Lifeguard Training Course Offered to Reduce Erie County Lifeguard Shortage

Get certified at no cost and receive a new employee sign-on bonus as an employee of the YMCA of Greater Erie.

Erie, PA – The swimming hole may be dry again this summer.

lifeguard shortage that kept about a third of America’s 309,000 public swimming pools dry, or open sporadically in 2022, could be “as bad as last year, or worse or this year,” according to the American Lifeguard Association’s B.J. Fisher.

To help reduce a lifeguard shortage in Erie County, the YMCA of Greater Erie will offer a YMCA Lifeguard Certification Course at the Y’s Glenwood location, 3727 Cherry Street, May 16-21, 2023. This course is open to the public and free for those who successfully complete the course and commit to employment at the Y. The Y operates eight pools during the summer months and needs a minimum of 100 lifeguards to adhere to the Y’s strict aquatic safety guidelines.

The course is open to those who are at least 16 years old by the end of the course. Participants must successfully complete a pre-requisite swim, offered by appointment from April 27-May 2.

The pre-requisite swim consists of three phases:

Phase 1:  Tread water for 2 minutes, swim 100 yards front crawl
Phase 2:  Swim 50 yards of the following strokes: front crawl with head up, sidestroke, breaststroke, breaststroke with head up, inverted breaststroke kick with hands on the chest, perform a feet first surface dive and swim underwater 5 yards
Phase 3:  Sprint 20 yards, perform an arm-over-arm surface dive to obtain an object from the bottom of the pool, tread water holding the object for 1 minute (legs only), return object to the bottom, climb out of the pool and immediately begin 100 compressions on a manikin, stand and listen to directions from the instructor

Upon successful completion of the pre-requisite swim, participants will then be enrolled in the YMCA V6 Lifeguard Certification course. Participants must attend all classes May 16-21. The course includes certification in CPR/AED/Oxygen and First Aid.

The Y also offers an Aquatics Leadership Pathway program. This program encourages leadership development in aquatic safety with the goal to prepare and motivate participants to eventually become lifeguards through a separate certification course.  Students in this program will focus on the following milestones:

-Enhancing safety skills needed in an aquatic environment, such as scanning, entering and exiting a pool, and performing a reaching and throwing assist

-Developing knowledge in various aquatic safety topics

-Increasing endurance to meet the prerequisite physical competency

requirement of a lifeguard certification course

Participants should have the endurance to swim a minimum of 150 yards of any stroke or combination of strokes.

Registration Information

Lifeguard Course Registration – https://www.ymcaerie.org/programs/270/ymca-lifeguard-v6-certification-course/#division_957

Aquatics Pathway Registration- https://www.ymcaerie.org/programs/432/aquatic-leadership-pathways/?locations=-1

Special Olympics Pennsylvania Partners with YMCA of Greater Erie

(Norristown, PA, October 27, 2022) Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) and YMCA of Greater Erie announced a partnership aimed at increasing fitness and training opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities, which went into effect as of September 30th, 2022. Both organizations share a similar mission that prioritizes working to improve the quality of life and well-being for the community.

The partnership will help alleviate the Special Olympics struggle to find suitable locations to train athletes and host local competitions. Athletes in the Special Olympic Programs will have access to the Y facilities where they can train for competitive meets, improve fitness levels and build conditioning skills needed to meet the physical challenges of sports training. Athletes can also train for Olympic-type sports year round as opposed to their current 8-week sessions.

Developing healthy habits is another big challenge facing these athletes and their families. Many have limited access to healthcare so health issues often go untreated. In order to help combat these issues, the YMCA of Greater Erie will be offering a Special Olympics-only rate on memberships for athletes and their families. With the support from the Y, athletes will have regular access to health and wellness programs, group exercise and sports classes as well as open gym and swim time.

“We are thrilled to partner with an organization whose mission aligns so well with our own,” says Deanna Renaud, SOPA Regional Executive Director, Northwest Region. “One of Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s goals is to ensure that all of our athletes are given the resources they need to thrive within and outside of their sport. This new partnership with the YMCA of Greater Erie will not only allow our athletes to grow their sport-specific skills, but also become educated on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle as well as be provided a space to connect with their community.”

While it is clear how the SOPA athletes will benefit from this partnership, it is important to note that this positive impact will also be felt by the entire community in which the Y serves. In addition to the training and fitness components, SOPA-sponsored community activities and events will help drive the importance of developing youth across generations and diverse populations. The Y connects people from all backgrounds who want to live healthy and feel connected to something bigger than themselves. The relationship between Special Olympics and the Y opens up volunteer opportunities for both organizations and demonstrates the impact that partnerships like this can have on strengthening the community.

