MEETING WATERS YMCA
PO BOX 511, BELLOWS FALLS, VT 05101 www.meetingwatersymca.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES BY INSPIRING ALL TO DEVELOP HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. WE ENVISION COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES; EMBODY THE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, REEPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY; DEEPEN CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER, THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR COMMUNITY; AND ARE STRONG INSPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. OUR PROGRAMS SERVE OVER 1,000 CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS FROM TWO DOZEN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT COMMUNITITES OF TEH CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY

A WIDE BODY OF RESEARCH SHOWS THAT YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN HIGH QUALITY, ASSET BUILDING AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PERFORM BETTER ACADEMICALLY AND DEMONSTRATE GREATER SOCIAL SKILLS THAN THEIR PEERS NOT ENROLLED IN SUCH PROGRAMS. IN FY20, OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR INSPIRATION, RECREATION AND EDUCATION (Y-ASPIRE) SERVED 172 CHILDREN AND THEIR WORKING FAMILIES IN THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL HOURS UNTIL MARCH 17, WHEN THE "SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER WAS ANNOUNCED AND ALL NONESSENTIAL SERVICES WERE REQUIRED TO CEASE, AT WHICH TIME WE PAUSED OUR Y-ASPIRE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. AS WE'VE DONE SO MANY TIMES THROUGH OUT OUR 125 YEAR HISTORY, MEETING WATERS YMCA SHIFTED OUR EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO THE CURRENT CRITICAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WE CONTINUED TO ENSURE THAT OUR Y-ASPIRE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE ENGAGED WITH OUR STAFF THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, REGULAR MAILINGS AND OUTREACH. WE KEPT OUR STAFF EMPLOYED TO DELIVER THESE VIRTUAL SERVICES FOR AS LONG AS WE WERE FINANCIALLY ABLE. Y-ASPIRE IS A STATE-LICENSED SCHOOL-AGE CHILDCARE PROGRAM WHICH ENSURES HIGH STANDARDS OF SAFETY, PROPER STAFF TRAINING, AND AN AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM. Y-ASPIRE OPERATED IN SIX SITES, SERVING CHILDREN AND PARENTS FROM BRATTLEBORO, GUILFORD, DUMMERSTON, BELLOWS FALLS, WESTMINSTER AND SAXTONS RIVER, VT AND CHARLESTOWN, NH. IT RUNS FROM THE CLOSE OF SCHOOL UNTIL 6:00 ON EACH OF THE 180 SCHOOL DAYS AS WELL AS FOR FULL-DAYS ON ALL VACATIONS, TEACHER IN-SERVICE DAYS, AND MOST HOLIDAYS. EACH DAY OF THIS ASSET-BUILDING PROGRAM INCLUDES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, NUTRITIOUS SNACK, STUDY TIME AND A GROUP PROJECT. IT IS OUR MAINOBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE CARE IN A FUN, ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPHASIZES HEALTHY PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, STUDENTS IN THE Y-ASPIRE PROGRAM DEVELOP "LIFE SKILLS" SUCH AS COOPERATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, GROUP DECISION-MAKING AND LEADERSHIP. THEY ALSO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR WORLD. MOST ACTIVITIES ARE CENTERED AROUND A MONTHLY THEME SUCH AS CELEBRATING DIVERSITY, OUR COMMUNITY, KINDNESS AND JUSTICE, HEALTHY KIDS AND HEALTHY FAMILIES, AND OUR NATURAL WORLD. WE INCORPORATE LITERACY, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND STEM INTO EACH MONTH OF ACTIVITIES. Y-ASPIRE PARTICIPANTS ENJOY A VARIETY OF FUN READING, WRITING,ART, DRAMA AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED DIRECTLY TO OUR YMCA CORE VALUES (CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY) AND OUR Y-ASPIRE MONTHLY THEMES. EACH DAY ALSO INCLUDES 20 MINUTES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND A NUTRITIOUS SNACK/MEAL, IN KEEPING WITH OUR HEALTHY EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STANDARDS. MONTHLY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INVOLVE THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN FAMILY STRENGTHENING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING OUR HEALTHY FAMILY HOME INITIATIVE. IN FY20, PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN Y-ASPIRE RECEIVED OVER $163,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND STATE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY.

RESEARCH SHOWS THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF A HIGH-QUALITY SUMMER CAMPEXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING YOUTH ASSETS, PREVENTING RISK BEHAVIORS, CLOSING THE "ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND PREVENTING SUMMER LEARNING LOSS. NEVER WAS THIS MORE NEEDED THAN DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020, AFTER NEARLY FOUR MONTHS OF "SHELTERING IN PLACE AND REMOTE LEARNING DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THROUGHOUT THE SPRING WE INVESTED HUNDREDS OF HOURS IN RESEARCH TO FIND THE SAFEST WAYS TO HOLD OUR 56TH CONSECUTIVE SUMMER OF Y DAY CAMP. WE KNEW CHILDREN AND PARENTS NEEDED US. PARENTS NEEDED THE SUPPORT SO THEY COULD WORK. THE CHILDREN NEEDED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SOCIAL ENTERACTIONS, HANDS-ON LEARNING, AND DIRECT SUPPORT FROM CARING MENTORS. WE ADAPTED Y DAY CAMP TO MEET CURRENT HEALTH AND SAFETY DEMANDS, ENABLING US TO PROVIDE 10 WEEKS (TWO WEEKS MORE THAN NORMAL) OF SUMMER PROGRAMMING - CRITICAL TO PREVENT SUMMER LEARNING LOSS FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES NEEDING CHILDCARE. WE DID SO AT A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL COST TO THE ORGANIZATION. Y DAY CAMP SERVED 122 DIFFERENT CHILDREN AGES 5-13 OVER THE TEN WEEKS. THESE CHILDREN COME FROM 27 VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITIES SUPPORTED BY OUR BUSSING SERVICE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE LOW COST OF OUR CAMP. OUR Y DAY CAMP STAFF FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE CHILD BY PROVIDING A WIDE-VARIETY OF FUN, AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH, AND THE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. CORE CAMP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: YMCA SWIM LESSONS, SPORTS, ARTS & CRAFTS, FREE SWIM, COOPERATIVE GAMES, HIKING, THEATER & MUSIC, ARCHERY, NATURE EDUCATION, AND CANOEING. SESSION THEMES PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR MANY ACTIVITIES. OLDER CAMPERS ARE ENGAGED IN MANY SESSION-LONG PROJECTS. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020 THER WAS A GREATER FOCUS ON LITERACY AND MATH WITH FUN, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES INCORPORATED INTO TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES, LIKE ART AND ARCHERY. WHILE WE DID NOT HOST OUR FAMILY NIGHTS AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, WE DID HOLD VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS AND UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA TO KEEP FAMILIES ENGAGED AND INFORMED. IN FY20, PARENTS OF CHILDREN ATTENDING CAMP RECEIVED MORE THAN $38,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND STATE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY.

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