ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATION - PAGE 11
DULUTH AREA FAMILY YMCA
DOWNTOWN DULUTH YMCA - PAGE 4
BRANCH UPDATES - January 2025
YMCA CAMP MILLER - PAGE 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
YMCA AT THE ESSENTIA WELLNESS CENTER - PAGE 2
COOK COUNTY COMMUNITY YMCA - PAGE 5
COMMUNITY SERVICES YMCA - PAGE 8
A huge congratulations to the Duluth Area Family YMCA Northerns Swim Team on an incredible home swim meet held on Saturday, January 11th at Lincoln Park Middle School! The stands were packed with family, friends, and supporters, all cheering on our talented swimmers as they raced their hearts out. Across the association, our Northerns team had an outstanding season, with 102 swimmers qualifying for the section meet on February 2nd at the Itasca County YMCA. Even more exciting, 53 of our swimmers have earned a spot at the state meet at the University of Minnesota on February 23rd! A very big shoutout to our incredible coaching staff as well for their dedication, guidance, and encouragement every step of the way. Their hard work and passion have helped our swimmers grow both in and out of the pool, and we are so grateful for their leadership. We are so proud of the dedication, hard work, and team spirit our athletes continue to show. Best of luck to those competing at the state meet—we'll be cheering you on!
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We are thrilled to welcome Eric Vetter to the YMCA team as our Youth Engagement Specialist! Eric will be on-site at The Essentia Wellness Center every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, as well as monthly Family Nights and Teen Nights at both the EWC and Downtown branches. Eric brings energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for connecting with youth. In his role, he’ll be leading engaging activities, building relationships with middle and high school students, and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all youth feel supported and valued. He will work closely with our Youth Development Coordinator, Emily Rice, and our leadership teams to foster meaningful experiences that strengthen our Y community. Eric, his spouse, and their two young children love being part of the Y family, and we’re excited to have him bring his creativity, leadership, and commitment to empowering young people in our community. Be sure to say hello and welcome him when you see him around!
Yoga & Balance – Enhancing flexibility and stability. Strength Training – Building endurance and power. Speed & Agility – Developing quickness and coordination. World Cup Watch Party & Coloring Fun – Learning from the pros with an added creative twist (including glitter)!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
With the extreme cold temperatures and wind chills experienced on January 19th, the Snowflake KidSki program made an exciting pivot, bringing their practice indoors to The YMCA at The Essentia Wellness Center. Led by coaches Trygve, Lily, and their team, young skiers stayed active while learning key skills to improve their performance year-round. Participants rotated through four engaging stations, focusing on: The skiers gathered in the Community Room before diving into their training, showing that no matter the season, there is always a way to stay active and improve skills. As always, the session wrapped up with snacks and smiles in the lobby, reinforcing the importance of community, fitness, and fun.
The YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center
Chuck-A-Puck: March 3rd | Come to the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center on March 3rd for a chance to win awesome prizes ranging from $25-$2,000! Healthy Kids Day: April 26th | YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day includes fun active play and educational activities to keep kids moving and learning. Stop by the Y between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to join us on Healthy Kids Day!
A big thank you to the Snowflake KidSki program for bringing their energy and enthusiasm to the Y, and to the EWC team for hosting such an impactful event!
Cook County Community YMCA
Throughout January, the Y hosted a Tumble Tots morning gymnastics class aimed at teaching the basics of gymnastics. Children who were enrolled in preschool through age six were invited to come bounce, jump, leap, and somersault their way around the gym. A total of six children were able to develop their gymnastics fundamentals in this four week class. In collaboration with Tumble Tots, we also offered a foundational gymnastics clinic to the children in Cook's Preschool childcare program. The children who participated in this program were taught with an emphasis on growing gross motor skills, and working on both balance and coordination.
Healthy Kids Day: April 26th | YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day includes fun active play and educational activities to keep kids moving and learning. Stop by the Y between 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to participate in Healthy Kids Day!
Downtown Duluth YMCA
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In January, the Cook County Community YMCA began hosting swimming lessons at Oshki Ogimaag school, bringing an exciting new opportunity for local families. These lessons have provided a chance for children and adults of all skill levels to learn water safety, improve their swimming techniques, and have fun in the pool. The partnership with Oshki Ogimaag offers a new, unique location, expanding access to high-quality aquatic programs in the region. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your strokes, the YMCA’s experienced instructors are committed to fostering a safe, supportive environment for all participants. This initiative is part of the Y's ongoing commitment to strengthening community health and wellness, providing valuable resources for personal growth and safety in the water.
