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YMCA of the Capital Area Newsletter - Y Connection
MAY 2024
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The Americana YMCA is kicking off our second grade safety around water initiative! 750 kids from Zachary Community Schools, East Feliciana Schools and West Feliciana Schools will learn water safety and swim strokes. Thank you to our sponsors: ZACHARY AND WEST FELICIANA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, JETTS FOOD MART, LANDMARK BANK, THORNTON, MUSSO & BELLEMIN, EFCU and MYLES ARNOLD. The program is partially supported by a grant from the CDC Foundation. | |
FOUR TIPS ON FINDING FULFILLMENT DURING OLDER AMERICANS MONTH | |
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May is Older Americans Month. Established in 1963, Older Americans Month is dedicated to acknowledging the contribution and achievements of older Americans, while sharing the importance of finding fulfillment in the aging process. In honor of this month, we will be sharing tips from the Administration for Community Living on how to find fulfillment by paving our own paths as we age.
Embrace the opportunity to change. Find a new passion, go on an adventure and push boundaries by not letting age define your limits. Invite creativity and purpose into your life by trying new activities in your community to bring in more growth, joy and energy.
Explore the rewards of growing older. With age comes knowledge, which provides insight and confidence to understand and experience the world more deeply. Continue to grow that knowledge through reading, listening, classes and creative activities.
Stay engaged in your community. Everyone benefits when everyone is connected and involved. Stay active by volunteering, working, mentoring, participating in social clubs and taking part in activities at your local senior center or elsewhere in the community.
Form relationships. As an essential ingredient of well-being, relationships can enhance your quality of life by introducing new ideas and unique perspectives. Invest time with people to discover deeper connections with family, friends and community members. The Y offers many opportunities for Active Older Adults to create meaningful friendships! Stop by the front desk of your local YMCA to find out more.
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FREE KIDNEY HEALTH SCREENING | |
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High blood pressure and diabetes are common conditions- and the top causes of kidney disease. Kidney disease often has no symptoms until later stages, so early detection is important.
Join us Friday, May 10 from 8am to 2pm at the ExxonMobil YMCA for a Free Kidney Health Screening! This event offers free kidney health education and risk-factor insight by checking your:
- Urine and blood for kidney function, blood sugar level, and protein
- Blood pressure
- BMI (body mass index)
Walk-ins welcome. Appointments prioritized. Call 504-861-4500 to schedule or click here!
In addition to on-site kidney result reviews with specialists, participants will have access to personalized educational sessions, Chronic Kidney Disease prevention materials, and resources to support their ongoing health journey.
If you are interested in volunteering for the event, please sign the volunteer sign up form available here.
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On April 20th , the YMCA of the Capital Area, in partnership with 100 Black Men-Metropolitan, and My Brother's Keeper Baton Rouge, organized a Health Expo aimed at promoting wellness and educating the community on various health-related topics. The event, which saw the participation of 125 young men and parents, provided a platform for learning and engagement across a spectrum of health areas, from education to physical well-being.
One of the highlights of the expo was a keynote speech delivered by Dr. STEVEN E. KELLEY, M.D., a respected cardiologist in the Baton Rouge area. Dr. Kelley's insights and expertise provided invaluable information to attendees, empowering them with knowledge about heart health and preventive measures.
The event also featured several partner organizations that offered their services and resources to the community. Among these were Our Lady of the Lake, which provided free cholesterol checks, and the American Heart Association, which conducted a healthy snack demonstration, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in maintaining heart health.
Additionally, Life Share, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Families Helping Families, and Fran U were among the vendors present at the expo, offering information and support to attendees on various health-related topics.
We are incredibly grateful to our partners and sponsors for their support in making this event possible. By coming together as a community, we were able to provide essential health education and resources to young men and parents, empowering them to take charge of their well-being.
The Health Expo underscored the importance of collaboration and community engagement in promoting health and wellness initiatives. Through events like these, local organizations can make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and families, fostering a culture of health and vitality in the community.
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YMCA Summer Camps at the Y offer kids countless opportunities to laugh, learn, lead, make lasting friendships and have FUN! Find your Fun, Find your Y!
Registration is now open and space is limited so register today!
The Y will also offer Specialty Programs and Tennis Camps this summer!
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MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY CARE AT THE Y | |
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In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the Y is encouraging community members to care for themselves and others.
Mental health is how we think, feel and act. At the Y, we recognize that we all have mental health, and mental health is an important part of our overall health and social-emotional well-being, as well as a core component of our identity.
The Y supports the mental health of individuals and communities in all the work we do to help people reach their full potential—whether that’s teaching life skills to youth in our summer camps, supporting our staff, helping people achieve their best physical health or helping newcomer immigrants access services. This type of non-clinical support is called “community care” and includes:
· Understanding mental health as something we all have—it is how we think, feel, and act.
· Applying positive self-care practices routinely.
· Engaging in conversations in a genuine way, with empathy and the intent of building meaningful relationships.
