Waukee Y Hosts Wheelchair Basketball Event

This past Saturday, the Waukee Family YMCA hosted an amazing event in our Gym. We were able to host the inaugural wheelchair basketball event of the Iowa Games. What an amazing group of athletes!

A note from Mike Boone, CDSS　 Director of Adaptive Sports Iowa:
Everything ran smoothly on Saturday and we couldn’t have asked for a better facility to hold the inaugural wheelchair basketball event of the Iowa Games.
Your staff was beyond courteous and quickly served all of our requests.
For many participants this was the first opportunity they, along with their family and friends, were involved in an organized sports tournament. I have heard from many of them regarding their experiences and it’s been extremely memorable.
Thanks again for all your efforts! 　

Commit To Be Fit February Schedule

Please join our Wellness Staff for the following events every Monday evening beginning at 6:30 pm 2nd floor-Wellness Desk
February 6
Are you up for an exciting challenge?
-Meet in the front foyer to learn about the 5th Annual Cycle Challenge that will be held February 12th.
February 13
-Meet at the Wellness Desk, 2nd floor to complete a 20-30 minute free weight workout
February 20
-Meet at the Wellness Desk, 2nd floor to complete a 20-30 minute agility workout.
February 27
-Chef John will provide another delicious sampler for the month and answer any questions you may have making your favorite dish into a healthier version.

Parental Engagement Challenge – Week TWO

Check Priorities - If work and activity schedules are making family time or meals together impossible, first see if you can change or even eliminate any of your commitments. What could you streamline or drop to make more time together possible? If you can’t shuffle things around, then how could you grab other chances to spend time or eat together? How about mornings or weekends?
This week take time to review your Families Schedules!　　
Do you have meals together?
Do you have Family Game night?
Go out on a date – Have you taken your child on a date?
Have you used the Y as a family time?　 In the pool, wellness center, family center, etc. What is keeping your family from having more family time?
We would like to hear how your family is doing on CHECKING YOUR PRIORITIES! Send us an email to let us know!　
Send To:　 Sara Roberts at sara.roberts@dmymca.org

Y Basketball Brings Out The Best In Youth

On Saturday, January 28th 44 teams from the YMCA of Greater Des Moines will top off their regular season with an exciting one-day Tournament. Games will be held at two West Des Moines schools, two Waukee schools and the South Suburban YMCA. While this event does have a competitive aspect to it, there is much more to this Tournament then simply a Champion at the end of the day.
Each grade level division(3rd-4th Boys/Girls, 5th-6th Boys/Girls, and 7th Boys) will have five individual sportsmanship awards available for those players exemplifying our four core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. Staff and volunteer coaches will be constantly monitoring the conduct of players throughout the day to determine who might be deserving of this award. It could be in the first game of the day, it could be in the Championship game, it's all up to the players.
Positive Competition is one of the Seven Pillars of YMCA Youth Sports and can sometimes be the most challenging. Competition is healthy and can make an individual strive for something better and work harder. Competition can also turn a person to become disrespectful and hurtful, turning others away from the sport and physical activity all together. It all comes down to being competitive in a positive manner. At the YMCA, we strive to nurture the development and potential of youth in our communities and that is going to be our focus on Saturday, just as it has been all season long.
For more information or questions, please contact Joel Goetsch at joel.goetsch@dmymca.org. There will be no cost for admission to any site, so feel free to stop in anytime!

Parent Engagement Challenge – Week ONE!

Go Out on a Date - Plan regular dates for each child and adult in the family. On a regular schedule, pair up for a special evening out. There’s no end to what you can do. Whether it’s going fishing or dressing up and going out to dinner and a movie, the commitment of scheduling and spending special time together will mean a great deal to both parties.
Over the next week we will be sending weekly ideas and challenges to encourage your family to Take Time Together!
We have dedicated a Bulletin Board in the Family Center with information as well as there is information at the Child Watch Window and Service Center! You can also download information on Healthy Family Home at www.ymca.net.
Pick up your packet and invite today…and Go Out on a Date with your child(ren)! We want hear how you, let us know about your date night! Send us a picture and what you did!　　 　　　　
Don’t forget this Saturday Night from 6-8pm your family can enjoy time together at the Y!　 The Waukee YMCA is open from 6-8pm for family to come swim, play basketball or just play games together at the Y!　 Join us!