“YMCA’s across Pennsylvania are excited to partner with Special Olympics as we share a common mission to develop vibrant and healthy communities that are inclusive of all people,” said Gerry Vandemerwe, CEO, YMCA of Greater Erie. “We look forward to providing opportunities for every individual to be healthy.”

The YMCA of Greater Erie joins more than 30 other YMCA facilities in Pennsylvania who have partnered with SOPA to increase opportunities for athletes to develop lifelong fitness goals and reach their full potential. For more information about the partnership and to find local -opportunities to get involved with SOPA and the local YMCAs, visit please visit www.specialolympicspa.org.

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About Special Olympics PA

Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round training and competition in 21 Olympic-type sports to nearly 13,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities or closely related developmental disabilities.  For more information about how you can help “Reveal the Champion Inside” thousands of Special Olympics athletes, visit www.specialolympicspa.org.  

About YMCA of Greater Erie

The YMCA of Greater Erie is a leading nonprofit community resource providing services and programs in the areas of youth development,  healthy living and social responsibility.  Our cause is to strengthen community. We serve a diverse population of men, women, and children with an emphasis on families.

Contact:

Special Olympics Pennsylvania

Deanna Renaud

724-375-7515 Ext. 310

mailto:[email protected]

YMCA of Greater Erie

Tammy Roche

814-566-9597

[email protected]

YMCA, Erie Insurance Partner to Teach Safety Around Water

Erie, PA – March 21, 2022- Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children under age 14; and, for some racial and ethnic groups, accidental drowning death rates are even higher.

The YMCA of Greater Erie (the Y) is providing free swimming lessons to third-fifth grade students at Edison Elementary School with a $10,000 grant provided by Erie Insurance.

“Safety in and around water is important for individuals of all ages. Erie Insurance is happy to support the Y and their drowning prevention program to help local students safely enjoy the water for years to come,” said Ann K. Scott, community outreach manager at Erie Insurance.

Children are taking part in the Y’s Safety Around Water program which teaches kids behaviors and skills to prevent drowning and water-related injuries. Approximately 15 children are enrolled in the afterschool program.

“Drowning can happen nearly anywhere with standing water — but as a parent or caregiver, you can’t keep your kids sidelined. By equipping kids with the tools they need to be confident in and around water, they’ll be able to reap the health benefits of exercise, bond with family and friends, and take pride in their new skills — safely,” said Karyn Snedeker, aquatics director for the Y.

Over the course of six 50-minute sessions, children learn important skills in and around water, including:

  • Basic swim skills, like floating, blowing bubbles, comfort swimming on front and back and treading water
  • Safety skills, like CPR, identifying a safe place to swim and water rescue techniques (“Reach or Throw, Don’t Go”)    
  • Survival swim skills, like pushing off the bottom of the pool to resurface (“Jump, Push, Turn, Grab”) and a method of swimming on your front and back (“Swim, Float, Swim”)

“The Y has been an amazing partner in this collaboration to provide students the opportunity to learn how to swim. The excitement before the swimming workshop has been paralleled with the continued joy the students express after each week. We are grateful for this opportunity to connect students and families to resources in the community through the community school model,” said Tami Krzeszewski-Conway, community school director at Edison Elementary School.

These water safety education lessons are paired with swim basics whichpresents basic water safety and swimming skills. Swimmers become comfortable and confident in the water through practicing safe water habits, engaging in underwater exploration and learning how to swim to safety if they fall into a body of water.

“Based on what our Edison kiddos have shown an interest in, as well as the water safety data, we are grateful for this partnership with the Y to be able to provide basic swimming lessons and water awareness,” said Diane Sutton, principal at Edison Elementary School.

For more information on the Y’s swimming lessons and water safety education classes, visit ymcaerie.org.

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Game On

Erie, PA – James Naismith in 1892 invented the game of basketball at a Y in Springfield, MA; hazy records indicate the game first reached Erie in 1896 when the Erie Y played Allegheny College. This experimental beginning was the seed of one of the great chapters of Erie sport history.

The YMCA of Greater Erie will return its youth basketball program to the game’s roots as part of its 160th anniversary year (August 2020-August 2021) by expanding its popular P.L.A.Y. youth co-ed competitive basketball league and sunsetting the Y’s traditional youth basketball format.

“Naismith’s instructions were to invent a game which would be interesting, easy to learn, could be played indoors and would not have body contact and roughness,” said Monica Olesnanik, associate executive director for the YMCA of Greater Erie. “The first props included the famous peach baskets, ten feet above the floor, and a soccer ball.”