The month of January brought the start of the winter/spring dance season. The season kicked off with a total of 159 participants in fourteen different classes. Dancers range from preschoolers to adults, creating a wide scope of ages and skills. We are looking forward to getting ready for our spring performance taking place the weekend of May 8th.
January always marks a shift at the Woodland Community Center. At the beginning of every year, we welcome our Prep Team made up of athletes interested in making the transition from the recreational gymnastics program to the competition team. This year, we have 26 gymnasts that were invited and chose to attend, and we are thrilled to see how fast they have grown! We also started the competition season for our Gold and Platinum levels. In January, these kids competed in the Blugold Invite, Legacy Luau, and Classic Spectacular competitions. We already had 13 gymnasts reach their qualifying score for the state competition in March, and both Gold and Platinum teams brought home 3rd place team at the Blugold Invite in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
The Arrowhead Youth Soccer Association (AYSA) is back for another exciting season, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and lots of soccer action to our gym. Since the season started on January 11th, Saturday mornings have come alive with the sounds of kids having fun while perfecting their soccer skills. It is great to partner with an organization that surrounds itself around building confidence, teamwork, and sportsmanship in our youth. We’re proud to host AYSA and to see our gym transformed into a space full of energy and athletic growth. It’s not just about soccer; it’s about fostering a love for movement, community, and personal development that will serve these kids well beyond the game.
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January was an exciting and busy month for us as we welcomed many new faces into our building. This time of year is always bustling with energy, as new members join us with a shared commitment to starting the year off on a healthier, more active note. Our membership staff are to ensure that each person who walks through our doors feels welcomed and has a sense of belonging. This welcoming and supportive atmosphere ensures that the Downtown Branch is not just a place for fitness, but also a community where everyone can thrive. We're thrilled to see our family grow and are inspired by the enthusiasm of our new members as they embark on their wellness journeys.
Coming to an afterschool site near you. . .
Join us for a day of friendship and fun as we complete work projects to help prepare camp for the busy summer. Projects include painting, cleaning, grounds clean up, preventative maintenance, and more! Register through Gina Miller at gmiller@duluthymca.org. Camp Miller is always looking for volunteers to help in a variety of ways. From light cleaning, program delivery, and facility/grounds maintenance, we need volunteers throughout the year. If you are interested in getting involved in some camp projects and supporting our camp community, we would love to see you!
Camp Miller was selected by YUSA to host international YMCA staff from across the globe for a two-night stay in early January. This is part of the “Campacity” initiative, implemented as an attempt to grow camping programs in YMCAs around the world. Camp Executive, Ricky Wright, was part of the first "Campacity" meeting a couple of years ago, and he has since stayed connected with the group. With the growth of the program, YMCA overnight camp leaders in the United States have been able to visit other camps in countries all around the world, as well as host international leaders at their camps as well. Camp Miller saw visits from participants in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Romania, and Ukraine in January. This program offers a unique experience to be able to engage with various cultures and learn from other’s experiences with overnight camps in different parts of the world.
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 long weekend of fun. This is a great way to wind down the summer. Don't wait to register- cabins are filling up quickly!
May 16, 2025 Volunteer at Camp Miller
Camp Miller sang and danced their way into the New Year! From January 2nd to the 5th, over 100 people attended the Woolsock Winter Dance weekend in partnership with the Tamarack Dance Association out of Duluth. Woolsock is a collaborative festival where participants also host workshops, showcasing their talents that range far and wide. Many of the workshops shared music, but there were also incredibly diverse talents including sock darning, beginner book binding, making seed smashers (like a firecracker, but made with bird seed), and “Learn to Ice Fish” on Sturgeon Lake. Plans are already underway for next year's celebration!
August 14-17, 2025 Family Camp Weekend
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Between now and the beginning of spring, you will find a Camp Miller staff member visiting one of our KEY Zone afterschool care sites. While there, we will be available to answer any and all questions you might have about Camp Miller.
Camp Miller staff visited Cook County schools in January to present on a new initiative- “Fill the Bus”- for kids in Cook County. This initiative is aimed at getting Cook County kids down to Camp Miller for a special Mini Camp program in August. Camp Miller is working with local business leaders in the Cook County area to help support this campaign. Currently 11 campers are registered for this camp with a goal of 30 campers total. The distance between Camp Miller and the Cook County Family YMCA in Grand Marais is over 150 miles. This initiative will help to make the commute easier for the kids to still be able to attend the summer fun!
