summer camp!
It's time to start thinking about summer experiences for your child! Consider YMCA Residence Camp or Day Camp -- an experience of a lifetime!
Spring Registration!
Spring registration is going on now! Register for your favorite spring programs
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volunteer
Enjoy a rewarding experience while serving your community. A variety of opportunities are available from teaching programs to being a camp counselor.
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Features this Month:
Healthy Kids Day Event
On Sunday, April 19, the Carls Family YMCA invites the Huron Valley community to participate in YMCA Healthy Kids® Day, the nation’s largest health day for children and families. YMCA Healthy Kids Day includes fun, engaging and creative activities for children and families and promotes year-long wellness and healthy living.
The event will be held from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at Carls Family YMCA. The event is free and open to the public.
Activities will include:
- The Earth Friendly Family Fun Festival, which will offer interactive family experiences and focus on how we can come together to keep our community clean, green and healthy
- Environmental Learning Station
- Nature Adventures
- Unique and Inspiring GREEN arts and activities
- Junior Olympic Trails
- Music, Dancing and more
For more information call Carls Family YMCA, 248-685-3020 or visit www.ymcadetroit.org/carls.
Nutrition for Less
In an effort to save money at the grocery store, try not to short-change yourself or your family when it comes to nutrition. Plenty of inexpensive, packaged and processed foods can be tempting because the price seems right, but paying money for empty calories—those with little nutritional value that don’t keep you feeling full—isn’t smart shopping. Remember that food is fuel for your body and mind and that poor nutritional choices can impact your energy and health, making the extra you pay for the right foods well worth it. Some ways to cut costs and eat nutritionally:
- Serve more meatless meals. As long as you’re getting protein from other sources, meat, which tends to be expensive, can be served less often.
- Take advantage of sale prices on typically pricey nutritious foods such as organic products, the more exotic fruits and vegetables, meat and fish.
- Snack on fruits, vegetables and nuts. They’re a much better value (and better for you) than chips.
- Embrace leftovers. By stretching a recipe and eating a smaller portion, you’ve got enough for another meal.
- Buy store-brand products whenever possible. There is rarely any real difference in product, just price.
- Don’t forget the old staples: eggs, potatoes, fruit and vegetables (frozen and canned—in their own juices and without added sugar or salt—are just fine if you can’t get fresh), pasta, beans—all provide nutritional content, can be prepared in a variety of ways and are relatively inexpensive.
- Foods high in water, protein and fiber make you feel fuller longer.
- Start cooking. Invest in an inexpensive cookbook or use the Internet to find simple recipes you can prepare. You’ll eat healthier and save money.
With a little extra time spent planning, shopping, preparing and storing foods, you’ll be able to eat nutritionally for less. For more information on healthy choices you can make at home, as well as recipe ideas, visit www.healthyfamilyhome.org.
How Much Physical Activity do you Need? New Guidelines Announced
New physical activity guidelines were released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in October 2008, and they offer Americans the first comprehensive federal guidelines on physical activity. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines set achievable goals for everyone and can be customized according to a person’s interests, lifestyle and needs. Among the recommendations:
- Children and adolescents should do 1 hour (60 minutes) or more of aerobic physical activity every day.
- Adults (ages 18-64) should do 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, preferably spread throughout the week.
- Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups two or more days per week.
- Older adults (ages 65 and older) should follow the adult guidelines. If this is not possible due to limiting chronic conditions, older adults should be as physically active as their abilities allow.
For more information about the new activity guidelines, visit the cdc's website.
YMCA Strong Kids Campaign
Join Piston’s Guard Arron Afflalo today in support of the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. The annual scholarship campaign helps ensure all children have access to great YMCA programming, like youth sports, after-school programs and day camp.
The Strong Kids Campaign raises much needed financial support for children, teens and families who are unable to afford the full cost of participation in a YMCA program or activity.
Each year more than 3,000 donors give some $1.5 million to SKC, supporting more than 4,000 families and children in Metro Detroit. The need has never been greater. The community campaign ends soon, so donate now.
The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign: Are you in?
To join the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, donate now on our website or visit the front desk.
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