Olesnanik goes on to explain that the P.L.A.Y. Basketball League still emphasizes the Y’s core character values and developmental approach but provides for a level of healthy competition in a safe and fun environment. “Participate and Learn at the YMCA – that’s at the core of the P.L.A.Y. league.  At the Y, one differentiating factor to our approach to healthy competition is our values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.”

P.L.A.Y. is for kids in grades K-4 and registration is open for individuals as well as local school teams. Games and practices will be held at all three Erie Y locations: Downtown, Eastside and Glenwood. Y membership is not required.

“This league also provides for a safe way to travel locally and compete against different teams as games will rotate local locations and the championships will be held at a special local venue,” said Olesnanik. “Travel sports teams are tough right now because of the COVID environment.  P.L.A.Y. provides the structure for local competition and travel within our own community.”

To register and review our game plan for returning to safe play, visit https://www.ymcaerie.org/programs/302/play-youth-competitive-basketball-league/

For more information contact Monica Olesnanik at [email protected], 452-3261 or Selena Foulk at [email protected] or 868-0867.

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YMCA Produce Distribution Resumes

Erie, PA – The YMCA of Greater Erie will resume, temporarily, its partnership with the USDA to connect families to free fresh produce due to an extension of additional grant funds.

The produce boxes will be distributed to families during the Y’s regularly scheduled meal distribution for children. Please note that the produce boxes are only available during the schedule below, but meals follow an expanded service

Downtown Y, 31 West 10th Street, Fridays, 3:30– produce

         Meal distribution, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Eastside Y, 2101 Nagle Road, Fridays- 3:30 p.m. – produce

         Meal distribution Tuesdays, Thursdays, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

One box per family, first-come first-serve. If carpooling, an adult from each family must be in the car.

Income requirement and Y membership are not required.

Service will be offered on Friday, Sept. 11 & Friday, Sept. 18.

YMCA REOPENS TEEN CENTER FOR REMOTE LEARNING

Erie, PA – With recent announcements by local school officials that Erie Public School middle and high school students will attend school remotely until spring, the Y, which typically offers after-school programming for teens, will now reopen its Teen Center, 31 West 10th Street, during school hours to provide teens a space where they can attend virtual classes while supervised by Y staff on Tuesday, Sept. 8. 

“The YMCA of Greater Erie has served the Erie community for 160 years, during which we have made through many challenging times together, none perhaps as impactful as COVID-19,” said Tammy Roche, Vice President, Marketing Communications and Financial Development for the YMCA of Greater Erie.  “Erie Public School teens will attend school remotely until spring. The Y’s Teen Center includes a Learning Lab with WiFi access, smartboard and monitors,” said Roche. “The Center will offer some after-school enrichment  opportunities such as art, music and physical and mental wellness.”

The Y also will provide breakfast and lunch. Enrollment is limited to 20 teens and teens must be registered and attend consistently or risk enrollment. The Center will be o pen Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to log-on at 8 a.m.  The Teen Center will remain open until 7:30 p.m.

The Teen Center will follow all health and safety regulations including mask wearing at all times other when eating. The Y will provide masks that will be laundered daily.

Attendance for City of Erie teens is free with proof of residence thanks to a grant from the City’s Community Development Block Grant.

In order to help keep children and staff healthy and safe throughout the school year, the YMCA of Greater Erie, following state and local requirements, has adapted several changes to its day-to-day operations, including:

  • Daily health screenings for children and staff
  • Face coverings for children and staff
  • Staggered transition times to avoid sharing of common spaces like hallways and bathrooms
  • Disinfecting and sanitizing protocols per the Academy of Pediatrics
  • Reduced capacity in group activities
  • Meals and snacks served “in place”
  • Limit personal belongings between home and the Y

 “Throughout this crisis, we have looked for ways the Y can best serve everyone in our community. As we look to the upcoming school year, we are pleased to partner with Erie’s Public Schools to provide an equitable, safe learning environment for all.

For more information and to sign up for the Teen Center, visit ymcaerie.org or call 452-3261
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YMCA OF GREATER ERIE OFFERS AT-HOME/REMOTE LEARNING FOR PRESCHOOL STUDENTS

Erie, PA – The YMCA of Greater Erie announced an “at-home” preschool experience for children ages 3-5 years that begins on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Enrollment is currently open for up to 25 students.

Qualifying children for the Y’s Pre-K Counts program may select this at-home learning option in lieu of the traditional in-person program at the Y.  The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program makes quality pre-kindergarten programs available to Pennsylvania residents at no cost to qualifying families; a family of four may earn as much as $74,000 and qualify. It is funded through a grant from the State of Pennsylvania.  Full day program instructional time is 5 hours and half day program is 3 hours.  All meals and snacks are included. A Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts application must be filled out completely and submitted for consideration. 

