Play with a Purpose

When's the last time you played? I mean just played with reckless abandon? I'm not talking about team sports, or a round of golf, or a musical instrument. I'm talking about wide open, silly, laugh out loud, ridiculous play.

So often, when I'm wearing my "YMCA Hat" I focus on play as one more way to promote physical well-being. And it can be. Countless studies have shown that families that play together tend to be more physically fit. Kids who take part in regular physical activities are shown to be less likely to be obese and run less of a chance to develop diabetes and other physical illnesses.

However, I recently found a great presentation on TED.com given by Stuart Brown. My friend @Zannieg pointed to it in a Tweet and I'm a sucker for a good TED talk, so I started watching. It was really enlightening. Brown discusses play and its importance in normal human development. He goes on to say that play is more than just an opportunity to rehearse and mimic actions we'll use as adults - more importantly, it's essential to and deeply involved with human development and intelligence.

I could talk about the presentation at length, and how I think it's a great insight into the importance of play, even as adults, and how this is one more way the YMCA is striving in its programs, and relationships and mission to better serve you - we're huge fans of Play! Instead, I'll invite you to watch the video below, and then when you're done, I'll challenge you to a game of freeze tag. I'll even be "it" first.

YMCA - We are Not a Health Club

On almost a weekly basis, I field calls here at the Y that are from prospective new members. One of the first exchanges I have with a prospective member is almost always in the form of questions about how we compare to area health clubs. Sometimes it's a simple "Do you have the same equipment as Health Club X?" Sometimes, it's more direct, such as "Health Club X is offering a free month of membership. Are you running any specials?"

The caller at the other end of the phone line is usually pretty surprised when my response is "We are Not a Health Club."

This statement sounds a bit odd, but it lies at the core of who the YMCA is and what makes us different, and so important to the community. It's true that we have a fitness center with treadmills, eliptical machines and weight equipment. We also have fitness classes ranging from Yoga to Kickboxing. We offer aqua aerobics and even personal training. But for the YMCA, these are just a means to helping our members and the community lead a healthier life in spirit, mind, and body. It's one of the tools that we use, and that we offer in a uniquely YMCA way, to make our mission become reality.

There's so much more going on here that you won't see at a health club. Every day, dozens of children are learning to swim. Each week, kids are getting after school care. Seniors are taking part in programs specifically designed to meet their needs. Teens who've been short-term suspended are getting the chance to rediscover their strengths and learn to succeed in our Boomerang program. But even more importantly than that, every day, we're developing relationships with our members. We're discovering who they are and how we can better serve them in ways that health clubs don't do. I watch groups of men play racquetball and then go out to lunch together each week. The same goes for our aqua aerobics ladies groups.

This year, the Chapel HIll - Carrboro YMCA will give out over $200,000 in scholarships to individuals, kids and families who otherwise couldn't afford to take part in YMCA programs or memberships. One of the most important pieces of the YMCAs core beliefs is that no one will be turned away from our services based on their ability to pay full price. It's just one more way we're different than a health club.

Let me stop here and say that differentiating ourselves from a health club doesn't mean that we don't like or are "against" health clubs. There are some great health clubs out there and they offer great programs and services for their members. We applaud the work that health clubs do to improve the physical fitness of their members.

I once heard the YMCA described as a movement. I really like that description in that we don't measure our successes in analytical terms. For us it's not about pounds lost or games won or how fast the next lap is sum. For us, we measure our success by the impact we have in people's lives: A single parent is able to keep his or her job because of our after school care program. A child makes new friends because he's on a soccer team. A senior discovers a new hobby through a relationship developed in our Walking Club. These things are what make all the work we do worthwhile.

So if you're a Y member and someone asks you what gym you go to, be sure to tell them that you don't belong to a gym, but you are a part of the YMCA. Tell them about the great stuff that's going on here. And if you want to find out more about what we do, contact me . I'd love to share.

This is not the end of the line.

Often when people ask me about programs I’m particularly proud of or that seem to be really unique at our YMCA, I have to take a moment to think through all of the dozens of great programs that touch and change lives here each day. One of the programs that is unique and different, and that I am always impressed by is called Boomerang. Boomerang was created to provide short-term suspended middle and high school students with a supervised, positive environment during their time away from school.

