Youth
Serving families has always been at the heart of our Y work. Creating engaging, active and stimulating activities can bring a family together or just give kids a safe place to just be a kid. At the Y you can find the solution that best fits your needs as a family.
Child Care
YMCA Child Care is a place for children to explore, learn, feel safe, cared for and celebrated. We encourage positive relationships between the children, child care staff and parents to ensure a high-quality experience for everyone.
Homeschool PE
Physical Education for Homeschool Students
Ages 6 – 14
Let the YMCA be your child’s partner in physical activities. The YMCA Physical Education for Homeschool Students Program is a great way for students to get the most out of homeschooling by combining physical activity, healthy living, socialization, and play into their homeschool curriculum.
Martial Arts
Martial Arts
Kid’s Karate • Beginner
Building physical fitness, confidence and respect for self and others are only a few of the benefits of Karate. Learn basics while having a fun interactive experience.
Karate • Intermediate/Advanced
Focuses on the growth of your child’s character traits & self-defense skills. Incentives for advancement encourage kids to reach new goals while learning and having fun together.
Taekwondo
Ages 6+. This Olympic style martial art will build self-confidence while helping your child reach new goals through this worldwide, self-defense class.
Self-Defense
Ages 12+. See page 25
Reach & Rise ® Mentoring Program
Information for Parent & Program Participants
Reach and Rise is a therapeutic mentoring group created to support youth from ages 8-15. Each week, two safe, supportive and trained adults meet with a group of six students to help them improve self-esteem, decision-making skills, school performance, and interpersonal relationships. Together, they share diverse experiences, create meaningful relationships, and develop a stronger sense of belonging within our community.
How will mentoring help my child?
Quality time with a mentor and supportive peers can improve your child’s academic performance, self-esteem, decision-making skills and relationships with peers and family.
Who is eligible? Youth ages 8-15
*FREE Open to everyone
Does it really work?
- Youth are FIVE times more likely to graduate if they have meaningful relationships with adults
- Kids who have mentors are nearly 50% less likely to use drugs
- Youth with mentors demonstrate improved self-esteem, decision-making skills, and increased academic performance
Inspire a Future: Become a Mentor
By sharing your time and guidance, you can help your mentees express feelings, have a positive outlook for the future, become more confident and improve at school. You’ll learn how to be a positive role model and gain a better perspective of the pressures and challenges that youth face.
Why should I be a group mentor?
- Help increase youth’s sense of belonging
- Normalize youth’s developmental milestones and experiences
- Have a DIRECT impact on our local community
- Make a DIFFERENCE in the lives of others
Mentor requirements
- Desire to work with youth ages 8-15 in a group setting
- 21+ years old
- Pass fingerprint security screening
- Weekly check-ins with Program Coordinator
- Willingness to collaborate with Co-Mentor to facilitate group meetings
Mentor commitment
- Mentor training (15 hours) results in certification to deliver this program.
- 2 hours a week for 8 weeks in the summer, or 16 weeks over the spring/fall.
For more information contact:
Tori Osteraa Program Coordinator, 509 720 5798, tosteraa@ymcainw.org
Safe Sitter Babysitting Workshops
Safe Sitter® Babysitting Workshops
Ages 11-16
Better Sitters Today. Better Parents Tomorrow.
Prepare for a future of Babysitting through our Safe Sitter® Workshops. Created by a doctor, this course will teach your teen or adolescent what it takes to be a safe, nurturing babysitter and how to gain the confidence to be successful. These foundational skills can be beneficial throughout life, especially in future interactions with children. First Aid and CPR certification are not included in this course but will be addressed. Fee includes a Safe Sitter Student Manual and 6.5 hours of instruction.
Fee: $55 Program Members | $40 Youth & Y Members
All classes are 9am – 3:30pm (please bring a lunch)
Class Schedule:
North YMCA:
Sat, Aug 3
Wed, Aug 14
Valley YMCA:
Sat, Sept 7
Central YMCA:
Sat, Oct 5
South YMCA:
Sat, Nov 2
Workshops are available for your group or club. For information on scheduling a special workshop, please contact Jeff Polello.
