiatus, but we’re bringing it back on March 3, 2025—just in time for the buzzing excitement of the State High School Hockey Tournament season! This event is not only a fun way to engage our members but also a crucial fundraiser for our Y’s Community Support Campaign, which provides financial assistance for memberships and programs that support our neighbors. This year, we’re setting an ambitious goal of selling 1,000 pucks for a chance to win incredible donated prizes. To make this possible, we’re seeking donations to build an outstanding prize pool. In past years, prizes have included gift certificates, hotel packages, mountain bikes, downhill skis, local artwork, sports tickets, airline vouchers, and much more. The success of this event relies on the generosity of our community. The better the prizes, the more pucks we can sell—and the greater the impact we can make together. Our members have been eagerly anticipating this event, so let’s make its return bigger and better than ever!
March 3rd | Chuck-A-Puck: Come to the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center on the 3rd of March to chuck your puck for a chance to win awesome prizes! Learn more HERE!
The YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center
With funding from the Minnesota Department of Education, we are providing our Safety Around Water program to three ISD 709 elementary schools this school year. Stowe Elementary School’s 2nd and 3rd graders traveled to the Y by bus for consecutive Tuesday mornings in November and December to learn about potential challenges and safety in different bodies of water. Our swim instructors focused on building comfort and competency in life-saving skills such as"Jump, Push, Turn, Grab"and"Swim, Float, Swim." Later this year, we will welcome students from Laura MacArthur and Myers-Wilkins Elementary Schools to participate in the program.
In early December, the Wellness Department introduced Saturday morning pop-up group exercise classes.Kristin Fogard led a Yin/Yang yoga class, while Jonny Kasper pushed everyone’s limits in a strength class—both of which were well attended. To keep the momentum going through the winter months, these Saturday morning classes will continue, featuring a rotating schedule of cycling, strength, yoga, and water aerobics!
In December, our wonderful maintenance crew completed a lighting project in the main lobby of our building, putting in new lighting just in time for the season!
December was a busy month for Woodland!We wrapped up our Fall 2 recreational session with the annual Snowflake Recreational Gymnastics Showcase, where more than 45 athletes had the opportunity to show off their skills for friends and family. Our Bronze and Silver athletes competed in their State competitionin mid-December. Only athletes who achieve a qualifying score are eligible to attend—and we had an impressive 32 gymnasts compete! Ten out of fourteen Silver athletes earned a qualifying score, securing their spot at the Regional competitionin April in Madison, Wisconsin. We also had several top-five finishers! 5th place: Luna with a 9.4 on Vault, Delaney All-Around 37.55, & Alice with a 9.3 on Beam 4th place: Laine with a 9.05 on Vault, Elise with a 9.6 on Beam, & Layla with a 9.4 on Vault 3rd place: Delaney with a 9.475 on Vault, & Gianna T with a 9.5 on Vault 2nd place: Gracie with a 9.4 on Vault 1st place: Delaney with a 9.825 on Beam!
The sounds of the season filled our lobby as The Duluth East Choralaires—including our own Westin from the Membership desk—graced us with their beautiful voices and festive costumes, singing a variety of holiday songs.Their music brought joy to everyone who passed by, as well as those who paused to listen and appreciate their talent, perfectly capturing the magic of the holiday season. We are so grateful to the Choralaires for sharing their talents with us and for making this time of year even more special for everyone who visited.
Downtown Duluth YMCA
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In early December, the Downtown Duluth YMCA hosted an incredible Family Night, welcoming families from Piedmont and Laura MacArthur Elementary Schools.We were thrilled to see over 40 additional community members join us for the evening as well! Families enjoyed free access to the Y, participating in activities such as open swim, gym time, the climbing wall, winter-themed crafts, and sensory activities. It was wonderful to see so many families come together to create fun memories and celebrate the season. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the night so special!
Community Services YMCA
A heartfelt thank you to these students for their generous donations of hats and mittens for our youth programming!We are also incredibly grateful for their thoughtful contribution of coffee mugs and hot cocoa, which will bring warmth and comfort to families during our meal kit distribution night. Your kindness truly makes a difference—thank you for spreading so much warmth and joy in our community!
Thank you to St. Louis County for supporting our Health Realization program and generously providing additional funds for participant supplies. These funds allowed us to distribute hygiene kits, winter gear, clothing, toiletries, and more—bringing warmth and relief to many individuals and families. Your contributions made a meaningful impact and brightened the holiday season for our community. Health Realizationis a cognitive skills-based program that helps individuals manage stress. While it is particularly effective for those facing addiction, it also supports a wide range of personal challenges. The class meetsevery Wednesday from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., with the Y providingmeals and childcarefor participants.
As part of the Community Services Annual Campaign, our OST programs hosted a Pie in the Face fundraiser—and it was a huge success! Youth had the opportunity to earn fun and silly prizes by raising funds at different levels. They enjoyed a variety of exciting events, including free days, popcorn and movie parties, crazy hair days, staff dressing in silly outfits, Kids Plan It days, slime parties, scooter city gym time, and, of course, the ultimate goal—pieing staff in the face! Both youth and staff had an amazing time, and thanks to everyone’s support, we met our fundraising goal to providescholarships for youth and food access for our community. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making this event both fun and impactful!