Boomerang is resiliency-based. Resiliency is a strength-focused concept that aims to increase a student’s protective factors. This attitude involves searching for, nurturing and reinforcing the gifts and strengths in every student. It strives to provide students with a sense of self, goals, spirituality and other factors so that these students can be the best people they can be.

Boomerang has translated this research into programming that values interpersonal connections with the students they serve. Students who come to Boomerang are offered a fresh start and an opportunity to use the time to reflect on their lives: what choices are working well and which people, both in their families and at school, are supporting them.

Simply stated, from what I’ve seen, this program takes kids who may have been left with the idea that they’ve reached the end of their road, and helps them to discover their strengths, and see that making a mistake doesn’t mean that there’s no hope. Below is a first-hand account of one teen’s experience at Boomerang.

My Experience at Boomerang

Kent

While I have been at boomerang, I learned so much. Before I was suspended from East Chapel Hill, I was smoking marijuana daily and drinking every weekend, but going to boomerang and talking with the staff made me realize how I needed to structure my life.

When you first enter the program, the staff shows you that you are not as alone as you think. Everyone who is in the program is going through the same thing as you are. So you can relate to what everyone is talking about. In the mornings there is food provided if you didn’t eat breakfast and everyone just talks and gets to know one another. The point of boomerang, as explained to me by the staff, is not to punish you but to show you what your strengths are, and how to use those strengths to further yourself in life.

There are several activities done throughout the day that show you what your strengths are. One such activity is to draw a tree. This might sound insignificant and childish, but it is structured in a way that shows what your obstacles in life are and what you can use to your advantage. While in the program you also construct a timeline of your life. This timeline is meant to show you how you ended up in boomerang and maybe how to avoid getting back into boomerang in the future.

During the duration of time your in boomerang, you will get 1 on 1 time with several staff members, who talk with you and try to help you. They ask you several questions about your family and friends. They also teach you to avoid risky situations. There is a specific schedule you follow everyday.

At the end of the day there might be a guest speaker who comes in to talk about a wide variety of things such as dating, drugs and violence. When everyone in the room participates in the activities you really find yourself in deep and engaging conversations that you learn a lot from.

I learned so much while in boomerang. It really showed me what I was doing wrong, and how to fix it in a fun and constructive way. I feel like everyone no matter what they do should spend a week in boomerang, because it teaches you how to get your life on track. I feel like if I hadn’t gone to boomerang when I did, I wouldn’t have been able to get my life together until it was too late.

For more information on the Boomerang program, visit http://www.boomerangnc.org or email Julie Wells at jwells@chcymca.org

the little things.

You've probably seen me mention the YMCA's core values a time or two in this blog or in conversation. Our four core values, Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility, are the building blocks for all that we do. Often I find myself thinking of these values in a grand fashion, with a hope that something we're doing here at the YMCA will miraculously change the world overnight. Now I'm not saying we shouldn't think on a grand scale. Surely some of the most successful entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders and great accomplishers have thought on a scale and scope that is bigger and grander than some of us can even begin to comprehend (me included!).

The thing that I forget about though, and by working here at the Y, am often reminded, is that you can witness really great things in the small acts, or in what can be perceived as something simple. Our Assistant Youth Director, Jeff Lloyd, is quite a well-known at our YMCA. He has for the past few years, been the director at Camp Clearwater, and can be seen with our afterschool kids on a daily basis, among other things. He's a great asset to our Y and to the community. Jeff has the unique opportunity to spend lots of time with our kids in programs here and occasionally will share a story from his experiences. Some are cute, some are hilarious, but they're all entertaining. Recently he shared this one with me:

Our Core Values are taught to our YMCA After School participants each day through a devotion time. Our counselors use quotes and stories to give the children examples of how to implement Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility in their lives. Just when I start to wonder if the kids are catching on, if they're listening to the lessons we teach, they up and surprise me. Several weeks ago, as I walked six kindergarten children to the playground so that they could get a drink of water from our cooler, I noticed that there were cups and snack wrappers on the ground, so I started picking up some trash without saying anything to the kids. I noticed that each child was drinking their cup of water when they started seeing what I was doing. As I was picking up the trash on the ground, some of the children began to talk about “Mother Nature” if she were an actual person. One child said, “Mother Nature is so disappointed in us right now, we are harming her.” They all started giving real, honest statements about “Mother Nature.” At this point, I was hooked. They had my heart. The children then began walking around and picking up trash, without me asking. I told them that I was so proud of them and that they were displaying the responsibility core value and I walked them back to their group. This brightened my day, and reminded me of why we do what we do.

Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility. For some people, these are simply words. But at the YMCA, they are the core values we teach and practice each day. Not just a way of thinking, but an integral part of who we are - as natural as opening our eyes each morning to greet the day.

To find out more about the YMCA, who we are, and what we do, visit our website or stop in for a visit.

Answers to an infamous question

This week's guest blogger is Abby Dennis, Health Enhancement Director at the Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA. On any given day Abby can be found teaching aqua aerobics, an indoor cycling class or a step aerobics class. She might even be in her office building a new fitness program or simply giving advice to a member about his or her fitness training. Stop by the fitness center and say hello to Abby, or email her at adennis@chcymca.org.

About this time of year I usually get the infamous phrase, “I work out all of the time and I’m not seeing any results. What do I do”? My first initial reaction is to always ask “Do you ever change your workout”?

For the most part, many of us are creatures of habit. We fall into our own comfort zone expecting to see changes. If you’re not toning up, trimming down or feeling any fitter, you probably need to make some changes in your exercise routine. Below are just a few examples of what could be sabotaging your workouts in the gym, at home or outside.

1. Diet: All the miles you put in on the treadmill, yoga classes you endure, and 6am Spin classes you wake up for won’t matter if you don’t put the right ingredients into your body. It comes down to eating healthy meals and drinking plenty of water. Think of it as fueling your body for the work that it is about to partake in each day. A healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner are key with healthy snacks in between.
2. You only focus on cardio to shed pounds: Adding resistance training twice a week for every major muscle group will increase metabolism which in turn allows you to burn more calories at rest. Resistance training increases bone mass and creates a longer/leaner/stronger you.
3. You speed through your reps: Your weights are either too light or they are too heavy (and you’re using momentum or gravity to help you through the movement). Regardless, your muscles aren’t being used efficiently. The second to last and last rep of each set should be challenging. If they aren’t, you need to increase slightly. Always focus on correct form. If you notice that your form is slacking, go back to a lighter weight and work up.
4. You stick to the elliptical machine for all your cardio needs: Change your routine up. It’s that simple. Swim on Monday, Tuesday take a Spin class, Wednesday go for a hike outside and Friday come to my 8am Step class. Variety is your best friend!
5. Your workouts are strictly endurance based: If you do the same thing day in and day out, STOP! Switch your cardio up with sprints, hills, high resistance, low resistance, circuit routines, etc. Anything you can do to ‘shock’ your body and mind will shake you in to ‘calorie burning’ mode.

There are a few more techniques that could make a difference, but these are the most common. Try focusing on changing just ONE and see what results you get!

Cheers,
Abby

Abby can be reached by calling 919.442.YMCA or via email at adennis@chcymca.org.

This is what we do:

I've had a few people ask me recently what the "Strong Kids Campaign" is all about. While many of our members and friends know about all of the sports, fitness and aquatics programs, fewer are aware of the great work the Y does making sure that no one is turned away from our programs based on his or her financial means. Here's a story of what we do, and how it works:

In the spring of 2008, as Summer Camp season approached, our assistant youth director, Jeff, was busy planning camps and checking camp rosters, and he noticed one name that had been on camp lists for quite a few years was conspicuously missing. "Sarah" was enrolled in the Y Afterschool program and had been a faithful summer camp attendant for a few years running. But this year, she wasn't signed up for any weeks of camp. Jeff made a few phone calls, including contacting the parents of the child, and the story he heard was heartbreaking:

Seems that within a few weeks, the child's family had dealt with more than one challenge. First, Sarah's father had been diagnosed with cancer. The subsequent medial treatments and planning had put an increased financial burden on the family and required Sarah's mom to work even more hours. That would be enough for any family to handle, but shortly after that, Sarah's grandmother was forced to move in with her when the grandmother's house was lost in a fire. Once again, increased burden for a family. Sarah's mother was left with no choice but to determine where the family could cut costs. She was trying to determine whether or not Sarah could go to camp when Jeff called.