“We realize that families may have other school-age children learning at home and by offering an at-home learning option for preschool children, we are providing the flexibility that families may need when schooling multiple children at home and/or may not be comfortable sending younger children to in-person learning during this time,” said Heather Clark Celio, YMCA of Greater Erie Pre-K Counts Training Coordinator & Compliance Specialist.

Families will receive a one-time tote of supplies to supplement weekly at-home activity packets, video recorded lessons, video recorded read-aloud, resources for social-emotional development, and parental supports. Each family also will receive a complementary subscription to the learning app ABCmouse, an online learning program for kids 2-8. Meals also will be available for pick-up weekly for enrolled children. 

“We plan to create an online community for parents selecting this at-home learning option. Certified teachers and support staff will be in regular communication with parents offering guidance on using the supplied kits, accessing child development milestones and overcoming obstacles,” said Clark Celio.

“The YMCA of Greater Erie has served the Erie community for 160 years, during which we have made through many challenging times together, none perhaps as impactful as COVID-19,” said Tammy Roche, Vice President, Marketing Communications and Financial Development for the YMCA of Greater Erie.  “Throughout this crisis, we have looked for ways the Y can best serve everyone in our community. This Pre-K Counts at-home learning program is just another way the Y is serving families.”

For more information and to enroll in Pre-K Counts, visit https://www.ymcaerie.org/childcare/pre-k-counts/

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WQLN PBS Partners with YMCA of Greater Erie to Deliver STEM Project Kits to Local Children

Erie, PA – WQLN PBS puts early learning in the spotlight as students in PreK through 5th grade navigate a summer of learning in the middle of a global pandemic.

“Fighting off the summer slide is never easy, but this year it came with added challenges. So, community partners like WQLN PBS and the YMCA stepped up to provide local children with the resources they need to bring learning to life all summer long,” said Kathy Woodard, WQLN Education Manager.

WQLN PBS is distributing Grab and Go Bags to 500 students through the YMCA of Erie starting July 24 through August 28. The content of these bags is all aligned with PBS Kids STEM-related activities, including COVID19 parent social and emotional resources. During the first week of distribution, children received a plethora of art supplies needed for all subsequent weekly family STEM projects, including a book donated by Hooked on Books for Kids and Kiwanis Club of Erie. A weekly project kit is included.

Here are some of the STEM project kits.

  1. Cat in the Hat Float Your Boat (DIY Sailboat kit) paired with an activity sheet
  2. Get Bugged Out with Wild Kratts (Firefly bug jar kit) paired with a Wild Kratts Wild Life Journal
  3. Bird Watching with Nature Cat (DIY bird house) paired with Nature Cat Bird Journal
  4. Explore the Weather with Nature Cat (Weather wheel kit) paired with Weather Tracker

Each week, a WQLN PBS KIDS “Share What You Learned” handout is included and children are encouraged to watch a PBS KIDS program.

“Building community partnerships with like-minded nonprofits like WQLN strengthens supports for families. The academic disparities in our communities are widening during the COVID-19 pandemic and putting educational materials directly in the hands of parents and caregivers is an important step in bridging the gap,” said Tammy Roche, YMCA of Greater Erie VP, Marketing Communications.

YMCA Teen Center Featured on Good Morning America

The Downtown YMCA Teen Center – and our David Matthews Composition School – was featured on Good Morning America on Monday, November 26. A donor advised fund was established in memory of David Matthews, YMCA philanthropist and donor, by his wife Margaret to fund a program that would join David’s love of the Y and his passion for classical music – thus the David Matthews Composition School was established.

The Erie Philharmonic and the students of the Downtown YMCA have been working together for many months to create the first piece of music composed and arranged by the students of the David Matthews Composition School. Their original song, titled Our Erie, was performed by the Erie Philharmonic.

“Students from Erie composing a piece of music for our orchestra is quite an accomplishment in and of itself. The orchestra musicians are excited to perform it, and Maestro Meyer is proud to showcase their work,” Executive Director Steve Weiser says. “What makes it even more special is the audience will be 2,000 students from their school or neighboring schools. We hope to inspire the composition students to keep writing, but also the other students in the audience to create and compose music of their own.”

Matthews died unexpectedly in February 2016. He was a supporter of many organizations in the Erie region, but he was most passionate about music and the students at the Downtown YMCA. The memorials left in his name were used to create a composition school in his honor at the Y in collaboration with his wife, Margaret.