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Kersten is the Site Coordinator at Lester Park and has been with the YMCA for about three months. Her favorite part of working at the Y is seeing the positive impact it has on families and getting to work with incredible youth every day. At Lester Park, Kersten loves the welcoming families, the supportive staff, and the beautiful school environment filled with amazing students. This year, she’s excited to explore fun and creative program themes and activities while building stronger relationships with students and families. Having grown up surrounded by education, Kersten deeply appreciates how it empowers students to engage in and explore their unique journeys. She also loves living in Duluth and cherishes the experiences both the city and her role at the Y have offered her. We’re so glad to have you on the team, Kersten!
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All 4th-grade students from Hermantown Schools are learning valuable lessons about giving back and its positive impact on the community.What makes this experience especially meaningful is that every 4th grader participates, ensuring all students have the opportunity to engage in service learning. The YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center has already been the grateful recipient of two generous donations from these students, and their ongoing monthly service projects will continue to support the Y’s mission!
YMCA Camp Miller
2024 Camp Miller Volunteer Statistics: Volunteers at Camp Miller completed a variety of projects including painting, general maintenance, cleaning, furniture building, grounds maintenance, program leadership, and much more in 2024! Total number of project volunteers: 195 volunteers. Total hours of volunteer work completed: 2,912.25 hours. Total number and hours of Camp Medical Team Volunteers:12 volunteers for a total of 520 hours. Grand total of volunteer hours at Miller in 2024: 3432.25 hours! Volunteers fill a critical void at camp this year which allowed us to continue maintaining and improving our camp facilities. A special thank you to all of the volunteers who helped us last year!
“Camp Miller is an awesome experience because of many reasons. One being the people- I have met countless nice, welcoming, and fun counselors and kids. Another being the activities. Camp Miller has many choices on activities such as biking, archery, ziplining, and more. Overall Camp Miller is a great place to be.”
“This is my first year at Camp Miller. At first I was really nervous but by day two I was over it. I met lots of new people and did a lot of new things. I can’t wait to come back next year.”
Community Services Advisory Council Member Recruitment: Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact in our community? The Duluth Area Family YMCA is seeking dedicated leaders to join our Community Services Branch Advisory Council. This advisory council plays a pivotal role in shaping our programs and initiatives, ensuring we continue to meet the diverse needs of our community. As a member, you’ll have the opportunity to: Support fundraising efforts that make our programs accessible to all. Advocate for initiatives that address youth development and food security. Provide valuable input on programs serving youth, families, and underserved populations. Help shape the future of our services at the Y’s Community Services Branch and beyond. Meeting Details: When: Second Thursday of each month Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Where: In-Person or Virtual In-person: Harbor Highlands Community Center, 1225 E. Harbor Highlands Drive, Duluth Virtual: Microsoft Teams Your voice and expertise can help us create lasting change. Whether you're an experienced leader, passionate about community service, or looking to get more involved, we’d love to hear from you!
With less than a month to go, 55 delegates from the Duluth Area are preparing to travel to theMinnesota State Capitol for the annual Youth in Government Conference, held January 9-12. Our Youth in Government students have been hard at work researching cases and drafting bills in preparation for this impactful experience. Another exciting opportunity for area youth is Model United Nations. Students in grades 7 through 12 will step into the role of diplomats, representing one of 193 countriesas they collaborate to find solutions to global challenges. Registration opens on January 2.
For more information, visit www.ymcanorth.org/locations/center_for_youth_voice/programs/model_united_nations
If you’re interested or have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Melissa Fanning, Branch Executive Director at 218-722-4745 x107 or mfanning@duluthymca.org. We look forward to working together to strengthen our community!
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2025 summer camp registration is open! Summer camp is a great way for kids to get outdoors, learn new skills, and make lots of new friends. Here are a few testimonials from campers in 2024:
“When I went to Camp Miller it was fun. I liked the zipline and the climbing wall. The adventure course was fun too. You will make lots of new friends as well!”
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Cook County Community YMCA
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Over the course of winter break, the Y offered a weeklong series of creative, hands-on crafting sessions designed to engage children during their time off from school. Each weekday, kids had the opportunity to participate in free, drop-in craft activities that sparked their imagination and provided a fun way to embrace the holiday season. The projects ranged from making custom snowglobes to crafting intricate wooden ornaments. Other highlights included creating colorful paper lanterns that added a festive touch to the season. The daily crafting sessions allowed kids to express their creativity while also fostering a sense of community and togetherness during the holidays.
Camp Miller would like to thank the members of our 2024 “1898 Club.” The 1898 Club is the Duluth Area Family YMCA’s core team of committed donors who choose to make a monthly charitable gift to Camp Miller. Members of the 1898 Club understand that their gifts are so much more than a transaction—they're life changing. They give youth the opportunity to grow, to build self-confidence, and to become leaders at camp.