Camp Miller has a 2025 Annual Campaign fundraising goal of $62,500. To date, we have secured over $13,000 for camp financial assistance, which represents 21% of our goal. Camp Miller received a Camp Access Grant totaling $11,000 from the YUSA Strategic Initiatives Fund to be used solely for summer camp financial assistance. We are so grateful to receive this grant to be able to bring more campers in this summer!
YMCA Camp Miller
Summer Camp registrations are continuing to come in daily. Our goal is to serve over 600 campers this summer at Camp Miller. To date, we have 130 campers registered for our traditional camping programs and 11 for the new Cook County Mini Camp. Summer camp can make an incredible impact in the life of a young person- it is always fun and encouraging when our campers tell us just how much the experience means to them!
Family Camp registration opened in early January and has proven to be a very popular program so far. All cabins have been booked with the exception of six Pinewoods Village cabins. Due to the success from last years Family Camp, we added an additional day to the weekend for 2025 so families can enjoy camp for an extra 24 hours! Family Camp will take place from August 14th to August 17th this summer. We are excited to continue offering this opportunity for families to create lasting memories together at Camp Miller!
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All 4th-grade students from Hermantown Schools are gaining valuable insights into the power of giving back and the positive impact it has on our community. What makes this experience especially meaningful is that every 4th grader is actively participating, ensuring all students have the opportunity to engage in service-learning firsthand. The Duluth Area Family YMCA is grateful to have already received two generous donations from these students, and their commitment to ongoing monthly service projects will continue to support the Y’s mission. A heartfelt thank you to the Hermantown School 4th-grade students for their thoughtful donation of socks for our youth programming—we appreciate your generosity and dedication to making a difference!
YMCA Summer 2025 Day Camp: The YMCA Day Camp serves children aged 5-13. Our program is designed to foster self-esteem, develop life-long skills, promote acceptance of all individuals, and instill an appreciation for the environment. Youth will swim weekly and participate in outdoor activities like archery, low rope courses, and hiking. Registration Opens: Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at midnight. Program Dates: Monday, June 16 – Friday, August 22, 2025 (No program July 4th). Locations: North Star Academy & the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center. Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pricing & Deposits: Member Rate (Family Membership Required): $252/week for 5 days. Community Rate: $283/week for 5 days (Week of June 30–July 3 is prorated for 4 days). A $52 deposit per week per child is required at registration. Deposits are non-refundable after May 25th. Eligibility: Children must have completed Kindergarten and be at least 5 years old through age 13. For program questions, contact the Day Camp Director, Leslie, at 218-722-4745 ext. 111 or lbucar@duluthymca.org.
We’re thrilled to share some exciting updates from Harbor Highlands! We’ve been rolling out new activities and programs, and the response has been amazing. On Tuesdays we host Teen Night, bringing together middle- and high-school-aged kids from the area for fun and connection. Wednesdays are about creativity and flavor with our Cooking Club, while Mindful Mondays help the kids relax and practice mindfulness. Our Trivia Nights have been a huge hit—especially when the kids outsmart the staff!
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20, 2025, all Out-of-School Time (OST) staff came together for a meaningful day of training and growth. The training focused on equipping our team with valuable tools and insights to better serve the youth in our programs and community. In addition to covering Minnesota DHS-certified center requirements and chair yoga with Natalie Johnson, we welcomed two outstanding guest presenters. Brent Wetzel, Recreational Director and Mental Health Behavioral Specialist at Northwood Children’s Services, shared effective behavior management techniques to create supportive environments for youth. Taylor Hazelbaker, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Psychology & Sociology Department at the College of St. Scholastica, provided an enlightening session on working with youth around racial and gender identities. This day of service honored Dr. King’s legacy by fostering growth and understanding, empowering our team to better meet the needs of our diverse youth population. We’re excited to apply these new strategies to enrich our programs and positively impact our community.
Community Services
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Looking ahead, February is "I Love to Read Month", and we’re celebrating by inviting guest readers into our programs. If you’d like to join us, please sign up at any of our sites to read a book to our youth. For more information, email Kate Corbett, OST Director, at kcorbett@duluthymca.org.