A great way to spend a no-school day!

Our Y Baton Clinics not only introduce a new skill for the girls involved, they build confidence and creates an atmosphere where it’s easy for kids to make great new friends.　 It is taught by Shelley Rouse, owner or Revolutions Twirling Academy.　 A parent, Rachel, commented, "Shelley is very inviting and is a talented instructor.　 She does a great job building on what they have learned at each clinic.　 My daughters always look forward to the next clinic and cannot wait to learn."　 Join us February 10th for our next clinic.　

In our No School Fun Club, kids stay busy and active all day long.　 Our staff provide a fun environment with lots to offer throughout our Y.　 The kids play in the gym, attend a fitness class with our Wellness staff, play in the pool, create crafts, play games, make fun snacks and more!　
Our best compliments come from our members.　 Following our last club day, Sue shared "My boys have gone to other full day camps and they're usually a little bored and ready to go home by the time I come pick them up. Not on Monday - I couldn't get them to leave."
We love holding positive programming with an emphasis on our Y core values and engaging to all kids involved.　 If you have questions about this program, please contact Stacie Moseley at Stacie.moseley@dmymca.org.　 Registration is currently open for the Feb. 10th No School Fun Club.　 Enroll today!

Commit To Be Fit

Please join our Wellness Staff for the following events every Monday evening beginning at 6:30 pm 2nd floor-Wellness Desk
January 16
-meet at the Wellness Desk to complete a 30 minute workout with free weights.
January 23
Activtrax
-if you are not already enrolled, learn more about this program and schedule an appointment with a Wellness Coach for an initial strength test.
January 30
Chef John will provide another delicious sampler for the month and answer any questions you may have making your favorite dish into a healthier version.

At the Y, we know that Families are Better Together.

For many of today’s activity-focused families, it may come as a surprise that spending regular quality time together as a family is one of the best ways to improve your family’s health and well-being. For some families this might involve some slowing down and perhaps some difficult choices about what structured activities you might need to reconsider. Try making these habits a part of your family’s approach to healthy living and watch the relationships in your home blossom and grow.
Over the next 9 weeks we will be opening up the Waukee YMCA for your Family to come spend time together on Saturday Nights!　　 (January 14, 21, 28　 - February 4, 18, 25 and March 3, 10, 17 )　 We have created a Healthy Family Home 　Bulletin Board in our Family Center.　 Check it out each week for tips, ideas and information along with Highlights from our Family Nights!
Join us this Saturday from 6:00-8:00pm as a Family for Open Swim and Gym time!　　 It is a great way to spend time together!
　
For more information go to:　　 http://www.ymca.net/healthy-family-home/
Let us know what your family enjoys doing together at 　waukeeymca@dmymca.org

Give Group Cycle a Try

Let the YMCA help you get Group Cycling into your routine with a Cycle Clinic on January 21st 4:00 - 5:00 PM. This clinic will give you all the basics and confidence necessary to add group cycling to your workout.
Workout Clinics are also held January 21st at the Walnut Creek Family YMCA at 11:00AM and at the YMCA Healthy Living Center at 1:00PM. No registration necessary!

For questions, contact Penny Luthens at penny.luthens@dmymca.org

Swim Meet Saturday January 7th

Saturday January 7th, the Waukee YMCA Aquatic Center will be closed at 11:00AM and the Main Gym at 10:00AM to welcome area swim teams to participate in a swim meet. All other areas of the Waukee Y will be open regular hours.

Who's the Mayor?

Check-in 12 times in January!
Receive a Y Mayor's t-shirt, that'll read:
Mayor of Waukee Family YMCA!

For more information about Foursquare or how to get started: go to foursquare.com

No School Fun Club

Not sure what to do with your elementary school aged kids during the Teacher Work Days on January 9th and February 10th? 　Send them to the No School Fun Club where they will create art, attend a fitness class, swim and so much more!　 Your kids will enjoy time with friends while you know they are staying active and supervised in a fun environment.　 Lunch and a snack are provided.　 For more information, please contact Stacie Moseley at stacie.moseley@dmymca.org.　 Registration is limited, so enroll today!