Coming to an afterschool site near you. . . Between now and the spring, you will find a Camp Miller staff member visiting one of our K.E.Y. Zone sites. While there, we will be available to answer any and all questions you might have about camp! August 14-17, 2025 Family Camp Weekend An opportunity for every generation of the family to experience the fun of Camp Miller. In 2025 our Family Camp will be extended to include an additional day! Rent a cabin and bring the whole family out to enjoy all of the activities of camp for one wild long weekend of fun! Watch for registration information soon!
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With their help we are able to make it possible for more children to access summer camp. Thank you 1898 Club members! Please contact Camp Miller if you are interested in becoming a member of the 1898 Club or visit our website and sign up today.
Jeramy Katchuba
Chad Acker
Emily Marshall
Thomas Murphy
Joseph Bagby
Sally Sundeen
John Maly
Raquel Conway
Jamie MacDougall
Tara Radesovich
Hannah Murphy
Helen McKay
Jennifer Wolfe
Robert Boman
Ashley Danks
Chris Murphy
Mark Runquist
The YMCA has partnered with the Cook County Violence Prevention Center (VPC). The mission of the VPC is to foster a community which cultivates healthy relationships, empowers systems to serve individuals with equity and compassion, and does not tolerate violence. They serve all who have been affected by or subjected to domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
In an effort to strengthen the community the YMCA will be assisting the VPC in there efforts by providing Day Passes and a safe place to those that need it. Our Open Doors Program will also be utilized to provide free memberships to those that qualify
The 2024 members deserving of recognition are:
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Interested in giving back to the Y while earning volunteer hours? Check out this fun opportunity with DECC Events! The DECC is partnering with the YMCA and other non-profits on a volunteer opportunity in exchange for a monetary donation to the non-profit of their choosing. Opportunities include assisting staff in concessions, ushering, ticket taking, helping at the bars, greeting guests, etc. Shifts are typically 4 to 6 hours long and events range from hockey games, concerts, comedy shows, etc. Grab a friend and create a lasting experience for a great cause! Every monetary donation the Y receives will go directly towards the Y’s Annual Support Campaign. Click on this link to see the upcoming events!
VOLUNTEER
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DEVELOPMENT
Association Administration
Making a Difference Together: Year-End Campaign Success at the Y As 2024 came to a close, our branch leadership worked towards our shared goal: to ensure we met and exceeded our campaign objectives. Y leaders reached out to past donors who hadn’t yet contributed, reconnecting with individuals and organizations who have supported us in the past. They also worked to engage highly active members. This personalized and thoughtful approach has already made an incredible impact—and the final results are still coming in! So far, we know that 2024 has seen a remarkable 1,256 donations, compared to 945 donations in 2023. Even more inspiring, 428 of these donations came from first-time donors. Every donation, whether large or small, represents a step toward creating a stronger, healthier, and more connected community. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this success—your support is truly making a difference. Together, we’re building a brighter future for northern Minnesota!
In December, we hosted the exciting two-day Holiday Jingle Clinic, a gymnastics event designed for children ages 3 to 12. The clinic attracted 34 participants, who were divided into three skill levels: Jump Start, beginner, and intermediate. This festive clinic provided a fun and supportive environment for children to develop their gymnastics skills
The Annual United Way Day of Caring was held on December 4th. Day of Caring is a community-wide event where hundreds of volunteers complete projects for local non-profit agencies. The YMCA hosted 17 volunteers who wrote over 100 thank you letters, cleaned and organized four storage closets in two of our facilities, cleaned/scraped & painted walls, cleaned tiles on the pool deck and packed over 150 gift boxes. These volunteers were spread across three of our branches and one off-site program location. In addition, four YMCA staff volunteered at Harbor House, a crisis shelter in Superior, Wisconsin. Our YMCA group cleaned out a very stuffed and frost-filled freezer along with baking and decorating Christmas cookies for and with the families that are currently staying in the shelter.
The Association additionally celebrated with two different holiday parties! Guests jingled all the way to the Great Lakes Aquarium for a holiday party on December 12th. Over 300 guests were able to explore the aquarium, enjoy a taco bar from MidCoast Catering, cookies from Johnson’s Bakery and At Sara’s Table, utilize the photobooth from Sounds Unlimited, and win fun prizes. The Cook County Family YMCA also held a holiday party on December 8th at Voyager Brewing where they enjoyed food, desserts, socialization, and fun prizes.
Patricia Crego- 5 years - Group Exercise Instructor at the Y at the Essentia Wellness Center
Over the last few years, the YMCA Fun Committee ran a holiday series called the 12 Days of Merry Making. From December 4th through December 19th, staff received an email on weekday mornings with 12 days of holiday related questions, activities, and entertainment. Each day a prize winner was selected from all of the activity participants from the day. On most days, an average of 110 team members participated and on our busiest day, 159 team members participated.
The Association’s Fun Committee pranced through the holidays with a few activities and events!
On December 11th and December 13th, the Learning Center had a group of leaders from th Duluth Association take their next step in completing their Team Leader Certification by taking the Y-USA course; Volunteerism: Activating Community to Advance Our Cause. This is an 8-hour course where participants learned why volunteers are essential to the YMCA's cause and to our future as a vital non-profit organization committed to developing community beyond our walls.
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HUMAN RESOURSES
WORK ANNIVERSARIES: