September 2024
duluth area family ymca
Cook County Community YMCA - Page
Branch Updates - September 2024
Administration and Volunteers - Page
COMMUNITY SERVICES YMCA - PAGE 7
ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATION - PAGE 13
YMCA AT THE ESSENTIA WELLNESS CENTER - PAGE 3
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After the ceremony, families enjoyed a taco dinner featuring vegetables from our garden, established in partnership with the Rotary Club. The evening wrapped up with a celebratory splash pad session for the graduates, marking their transition to kindergarten. We are incredibly proud of our preschool graduates and confident they will thrive in their new classrooms!
YMCA CAMP MILLER - PAGE 10
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COOK COUNTY COMMUNITY YMCA - PAGE 11
Marie, a dedicated member of The YMCA at The Essentia Wellness Center, has undergone a remarkable transformation through fitness and medical care. After facing severe osteoarthritis in her knees, she followed a comprehensive treatment plan that included physical therapy, weight management, and surgery. With support from Essentia Health, she lost over 100 pounds and successfully underwent knee surgery.
DOWNTOWN DULUTH YMCA - PAGE 5
Post-surgery, Marie turned to the YMCA to rebuild her strength and confidence. She values the clean facilities and diverse workout options, with essential support from her personal trainer to help her reach her fitness goals. Marie also enjoys the variety of classes and the welcoming atmosphere, where she feels respected and encouraged. Now more active than ever, she loves walking outdoors and socializing, crediting the Y and Essentia Health for her renewed vitality.
In mid-August, we celebrated a memorable graduation for 18 preschoolers moving on to kindergarten. This group is especially meaningful, as many have been with us since our Early Childhood Development Center opened five years ago. The ceremony was attended by proud family members who watched as each child crossed the stage. A short video highlighted each student's journey at ECDC and shared their future predictions.
YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center
the duluth area family ymca
table of contents
financial assistance, ECDC enrollment, how many memberships are covered by Silver Sneakers, and how many people learn to swim through swim lessons. Another favorite was the BINGO card game, which encouraged exploration of the YMCA's offerings.
Welcome Week at the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center, held from September 3 to 8, was a celebration of community, fitness, and family engagement. Members and visitors participated in various activities, fitness challenges, and promotions designed to showcase the Y's diverse programs.
Aquatic programs included Swim Lesson Assessments to help families prepare for upcoming sessions, and a Swim Team Try-It event for aspiring swimmers. Families enjoyed extended Splash Pad hours, and information tables on Swim Lessons, Swim Team, and Gymnastics offered insights into youth programs. Fitness challenges let members compete against staff in push-ups and squats, promoting health and wellness. The week also featured a lively Pop-Up Group-Ex class called Drums Alive!
The $0 join fee promotion encouraged new members to sign up and enjoy the YMCA's full range of programs and services. Additionally, the "Try the Y" initiative welcomed 322 non-members to experience the facility for free during Welcome Week. This open-door approach allowed many to explore programs, participate in fitness challenges, and connect with the Y community.
Downtown Duluth YMCA
A highlight was the "Guess How Many" challenge, where participants answered questions about the Y's impact, including
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Calling all members of our ForeverWell community! Join Hermantown Middle School students on Thursdays for HAWKS CONNECT at the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center, from 9:35 a.m. to 10:05 a.m. throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Each week offers a variety of fun activities alongside our bright young students—think crafting, trivia challenges, bingo, card games, board games, and more! It’s a wonderful chance to share your creativity, connect with the next generation, and enjoy a lively morning together. We’d love to have you join us!
With the arrival of fall comes the start of a new school year, a time when the energy and enthusiasm of students fill our building again. At the Downtown Branch, we partner with community schools to provide a safe space for required physical education, but also a supportive environment where young people can thrive, build confidence, and stay active. Throughout the school year, we welcome the Stella Maris Academy’s girls swim team, Head Start, and the Duluth Preschool of Fine Arts. The collaboration between the YMCA and these schools is part of our commitment to nurturing youth development. Their presence reminds us of the important role we play in supporting their growth and development, and we’re always happy to be a part of their journey.
Overall, Welcome Week was a huge success, filled with engaging activities, fitness challenges, and valuable information that brought the community closer to the YMCA's mission. Whether through BINGO, challenging a trainer, learning about swim lessons, or simply enjoying the Splash Pad, there was something for everyone to enjoy at the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center.
Here at the Downtown Branch, we are thrilled to have partnered with Rock Steady Boxing since April. Rock Steady Boxing is a program designed to delay, reduce, and even reverse the symptoms of Parkinson’s through non-contact boxing. Our instructors, Diane Boese and Sandy Marden-Lokken, have done an incredible job fostering a welcoming and energizing community for every participant. The class focuses on enhancing agility, strength, and balance.
