ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATION - PAGE 13
DULUTH AREA FAMILY YMCA
YMCA AT THE ESSENTIA WELLNESS CENTER - PAGE 2
DOWNTOWN DULUTH YMCA - PAGE 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMMUNITY SERVICES YMCA - PAGE 6
COOK COUNTY COMMUNITY YMCA - PAGE 11
BRANCH UPDATES - October 2024
YMCA CAMP MILLER - PAGE 9
On October 1, we had the pleasure of celebrating the rebranding of Firefly Café, located right here at the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center in Hermantown. The café, formerly known as Individual Nutrition, debuted its new name and updated menu items with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was heartwarming to see the strong support from YMCA staff, regular customers, the Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce, and the café team's family and friends—a special shout-out to Katie and Alicia, who were front and center for the big moment. All those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the "Soup & Sandwich Special" while celebrating Firefly Cafe’s exciting new chapter. Congratulations!
Healthy living goes beyond physical activity and nutritious eating; it also encompasses meeting new people, socializing, and embracing creativity. In October, we launched the Hawks Connect program for the 2024-2025 school year, welcoming over 60 Hermantown Middle School students to the Y during the school day. These students engaged in community-based activities alongside our Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) children and ForeverWell Active Older Adults. This initiative fosters intergenerational connections through crafts, games, trivia, bingo, and meaningful conversation. During these gatherings, middle school students are encouraged to ask questions to learn about the ForeverWell volunteers, while also sharing a bit about themselves. October’s Hawks Connect activities included a pumpkin yarn craft, trivia, and a Halloween parade with the ECDC littles! This program is free for Y members and day pass holders, running Thursday mornings from 9:35 a.m. - 10:05 a.m.
The "My Y is..." campaign at the Essentia Wellness Center was a tremendous success! Throughout October, we invited members to share what the Y means to them, exploring themes like community, family support, inclusivity, and the positive environment that makes the Y a cherished place. Members filled out cards expressing their thoughts, and we proudly displayed them in the event room windows for everyone to see. The windows became a beautiful tapestry of stories highlighting how the Y supports our community and the individuals within it. Reading each heartfelt entry is truly inspiring and serves as a powerful reminder of why we love the Y.
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YMCA AT THE ESSENTIA WELLNESS CENTER
Scrabble: Did you know that the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center contributes over $125,825 in financial assistance and food access to support our local community? We’re excited to announce that our SCRABBLE Annual Giving Campaign kicks off on November 11, with a goal of raising $15,000 to enhance financial assistance, food access, membership, and program subsidies at The Y. Together, we can ensure this space is FOR ALL! Make your gift or pledge today at www.duluthymca.org/give!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Our Northerns Swim Team participants began to prepare for the upcoming competitive season with enthusiasm and dedication. We have over 100 youth swimmers practicing five days a week at both the Downtown Duluth and the Y at the Essentia Wellness Center pools, honing their skills and pushing themselves to new limits. The first meet of the season took place on October 26, hosted by Superior with Brainerd also in attendance. It was an exciting day of competition, filled with high-energy races and great sportsmanship between the three teams. The swimmers displayed impressive performances and showcased what they've been practicing since the start of the season. We are exciting for our upcoming meet early next month in Itasca!
November 11: Come visit the Y on Election Day to participate in themed activities, before OR after you vote. We will have a live band in the lobby, along with a FUN voting ballot and an Election Day word search. You can also drop your kids off at Kids Club (open all day) to go and vote — all you need is a valid ID.
DOWNTOWN DULUTH YMCA
At the beginning of Fall II, Wellness was able to launch a new specialty class named the “Week Starter.” This class is a Monday morning, 30-minute, high intensity class to kick-start the week. Participants get a full body workout using barbells, dumbbells, the push sled, medicine balls, and battle ropes, ensuring a dynamic and challenging experience. The “Week Starter” provides a fast-paced and effective way to jumpstart your fitness routine and set a positive tone for the days to come.
We kicked off October with a Family Night, welcoming around seventy kids from Lowell Elementary. The evening was packed with fun, learning, and hands-on activities, all centered around fire safety. The kids had a blast swimming, rock climbing, and exploring the Youth Development Room, where they colored, learned important fire safety tips, and even got to try on firefighter dress-up gear. The highlight of the night was a special visit from the Duluth Fire Department. They gave tours of their fire truck, showed the kids how their various gear is used, and did demonstrations that brought fire safety to life. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event memorable and educational. We can’t wait to see you all again at Family Night next month!
Our Out-of-School Time (OST) programs joined in on a nationwide celebration for Lights On Afterschool on Thursday, October 24, 2024. This event was one of more than 8,000 held across the country, all focused on highlighting the crucial role that afterschool and summer programs play in supporting youth. Locally, our K.E.Y. Zone and Eagle's Nest sites marked the occasion with glow parties, arts and crafts, and a variety of other fall-themed activities. Through our OST programs, the Duluth Area Family YMCA serves over 1,000 youth in the Duluth area each year, with the demand for quality care continuing to grow. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our OST staff, who positively impact the lives of young people in our community every day!
This fall, youth in our OST programs had the opportunity to join run/walk clubs at their sites. After training for several weeks, they were invited to participate in the Ursa Minor DiffeRUNce 5K. Through this program, youth learned healthy exercise habits, set personal goals, and enjoyed training by running in gyms, down hallways, around the building grounds, and even hiking through wooded areas. Thanks to several generous sponsorships, all participants were able to join the 5K event free of charge. We had an incredible turnout, and it was a joy to see youth, staff, and families come together outside of the school setting for this fun and active event. We’re so proud of all our runners, especially those who achieved their goal of completing the race!
Harbor Highlands Youth Program has had a great month in October. This month, youth in the program were able to attend Outdoor Education Day at UMD. At this event, youth learned how to identify different trees, birds, and animal tracks. Youth were also able to engage with education majors and give them practice leading groups before they enter the classroom. We also enjoyed visiting Enger Tower this month and celebrated the end of October with a Halloween party.
The Fourth Annual Happily Haunted Hike was held on October 29 in partnership with Stowe School. Attendees were able to dress in costumes and follow the luminary lit path through the Stowe Woods and collect treats along the way. The Happily Haunted Hike is a celebration for Lights on Afterschool which highlights the importance of after school programming.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
The Holiday Pie Sale is BACK! We are partnering again with Betty's Pies to help support youth programs like Youth in Government and our Food Access Program. Pie sales end on December 1.
On Saturday, October 26, the Duluth Y's Youth in Government delegation sent 25 students to participate in LAUNCH, a statewide pre-conference training event that prepares attendees for the upcoming January conference. Congratulations to our local youth!
YMCA CAMP MILLER
Camp Miller hosted its highly anticipated Annual Monster Bash on October 19, drawing in a lively crowd for an evening of fun and festivities. Local businesses generously sponsored cabins, where they greeted trick-or-treaters with candy and spooky cheer. One of the highlights of the event was the Beer Garden, sponsored by Moose Lake Brewery, which featured live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere for all attendees. We are incredibly grateful to the following businesses for their support and contribution to the success of this event: Parker’s Sandbar, Pizza Pub, Moose Lake Brewery, Sturgeon Lake Lions Club, L&L Granite, and Mike’s Sanitation. Their involvement helped make the Monster Bash an unforgettable experience for everyone who attended.
This month, we had an awesome turn out for our 5K to support food access. We had over two hundred participants attend to help raise funds to feed the community. We would like to say thank you to all of our sponsors, volunteers, and participants for making this awesome event so successful! This month, we were able to create and hand out free meal kits for families on Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center. These meal kits included both breakfast and dinner. Youth were also able to receive a free snack and dinner at the Harbor Highlands Community Center, Mondays through Fridays from 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
On October 31, we had the pleasure of hosting a "spooktacular" Halloween celebration, offering a full day of festive activities for both kids and adults. Children had the chance to get creative by painting mini pumpkins and trick-or-treating around the venue, collecting Halloween-themed toys that brought extra excitement to their day. In addition to the treats, we promoted healthy eating by offering nutritious snacks that everyone could enjoy. Adults weren’t left out of the fun either, with opportunities to win fitness passes, encouraging them to stay active while celebrating the season. The day was filled with great laughter, creativity, and community spirit.
Camp Miller Executive Director, Ricky Wright, attended two Y USA cohort meetings out of state in October. Both cohorts focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for YMCA overnight camps. The work completed by these groups will be presented to the Y Movement at some point to serve as guides to help YMCA Camps on their journey to make our camps more accessible.
Camp Miller registration officially opened in mid October. Approximately 30 campers were able to register utilizing the Early Bird fee (in which they pay last year’s rate for next year’s camp.) As of the end of October, Camp Miller already has a total of 43 registrations for next summer!