For nearly one year, the students at the Downtown Y Teen Center have been working with teaching artists to interpret and compose an original musical score for the full orchestra of the Erie Philharmonic. In addition, multi-media students have been learning about documentary film and documenting the entire year long creative process. The project culminates with a full orchestra performance and film debut.

This program is the first of its kind here in Erie, and both the YMCA and the Erie Philharmonic hope for the program to continue in future years. Weiser concludes, “the parts are printed and placed in the musicians’ folders. We cannot wait to hear live what these students have been working on. It’s going to be a very special afternoon for all involved.

The program is funded by the David Matthews Memorial Fund at the YMCA of Greater Erie with additional support by Erie Arts & Culture.

View the Good Morning America Segments:

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Live Performance 

Annual Campaign Builds a Better Us

By: Carl Wolfrom, YMCA of Greater Erie Board Chairman

Over this past year, the YMCA of Greater Erie joined a wider national and community movement to articulate more clearly the work we are doing in our community.  Our Y sits at the forefront of several key issues facing our community including chronic disease prevention, drowning prevention, high school graduation rates, nutrition awareness and early learning readiness.  And, as funding from other community sources is being directed towards other community efforts, it’s more imperative than ever that the Y garner the support of the community.

In order to leverage our efforts in combating these issues, we must clearly articulate our cause and gather support from the community.  The people of our community are facing insurmountable gaps – income, education, and well-being. You may be surprised by who is helped by the Y – your friends and neighbors, co-workers, or parishioners at church.  They’ve encountered the unexpected – and they need your help to rise above.

I’m sure that you know the Y is now- as it has always been – a place of possibility and promise for all.  What you may not know, is that we support kids, adults, seniors and families with programs that protect, teach, connect, heal, nourish and encourage.  We can’t do it alone.

We do it by teaching kids and teens new skills that build self-confidence, character values and leadership.  We do it by helping adults and families lead healthy lifestyles.  We do it by preparing our youngest for a successful start in kindergarten and beyond and by believing that all people deserve to live their life to its fullest and healthiest potential.

This got us thinking about the causes within our own community – so clearly articulated by Erie Vital Signs.  How can the Y leverage our programs and leadership within the community to make a bigger impact on these causes?  That led us to outline a framework for our annual campaign that focuses our philanthropic efforts on four main causes directly affecting our community: safe spaces, meals for kids, learning and health.

With a gift to the Y’s annual campaign, the Y will support kids, adults, seniors and families with programs that protect, teach, connect, heal, nourish and encourage. It’s how we help our community and how the “us” who live here achieve our individual and collective promise.

We can’t do it alone.  Donate or contact 452-1432 ext. 252 to learn how you can support the Y’s cause.

YMCA of Greater Erie Offers Free Memberships for Military Families

Erie, PA – The YMCA of Greater Erie, in partnership with the Armed Services YMCA, has made available free memberships for the families of deployed service members.

“We understand that military families are under enormous stress, and military life comes with unique challenges,” said Gerry Vandemerwe, YMCA of Greater Erie CEO.  “Deployments and frequent moves can be stressful for military and their families.”

The beginning of YMCA service in the military setting usually is associated with the year 1861, when 5,000 dedicated YMCA volunteers took to the battlefields of the Civil War alongside America’s uniformed young men. It was the year that Abraham Lincoln commended YMCA for the “benevolent undertaking for the benefit of the soldiers.” The tradition of “following the flag” has continued in every war and conflict in which the United States has been involved.

Headquarted in Springfield, Virginia, the Armed Service YMCA, through its 34 branches and affiliates supports 45 of the largest military installations and offers unique programs that are tailored to the specific needs of the military community on the local level.

“A membership to the YMCA enables the families of deployed military to spend quality time together and provides an opportunity to meet other military families who can relate to their unique situation,” said Vandemerwe.

Eligible military include Title 10 Personnel including family members of deployed National Guard and Reservists; active duty independent duty personnel and their families; wounded service members assigned to a Community Based Warrior in Transition Unit; relocated spouse/dependent children of deployed active duty personnel (the relocated spouse category supports families/spouses who relocate away from an installation/duty station while the active duty service member is deployed – all of the following criteria must be met: the service member is on active duty; the service member is DEPLOYED for a minimum of six months (on deployment orders—NOT unaccompanied orders, NOT geographic bachelors);the spouse has relocated away from the military installation where the service member is assigned (most often, back home near family).

Military families that would like to join the YMCA of Greater Erie should bring military ID and any other required documentation (usually deployment orders or military service headquarters approval letter) to the Y branch for verification.

For more information, call the local YMCA of Greater Erie branch for more information.

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