The Y’s Out of School Time Program (K.E.Y. Zone and Eagle’s Nest) is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Run Club! Our students are gearing up to participate in the Y’s DiffeRUNce 5K on October 26, 2024. While this marks the fourth year of the Y teaming up with Ursa Minor to host the event, it’s the first time youth from our programs will be running! By joining the 5K, these young runners will gain valuable life lessons in commitment, discipline, and healthy living, all while building friendships in our community. With about 100 youth excited to participate, we are seeking sponsorships to help youth in need be able to participate. If you'd like to sponsor a runner, you can donate by October 15, 2024. Here’s how you can help: Online: Visit duluthymca.org/give and select the "Find Your Y: YMCA Community Services Campaign." By Mail: Send a check payable to "Duluth Area Family YMCA" with "Running Club Donation" in the memo line to: Duluth Area Family YMCA, Attn: Christine Paliewicz, P.O. Box 3678, Duluth, MN 55803 By Phone: Contact Christine Paliewicz at 218-722-4745 x126.
October 27: Bring your little monsters and mini ghosts, ages 4-12, to the Y at the Woodland Community Center for a spooktacular afternoon of Halloween fun! Join us for crafts, themed activities, open gym, and more. We’ll also have tasty snacks to keep everyone energized! Don’t forget to dress your little goblins in their favorite family-friendly costumes for an extra dose of Halloween magic.
The 2024 Woodland BBQ was an amazing success! With over 300 attendees, this year’s event was packed with neighborhood fun. As always, our Aerials gymnastics team showcased their skills during the annual Flip-a-Thon Fundraiser, where each gymnast gets one minute to do as many flips as possible. The winning athlete from each level earned the chance to pie the coach of their choice at the end of the BBQ! We were also thrilled to welcome Chilly Billy’s this year, which was a huge hit. With all the fun we had, we're already looking forward to next year’s BBQ!
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We are excited to introduce Kersten Fonseca as our new Site Coordinator at Lester Park K.E.Y. Zone this year! Originally from Nebraska, Kersten is new to the area and is looking forward to exploring while her husband trains as an arborist. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and has a strong passion for working with youth, nurtured by growing up with a mother who works as a kindergarten teacher. Kersten is eager to get to know all of the children and looks forward to a wonderful school year. Welcome, Kersten!
Community Services
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Our Youth in Government Cabinet and Executive Board have been hard at work in area high schools and middle schools, recruiting and informing youth about all that Youth in Government has to offer. We will soon be fundraising to support our scholarship program and offset program costs. Please email lbucar@duluthymca.org or call 218-722-4745 ext.111 if you'd like to sponsor a youth or make a donation to Youth in Government.
You can receive a meal kit on Thursdays from 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Hermantown YMCA or Fridays from 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. at the Harbor Highlands Community Center. We look forward to another exciting month of feeding more members of our community!
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October 26: The Ursa Minor DiffeRUNce 5K Run/Walk is a Community Services Fundraiser event starting at 10:00 a.m. Registration is now open at duluthymca.org/register. This fun, family-friendly event includes a costume contest and the chance to win prizes! The race begins and ends at Ursa Minor Brewing, located at 2415 W. Superior Street, Duluth. For more details, visit duluthymca.org/events.
Support our food access programs by joining our spooky 5K DiffeRUNce Run/Walk at Ursa Minor on October 26 at 10:00 a.m. All proceeds from this event will help alleviate hunger in our community. Dare to make a DiffeRUNce? Sign up today!
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We will have an informational meeting at the Harbor Highlands Community Center on September 30 at 6:30 p.m. Please join us!
Harbor Highlands Youth Program has had a great start to the school year program. The Y in Harbor Highlands is open to any youth ages K-17 free of charge with a free snack at 3:00 p.m. and meal at 5:00 p.m.
In the first month, youth have enjoyed swimming, riding bikes, and nature scavenger hunts. We also had a great field trip fishing with the Duluth Parks and Recreation Department, where youth learned a new style of fly fishing common in Central Asia. Next month, we will attend the UMD Outdoor Education Day on campus.
The 2024-2025 Youth in Government season is underway! Registration for the state conference is open at duluthymca.org/register. Registration close November 1.
The Cook County Community YMCA hosted a successful Memorial Blood Center event on September 19 and 20. Over the course of these two days, generous donors came together to support this vital cause, resulting in the collection of enough blood to potentially save 210 lives. This initiative not only showcased the community's commitment to helping those in need but also emphasized the importance of blood donation in ensuring the health and well-being of countless individuals.
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The Cook County Community YMCA participated as a vendor in a Fall Prevention Clinic organized by North Shore Health, inviting individuals at risk of falling to take part in this important initiative. The clinic aimed to raise awareness about fall hazards and equip attendees with strategies to enhance their safety and mobility. Local organizations also joined the effort alongside the YMCA, providing valuable resources and expertise. Through collaboration with community partners, North Shore Health and its dedicated supporters empowered participants to reduce their risk of falls and promote a healthier, more active lifestyle."
The Sturgeon Lake Lions Club made a tremendous gift of $1,500 to help secure spots for local children to attend summer camp. This gift will be used for day and/or overnight attendees among next year’s campers. We are so fortunate to have such a supportive community around us as we work to make summers unforgettable for the kids. If you or anyone you know is interested in making a donation, please visit https://ow.ly/r5Ly50U0AhN for more information.