Classes must have at least 5 students registered by closing on the registration deadline. If not, we will cancel the class and offer to transfer to a future session.
For more information, please contact Jeff Polello.
Tumbling
Ages 1.5 – 7 yrs
Introduce the art of tumbling in a fun and active learning environment. Kids build body awareness and self-confidence as Y staff guide and challenge them through a progressive curriculum, offering caring recognition and positive reinforcement.
Baby Bugs: Parent & child ages 1.5 – 3 yrs. This class focuses on balance, coordination, and skill development for parents and their tots.
Tumble Bugs: Ages 3 – 5. Introduction to the art of tumbling in a fun, active, learning environment.
Jitter Bugs: Ages 5 – 7. Children develop coordination and balance along with body awareness and self-confidence. Y staff will guide and challenge your child through a progressive curriculum.
Youth & Teen Fitness
Youth Group Exercise Classes
FIT 4 KIDS: is “Fun Interval Training” for Kids that provides a great workout while teaching kids how to stay active and healthy! Class is geared around fun Intervals with various equipment which may include kids cycling bikes. Geared for kids ages 5-12. For children younger than 7, parents must stay in the class with their kids.
Kids Yoga: Yoga has been proven to have wonderful benefits for kids by increasing strength, flexibility, coordination, self-awareness, and self-esteem. Yoga poses inspire creativity (kids turn their bodies into trees, mountains and animals!), as well as provide a sense of calmness and relaxation. Yoga philosophy encourages teamwork and teaches respect, compassion and sharing. This class presents an opportunity for kids to have fun with movement and become mindful of themselves and the world around them. Recommended for ages 5-10 and grown-ups of all ages
are welcome!
Children ages 7-11 are welcome in our group exercise classes with an adult. Must be 13 or older for TRX.
Youth Wellness Center Trainings
Is your tween/teen ready to workout in our Wellness Center? Sign them up for Cardio, Strength or Free-Weight trainings, or all of them, to learn the skills they need to have a safe and fun workout at the Y. All youth 10-15 years are required to attend appropriate trainings prior to their first workouts in our Wellness Center.
Cardio Training
Ages 10 – 15
One-hour with Wellness Coach
Learn the proper use of cardio equipment and rules and responsibilities of the Wellness Center. Parents/adults must be present anytime youth are in the Wellness Center prior to turning age 12. We encourage you to attend this training with your child.
Strength Training
Ages 12 – 15
Prerequisite: Completion of cardio training
One-hour with Wellness Coach
Learn safe and proper form to use strength training equipment in the Wellness Center, does not include free-weights. Upon completion, teens may use the Wellness Center without adult supervision.
Free Weight Training
Ages 12 – 15
Prerequisite: Completion of cardio and strength trainings
One-hour with Wellness Coach
Learn safe and proper form to use free weights, may attend up to three sessions.
Youth Fitness Events
Kids Xtreme Fun Run – North Y
Kids Summer Olympic Games – Central Y
Y Ninja Warrior – Valley Y
Youth Dance
Fairytale Ballet: This class will introduce your child to ballet technique and positions through fun games, songs and creative movement. Crowns, wands and tutus provided or wear your own. Ages 3 – 6 years.
Fee, locations & times
Ballet: In this monthly class your child will gain body awareness, strength, grace and poise along with basic ballet techniques. Ages 7+.
Fee, locations & times
Youth Sports
The YMCA stresses child-oriented attitudes by keeping winning in perspective, having fun, improving physical fitness, and working with the whole child. The YMCA wants the quality of play to improve in order to meet the needs of all participants whatever their ability and skills.
The YMCA accomplishes this by training adult volunteers in clinics and workshops that the child comes first and winning comes second. The key for coaches and parents is to keep winning in perspective. Competition will happen in youth sports without any external pressures. It is important to keep competition at a level appropriate for the athlete.
The goal of the Youth Sports program is to help the child grow to his/her fullest potential in mind, body, and spirit. Activity helps the body grow; thinking advances the mind; and belief makes our spirit grow.