The adventure continues with Model United Nations, a hands-on civic learning program where students take on the role of diplomat from one of 193 countries, engaging in respectful discussions about the state of the world and exploring solutions to international challenges. Model UN had their first informational meeting January 27th at the Harbor Highlands Community Center. Model UN is open to any youth 7th-12th grade. The 2025 Model UN Summit will be April 3-5 in Minneapolis. Registration is open now and more information contact the Delegation Director, Leslie Bucar, at lbucar@duluthymca.org or 218-722-4745 ex 111.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
January 14th was "National Dress Up Your Pets Day". The Fun Committee asked staff to submit pictures of their pets dressed up and then selected a couple team members to win a prize for submitting their photos of their furry friends. Take a look at some of the submissions!
HUMAN RESOURCES
Association Administration
Our 2025 Youth in Government season was a great success! 55 youth from the Duluth area went to the State Capitol January 9th through the 12th for the State Conference. While there, youth experienced Leadership Corps, became members of the House or Senate Legislature and debated bills, or joined the Trial, District, Appellate, or Supreme Court and argued cases. The Duluth Delegation had the very first bill of the conference signed into law by the youth governor this year. Congratulations to the Youth in Government team on a great year!
Tabling Buddy with the Y: We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to attend community events with Y staff. You’ll engage with attendees, share information about our programs and help spread our mission of strengthening communities. We are looking for volunteers who are friendly and enjoy engaging with people. Click here to sign-up for a volunteer spot. Tabling Opportunities: BIPOC Small Business Winter Showcase: This exciting event will feature 30+ BIPOC businesses, vendors, and community resources. It's more than just a marketplace—it's a celebration of culture, community, and connection! Come for the shopping, stay for the entertainment, delicious food, and an opportunity to support and uplift black and brown lives in our community. Minimum age to volunteer is 13. Shifts are available Sunday, February 9th between 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Janelle Gomez – 10 years – Group Fitness Instructor Downtown Andrew West – 5 years – Youth Specialist at Stowe Elementary KEY Zone Rebecca Mulder – 5 years – Member Services Representative at the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center Lynette Marble – 5 years – Member Services Representative Downtown, Swim Lesson Instructor, and Water Aerobics Instructor
As part of our ongoing commitment to recognizing generous donors, our 2024 donor banners and a new donor wall for Cook County have been ordered and will be installed in early February!
VOLUNTEER
WORK ANNIVERSARIES!
In January, True North AmeriCorps (TNAC) onboarded a new member that will serve at Lowell Elementary KEY Zone. We now have 17 members on the team, all serving at various locations across Northeastern, MN. TNAC is excited to share that we’re in the process of finalizing summer locations for members to serve. Some fun sites include the Duluth Children’s Museum, YMCA Day Camp, and the Lake Superior Zoo. We look forward to adding more and getting members placed at these sites soon! Our members have had a couple of great training opportunities this month including attending a portion of the OST Staff Training and a training on youth mental health and Social Emotional Learning skills presented by Todd McGowan, the Mental Health consultant for Duluth Public Schools. Todd shared different strategies that members are eagerly taking back to their sites to implement with the students they work with.
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TRUE NORTH AMERICORPS
The 2024 numbers are in! We had a total of 715 individual volunteers spend thier volunteer time with us in 2024. Out of the 715 volunteers, 51 were Policy Volunteers (people on our Board and Advisory Councils) and the other 664 volunteers helping out with our events, programs, and work projects. Both groups contributed to our hours for the year which came to a grand total of 11,173.50 hours! The volunteer with the most number of hours contributed 278 this past year! Volunteer experience sees improvements in: Sense of purpose and meaning. Time management (lower stress). Heart healthy (lower mortality rates). Mood and self-esteem (lower depression). Other benefits of volunteering include: Volunteers are 27% more likely to find a job after being out of work that non-volunteers. Communities with high rates of volunteerism tend to have greater income equality than similar communities that do not. When young people volunteer their likelihood of dropping out of school is cut in half. If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Gina Miller at gmilller@duluthymca.org.
DEVELOPMENT
UPCOMING EVENTS
You may have heard about the Y’s ultra-runner campaign volunteer, Michael Koppy, who has been making strides—literally and figuratively—for the Duluth Area Family YMCA. During his attempt at the Arrowhead 135 January 27th, Michael reached 129 miles before a back injury forced him to stop just short of the finish. His incredible effort brought widespread attention to the Y’s Annual Support Campaign, raising more than $2,500 to support our mission to strengthen communities. We are excited to cheer him on during his next effort at Western States in June!
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