Camp Miller was featured by WDIO News out of Duluth for our work with the Challenge Incarceration Program. Camp Miller has been collaborating with this program to receive valuable volunteer hours to help maintain camp facilities and grounds. The Challenge Incarceration Program was created to allow qualifying non-violent individuals to earn early release by performing acts of community service. At Camp Miller, these volunteers specifically help to put in the docks at the beginning of summer to prepare for Summer Camp. The link to the WDIO News story can be found here: https://ow.ly/P03u50U0waG
Cook County Community YMCA
YMCA at Camp Miller
October 19: Join us for our annual Camp Miller Monster Bash! For just $10 (cash only), you can enjoy spooky music, cozy s’mores around a crackling campfire, trick-or-treating, and a lively beer garden. Perfect for families and adults of all ages—don't miss out on this family-friendly event!
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Camp Miller completed the final phase of the Y-USA Capital Funding by paving underneath the Bowman Pavilion. This reconstruction is aimed at increasing accessibility to the pavilion itself. Previous phases of this specific Capital Funding project included replacing the flooring in McCleod by the Lake. We are so grateful to be able to update our facilities for upcoming campers to enjoy.
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Andrew Bylander-10 years Senior Director of Communication | August Liane Feick – 10 years Youth Specialist at Laura MacArthur | September Barb Jutlia- 5 years Executive Business Administrator | July Courtney Krzewinski- 5 years Group Fitness Instructor at the EWC | July Gabby Dahle- 5 years Marketing Specialist | August Leslie Bucar- 5 years Community Services Program Director | August Valerie Hintsala- 5 years Member Services Representative at the EWC | September Barbara Luke- 5 years Member Services Representative at the EWC | September Samuel McDuff- 5 years Member Services Representative at the EWC | September Rachel Ploetz- 5 years Member Services Representative at the EWC | September Julee McRae- 5 years Member Services Representative at the EWC | September
October 31 Spooktacular: On Halloween, trick-or-treat at the Y with your children under 12! Between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., take a photo in front of our Halloween backdrop, paint a mini pumpkin, enjoy a healthy snack, and choose from our grab bag of Halloween treats—including group fitness class passes for adults! Join us on Halloween, if you dare!
Association Administration
Y STAFF CAREER MILESTONES!
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Out of School Time care began on September 6 and will run through June 3. Cook County is fortunate to add Pre-K to our services, allowing any children from Preschool through Grade 5 to participate. This program operates every day that school is in session, and families can choose which days of the week to enroll. There are 9 children enrolled on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 15 enrolled on Wednesdays. Each day of the week focuses on a different educational theme, around which teachers design the curriculum. Themes include outdoor education, STEM, crafts, and more to provide a variety of learning opportunities for the kids.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The HR crew tabled at various schools in the community this fall to recruit for several frontline positions. The schools included UMD, CSS, LSC, and UWS. The team saw a great turnout from each of the schools and encountered students and alumni interested in joining the Y team. We are grateful for the relationships we have with the area schools to continue to foster recruitment of our cause driven team members.
September kicked off with PRIDE, and the Y was there in full force. Ten staff members and volunteers hosted an informational and interactive table at the festival, where hundreds of people stopped by to learn more about our facilities and programs. Additionally, 15 staff members and volunteers marched in the Pride Parade to close out the weekend.
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October 27: Cook All-Staff Campaign Trainings in Cook November 3: Downtown/EWC/Community Services All-Staff Campaign Trainings November 11 through December 3: Member Giving Drive- Scrabble Fundraiser Buy a letter to support the Y's Financial Assistance Program
DEVELOPMENT
VOLUNTEER
September is also a month of recruitment. As we shift from summer volunteer opportunities and internships to fall, the Volunteer & Internship Coordinator has been busy attending Volunteer & Job Fairs at local colleges and reconnecting with former students, university faculty, high school students, local service clubs, businesses that encourage employee volunteerism, and Y members interested in volunteering. It takes a tremendous amount of time and research to establish and maintain this network of contacts, but the goal is to engage more people with the Y and, ultimately, with each other and the community.
The Development Department published its fall stewardship newsletter featuring Cook volunteer and donor Sue Hakes, resulting in $7,000 raised. We have also been working to secure staff donors and finalize the Board of Directors' Individual Action Plans for the coming year.
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We Need Help Moving Gymnastics Equipment for the General Election! The Woodland Community Center is home to both the YMCA Gymnastics Program and serves as a polling place during the General Election. This means we need to move the gymnastics equipment out of the way to make room for the polling booths and then move it all back into place once the election is over.THIS IS A BIG JOB, AND WE NEED LOTS OF HELP!Ages 12+ are welcome (kids under 12 are welcome with adult supervision). We’ll also do some cleaning while the equipment is moved. When:Take-down will happen on Monday, November 4, at 8:00 a.m., and set-up will happen Wednesday, November 6, starting at 8:00 a.m. We anticipate that each task will take a couple of hours to complete.