Y Mention It: Holiday Roller Skating, Basketball and Swim Clinics, and More!
Last Call for Holiday Roller Skating!
Our annual Holiday Party is tomorrow — that's Saturday the 10th — from 1:30 to 3:30 in the Y's gymnasium.
This year we'll have the same music and fun, but on roller skates. Jam around the gym with Santa and the YMCA community — skates will be provided, so all you have to bring is a good time.
Registration is $6 per person or $25 per family. Sign up online, by calling our Welcome Desk at 607-257-0101, or when you arrive to join in!
Help us Meet Our Annual Campaign Goal
A HUGE thank you to everyone that has made a donation to the Annual Campaign to fund and expand our Membership Assistance Program scholarship fund for 2023! The engagement and passion that our volunteers have put into this campaign is amazing to see.
The Campaign is on the home stretch, and we're standing at over 90% of our $85,000 goal. If you can can make a gift towards the campaign before the end of the year, your donation will go towards Y memberships and program registrations for those who would have trouble affording them.
Contribute to the 2022 Annual Campaign online to help us meet this goal.
Thank you to all of our Santa Runners!
Over 100 runners, almost 50 volunteers, 500 cookies, and 1 fantastic morning! After our energizing stretch and warmup with Group Exercise Instructor Mark, we cheered on everyone who completed the 5K and family fun run on a chilly but beautiful morning in Stewart Park.
We couldn't do it without the many volunteers and staff members who baked, set up the course, directed traffic, helped people register, and more. THANK YOU so much to everyone involved.
We posted a few photos from the event on Facebook and Instagram. If you have any of your own, feel free to share and tag us.
Holiday Basketball Clinics
Join YMCA staff instructors for drill work and practice to improve fundamentals and develop skills and confidence on the court.
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Ages 5-7: 9-10:30 am, Dec 28 & 30
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For those looking to learn the basics of dribbling, passing, and shooting.
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Ages 8-11: 10:45 am-12:15 pm, Dec 28 & 30
For those comfortable with basic skills and looking to hone their game. -
Ages 12-15: 12:30-2:00 pm, Dec 28 & 30
For those looking to improve shooting, defensive posture, court awareness, and more. -
Ages 16+: 9-11 am, Dec 31
For adults to learn skills to play non-competitively with friends or family.
Registration: $20 for family members; $28 for individual/youth members; $40 for non-members. Sign up at ithacaymca.com/register or at our Welcome Desk.
Updated: Holiday Swim Clinics
Ages 5-12 are welcome to join instructors John, Joanie, Veronica, and Alyson for intensive swim clinics over winter break!
Daily clinics December 28-30 will focus on drill work to improve strokes, build confidence, and boost endurance while having fun in the pool.
- CLINIC 1, 1:00-1:55 pm: For beginners who can not yet swim 25 yards independently. Participants will drill in the small pool to focus on floating, gliding, and rhythmic breathing.
- CLINIC 2, 2:00-2:55 pm: For intermediate swimmers who can perform at least 12.5 yards independent front crawl and backstroke. Focus will be on improving front crawl and backstroke technique, building endurance, and learning breaststroke.
- CLINIC 3, 3:00-3:55 pm: For advanced swimmers who can swim at least 50 yards independently. Class will focus on skill drills for three of the more difficult strokes to master: breaststroke, butterfly, and elementary backstroke.
Registration for the 3 days is $24 for those with a family membership, $30 for individual memberships, and $36 for non-members. Sign up online at ithacaymca.com/register.
Save a Life: Support Red Cross Blood Drives in December
The YMCA has two upcoming blood drives here in our building:
- December 16, 1-6 pm
- December 17, 10 am-3 pm
You can help save lives by giving blood during a time when busy schedules lead to a dip in donations. And the Red Cross will enter all blood donors between now and the end of the year into a drawing for a $500 gift card and HBO's House of the Dragon: Complete First Season!
Make your appointment at RedCrossBlood.org.
Registration Dates
Registration for the new session of swim lessons, youth sports, and more is coming up. For the session beginning in January, sign-ups begin:
- December 20 for those with family memberships
- December 23 for those with individual/youth memberships
- December 27 for non-members
Registration days open online and by phone at 8:00 am.
Warm Fuzzies Donation Drive
Leave the bright copper kettles at home — but bring us the warm woolen mittens!
From now through January 13, we're collecting new:
- Winter Hats
- Gloves and Mittens
- Scarves
- Thick Socks
- Earmuffs
- Anything else that will help someone in need stay warm this winter
All sizes and styles are welcome; everything collected will be donated to local shelters. Place items on the tree to help us decorate or in the bin below.
What's New on YMCA360
Our Y360 partners are always adding more content, all of it free for YMCA members. They've recently posted:
- Cycle Circuit 4: This 30-minute class takes you on a great cardio ride and adds strength endurance exercises for a complete workout.
- Mindfulness 1& 2: Short practices of mindfulness, meditation and relaxation.
- Total Body Strength: This hour-long class incorporates dumbbells and consists of 3 blocks plus core. Everything all in one!
You'll also find soccer basics for kids following the World Cup, serenity and meditation to reduce holiday stress, literacy classes for young children, and much more.
Log in at YMCA360.org with your YMCA account's email address and try it out any time.
Pool Schedule
The pool schedule will vary for the week of December 12. Find the interim schedule posted below the regular one, and please check online while planning your visit.
