Y Mention It: Thank You! Swim Instructors Needed, & More
Thank you for being here with us.
We have all been through so much. Even before the health and economic scares that have upended our lives, we recognize the challenges that so many face in their day-to-day.
We just want to take a moment right now and say a sincere, deeply felt "thank you" to the people who visit our facility every week. Sometimes every day! You inspire us to do more, be better, and meet the needs of our community however we can.
The YMCA wouldn't — we couldn't — be here without you. We are so appreciative of your patience, your support, and your presence. These are difficult times, but that's all the more reason to let you know how much we value our members and guests.
Thank you!
National Employee Appreciation Day
With National Employee Appreciation Day coming up on March 4, I would like to take a moment to recognize our faithful and loyal staff that serve our membership on a daily basis with competence, positive attitudes, and giftedness in their fields of work. Their focus is not only on the Y mission, but for the purpose of making our members' experiences memorable and satisfying. Thank You, Y team, for choosing our organization as your employer.
Teresa Morehouse
Interim CEO / Associate Executive Director
You Could Be a YMCA Swim Instructor!
We're seeing a huge amount of interest in swim lessons and hoping to recruit more instructors as soon as we can so that we can serve this important need in our community. If you love swimming, you can help us meet this need while sharing your skills with the next generation. No teaching experience is required — we'll provide the training as long as you have the patience and passion to become a swim instructor.
While we provide swim lessons for all experience levels, we are especially looking for instructors to work with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers — so you wouldn't need to be a world-class swimmer to help others be safe and comfortable getting started in the water.
Compensation is $14.50/hour and includes a free individual adult membership in exchange for teaching one day a week. Contact our Aquatics Director Alyson Murphy at amurphy@ithacaymca.com if you have questions or would like to apply.
Summer Camp Registration Begins March 7
Summer camp information will be out very soon! We'll post 2022 details at ithacaymca.com/camp as soon as they are ready.
New Community Health Programs
In case you missed it, we are debuting two new evidence-based health programs in March!
Walk with Ease, certified by the Arthritis Foundation, is is a group exercise program that can reduce pain and improve overall health. Three times a week for six weeks, you'll meet with other participants to learn about health topics and go for a 10-30 minute walk while improving flexibility, strength, and stamina.
Two sessions are available, March 14-April 22 and May 9-June 17. While it is focused on arthritis, participation is not limited by health condition. The program is free for YMCA members, $20 for non-members.
The YMCA Weight Loss Program is designed to help people seeking a healthier weight to make small, modest changes to daily habits in a supportive group setting. Participants will meet weekly to develop personalized, non-prescriptive goals related to balanced eating, physical activity, stress reduction, better sleep, positive psychology, and more.
The cost for the program is $75 for members and $125 for non-members.
Because both programs are group-based, they'll work best with more participation! Learn more and register online or email any questions to Gunnar Madison, Health and Wellness Director, at gmadison@ithacaymca.com.
Lost & Found
We're seeing a lot of items collecting in our lost and found. If you're missing your sweatshirt, water bottle, yoga mat, goggles, backpack, basketball, swimsuit, etc. — you might find it here at the YMCA!
Anything that our members and guests have left behind, we've collected on a table at the end of the hallway past the racquetball courts. It's starting to get a little full, so please claim your misplaced possessions before they are disposed of.
Swim Lessons for All Ages
The YMCA offers swim lessons for everyone, regardless of skill level. We wanted to highlight two upcoming programs:
- Adult Beginner Swim Lessons
Want to learn to swim for fitness? This is the class for you! No prerequisite swimming skills. Goggles are suggested. - Experienced Lap Swimmer
This class is geared toward the experienced lap swimmer who would like to improve their stroke technique and fitness level. Swimmers must be able to swim at least 100 yards of front crawl and be familiar with backstroke and breaststroke. Swimmers will learn flipturns and fundamentals of interval training. Goggles are suggested.
Send any questions to our Aquatics Director, and register online or by calling our Welcome Desk at 607-257-0101.
The pool schedule will change in coming weeks as we prepare for a new swim lesson schedule and expanded weekend hours. Be aware that on certain Saturdays, the pool will close earlier than the rest of the facility due to aquatic training sessions.