It only took moments for Jeff to know what to do. He immediately contacted the appropriate directors and secured funding from our Open Doors scholarship program so that Sarah could go to camp. He contacted Sarah's mom and told her that there was no reason Sarah would need to change her summer plans, and that the Y was going to make sure she got to attend Camp Clearwater. Through the generosity of our members and the community, the YMCA was able to help Sarah and her family when they needed it most.

That's what we do. It's often said that the Y is here to be what you need when you need it. I get to watch these things happen every day right here in our building, and it's a privilege that constantly reminds me to be thankful for blessings. For more information on what the Y does, or to be a part of it, you can contact me at glee@chcymca.org.

The funding for our Open Doors scholarship program comes from donations from our members and community. Each year, those funds are used to help hundreds of kids right here in our community take part in afterschool, summer camps and programs. It also helps adults, seniors and families. To learn more or to make a contribution to the Strong Kids Campaign, visit our website.

Exercise - a Family Affair

There are a couple of families who come into the Y that I notice and sometimes stop and watch when I'm walking through the building. Whether it is their intention or not, they impress me with the way they seem to purposely play together as a family. Watching them play together, and as a result, take part in a healthier lifestyle, it strikes me that we are fortunate to be in a community with so many opportunities for families.

Whether you and I realize it or not, kids are looking to us as role models, even from the perspective of a healthy lifestyle. Liz Neporent, personal trainer and fitness consultant, talks about the importance of setting an example to our families in the way we approach fitness. "If you spend most of your time plopped on the couch and rarely exercise, you can expect more of your clan to do the same. So pack up the kids, leash the pooch and make exercise a family affair," says Neporent.

Some suggestions she makes:

• Always make exercise fun and enjoyable for everyone. Try activities that will raise heart rates, such as a game of family touch football or sack races. Even consider taking a family cycle around the neighborhood.

• Take a family stroll around the neighborhood. Empower your kids by letting a different child choose the route each time. Consider choosing a theme for each walk, like pointing out wildlife.

• Once a week, go to the park for a family affair. Play games, swing on the jungle gym and explore trails. If you go with several other families you can play team activities such as kids vs. adults to promote teamwork and make friends.
  
  Neporent's last comment got me thinking about how great a community we live in and how many (FREE!) opportunities we have to take advantage of as families. There are so many options within a short drive that I dare say it would take weeks to duplicate any trip.
  
  Here are a few of my favorites: (All titles are links to more information)
  
  
• The Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area: Located off Cole Mill Road in Durham, this park features the highest point in Orange County at 867 feet. It covers 190 acres and has nearly 3 miles of trails, including a few high bluffs that provide great views of Hillsborough during the winter when leaves don't impede the vista.
• The Trails of Carolina North: Covering over 750 acres, this land is also known as the Horace Williams Tract. It's rich in historical and archaeological significance. UNC Chapel Hill's Grounds Services Department does a great job of maintaining the land and there are miles of trails, some wide enough for groups, some designed for single track running, biking and hiking. This is also the home of the YMCAs annual Pumpkin Run.
• The Coker Arboretum: The UNC Arboretum was first developed in i1903 by Dr. William Chambers Coker as an outdoor classroom for the study of native North Carolina fauna. It covers 5 acres and is abundant in learning opportunities.
• Umstead Park: Though a bit further away, Umstead Park is a true treasure. It covers nearly 5,600 acres and offers the opportunity to disappear into wilderness. The park offers 20 miles (!) of trails and range from short strolls to extensive hikes. There's also camping, boating and educational events.
• Last but certainly, not least, there's your very own Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA! We work every day to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. We offer open family gym time, recreational swim, family strengthening programs like YGuides & Princesses and you can even volunteer to coach your kids soccer, basketball or Tball team.

Regardless of what you choose to do, go ahead and get out as a family. Play, explore, learn and have fun! There's so much to do, and so much of it is free, which in this economic climate, is an added bonus.

What's your favorite local family adventure? Share it with us here. And as always, thanks for stopping by!