· Understanding and applying trauma-informed guiding principles when interacting with others.
· Understanding the impact of social determinants of health, systemic racism, discrimination and marginalization on mental health.
Click here for more information.
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BLOOD PRESSURE SELF MONITORING | |
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We are excited to announce the YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program is coming soon to our YMCA!
One in three American adults has high blood pressure, which puts them at risk for stroke and heart disease, two of the leading causes of death in the U.S. In response to this critical health issue, YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program offers personalized support as participants develop the habit of monitoring their blood pressure. Click here to learn more.
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SIX TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR WATER SAFETY MONTH | |
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May is National Water Safety Month. When the weather starts to heat up, the pools, lakes, oceans, rivers and other bodies of water start calling! While swimming can be a very enjoyable activity this summer, it is important to remind all parents and caregivers of the importance of water safety. The Y is sharing these six tips on how children can stay safe in and around the water.
Tip # 1: Make sure children know to always ask permission before going in or near the water.
Teaching your children to be water smart is the first step in water safety – be sure they understand the importance of asking permission before going in or near the water.
Tip # 2: Never swim alone without a water watcher.
When children are swimming, make sure they are actively supervised at all times. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty, or where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions.
Tip # 3: Supervise your children whenever they’re in or near water.
Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool or waterfront, make sure your children are within arm’s reach at all times.
Click here for more tips and information.
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MAKE YOUTH SPORTS WORK
FOR YOUR FAMILY | |
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May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and the Y understands that youth sports can be a big commitment – but there are ways to make it work!
The Y offers many options, including financial assistance for those who want to put their child in sports but are unable to afford it. Many of our sports programs play games right here in our local community, so travel costs are not an issue. You can also play sports with your children and stay active together at the Y.
Remember, children and teens need 60 minutes of activity every day and sports can help them get it! Weekly practices and classes build activity into their routine while giving them all 3 types of activity they need:
· Aerobic (making their hearts beat faster, like running)
· Muscle Strengthening (building muscle with activities like throwing)
· Bone Strengthening (activities like jumping)
When children and teens can do a mix of activities – like running, jumping, skating, swimming, throwing and playing – they get the mix they need to stay healthy!
Visit ymcabr.org/sports to learn more about our Y sports programs today.
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Swimming is one of life’s most essential skills. The YMCA of the Capital Area is committed to helping kids and adults of all ages and abilities find their swim skills through swim lessons.
Y swim instructors are nationally certified in CPR, AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration. Swim lessons provide important skills that could save a life and will benefit students for a lifetime.
Click here for more information.
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In YMCA Youth Sports, there are no tryouts and no one gets cut from the teams. Everyone who registers is assigned to a team and all players have the opportunity for equal playing time in games, teaching participants valuable social and teamwork skills and contributing to a healthier community.
Registration is now open. Deadline to register is May 19. Click here for more information.
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Basketball: Ages 3-17
A. C. Lewis YMCA**
C. B. Pennington Jr. YMCA
Paula G. Manship YMCA
ExxonMobil YMCA
Americana YMCA (Ages 5-12)
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Baseball: Ages 3-12
A. C. Lewis YMCA**
C. B. Pennington Jr. YMCA
Paula G. Manship YMCA
ExxonMobil YMCA
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**A. C. Lewis YMCA games and practices will take place at Baranco-Clark YMCA,
C. B. Pennington Jr. YMCA and Paula G. Manship YMCA | |
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This month's Member Spotlight is Sandra Daigle!
Sandra has been a member of the Y for over 10 years and she was inspired to join because of the health and social benefits that the Y provides. She says that she has seen great improvement in her back problems and she has "a good 'ole time!"
One of Sandra's favorite activities at the Y is spending time with the friends she has made at the Y, and her favorite memories are the birthday celebrations and wedding receptions they have held for their fellow Y members.
To anyone looking to join the Y, she would tell them that the Paula G. Manship YMCA is a family!
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Have you participated in one of our wellness challenges on our FREE Y app? These challenges will help keep you motivated and you have the opportunity to win some awesome YMCA prizes! Challenges are FREE to participate!
Download the Y app for free from the app store by searching "YMCA of the Capital Area". Click on "challenges" within the Y app and click "join challenge" to participate. This month's challenge is to complete as many miles as possible throughout the month by walking, running or biking. Join the challenge for a chance to win a Y cutting board!
Good luck!
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Congratulations to our March Challenge winners:
Tina S. and Craig W.
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May 1-31: Swimsuit Drive
May 7: T-Shirt Tuesday, wear a Y shirt today.
May 10: Free Kidney Health Screening, 8am until 2pm at ExxonMobil YMCA
May 12: Happy Mother's Day
May 15: Member Appreciation Day
May 19: Summer Sports Registration Ends
May 27: Memorial Day, Open Regular Hours
May 31: Friend Friday, Bring a friend to the Y for free!
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