COOK COUNTY COMMUNITY YMCA
This fall, Camp Miller has been bustling with activity, hosting a variety of groups and events that have drawn in a large number of attendees. Among the notable events were three beautiful weddings, several organizational groups, and the Winter Camp Symposium. Since the close of the summer season in 2024, more than 1,000 individuals have visited Camp Miller, highlighting the camps role as a popular and versatile venue for both personal and professional gatherings.
In October, the Y began to offer three classes outside of normal building hours. Members can now enjoy Balance & Flex Together Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6:15 a.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Instructors have been trained on the proper ways to open and close the building only to participants. By beginning this schedule, we are able to maximize fitness options for members without the need to expand staffed member desk hours.
The fall dance session at Cook County began October 14 and is running through December 12. In this session, there are 14 classes for participants ranging from preschoolers to adults. This session includes a variety of dance styles, including ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop, and is taught by four instructors with the support of five youth volunteers. This program is the most popular in Cook County, attracting 132 participants. The session ends in May with a recital at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.
HUMAN RESOURCES
ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATION
On October 14, we launched our Employee Resource Group Kickoff, marking the beginning of two important networks: the Emerging Leader's Resource Network and the LGBTQ+ Resource Network. These groups were created to serve as supportive communities for all staff members, providing a space for connection, growth, and resource sharing. The kickoff event was held at Skyline Social, where nine staff participants gathered to enjoy a couple of rounds of Duckpin bowling and delicious appetizers. We’re excited to continue fostering these networks with future activities!
From October 2 to the 9, we celebrated the Tenth Annual Fat Bear Week with our staff. Every year, the bears of Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park in Alaska are live streamed as they gorge on salmon to prepare for the upcoming Winter. This is a week-long tournament where the public can both watch and vote for their favorite bear. This all-staff activity included educational information on this important keystone species, along with a drawing for our staff who correctly selected the winner.
November 11: The start of the SCRABBLE Annual Support Campaign! The Cook County Community YMCA is raising money for financial aid this giving season. Help support those in the community by giving during this campaign.
November 11 - December 4: Scrabble Member Giving Drive - Buy a letter to support the Y’s Financial Assistance Program.
CELEBRATING WORK ANNIVERSARIES!
Throughout September and October, the fun committee was able to distribute tickets to fifteen different Men’s and Women’s UMD Hockey games. Along with these tickets, the committee was also able to give away tickets to the Haunted Ship and to the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra. These ticket giveaways are a great way to foster community and add some fun for the Y staff.
The second campaign ran in October was the My Y campaign. Members were encouraged to share what their Y means to them and how it adds value into their lives. These were then posted in each branch to showcase the positive impact the Y makes on the members.
Nearly 40 students from Esko High School came out to Camp Miller for their annual fall service project day. Even thought this is the fifth year they have been coming to help out at camp, the lead teacher said this was their best year yet. They started out the morning helping clean, rake, mulch trails, paint, clear brush, and organize around camp. After lunch, they were then able to spend the afternoon enjoying all that camp has to offer, completed with a campfire and s’mores. Thanks for all of the help!
The month of October had two different development campaigns take place. The first was the Barnes & Noble Bookfair, running from October 18 - October 23, which raised money for the Y’s Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDC). Consumers had the option to shop in store on the 18 and mention they were shopping for the Y, or make purchases online with a special code. At the end of the campaign, Barnes & Noble donated a percentage of all sales to the ECDC, adding up to over $1,300. Thanks to all who shopped!
VOLUNTEER & INTERNSHIPS
Ann Robertson- 15 Years Group Fitness Instructor at Downtown & EWC | October Christine Curtis- 10 Years Dance Instructor in Cook County | October Alex Gugala- 5 years – Executive Director in Cook County | October Heidi Rudstrom- 5 years Group Fitness Instructor at the EWC | October Rachel Christy- 5 years Group Fitness Instructor at the EWC | October Natasha Nyquist Carlson- 5 years Teacher at the ECDC | October Meralee Rosasco- 5 years Teacher at the ECDC | October William Gedde- 5 years Personal Trainer at the EWC | October Ashley Braun- 5 years Group Fitness Instructor at the EWC | October
DEVELOPMENT
Fun Days are for kids ages 5-11 during the school breaks. We’re looking for volunteers who enjoy hanging out with kids and like keeping them engaged. Activities include gym games, board games, outdoor activities, swimming, along with arts & crafts. Minimum age to volunteer is 16. Volunteer shifts are available between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 23 Thursday, December 26 Friday, December 27