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Family Y Opens Registration for Summer Session Classes

Monday, May 6, 2013 by:Family Y
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Pages from Summer_2013_Program_Brochure-3Registration for the Family Y’s Summer Session of classes and programs is now under way. Summer classes and programs at the Y’s downtown facility start the week of June 24, with most continuing through the week of August 19.

Enrollment for the Family Y’s array of summer camps and programs, including the Earthplace-Mahackeno partnership and Hafaday Summer Swim Program, are ongoing, with some weekly sessions nearing capacity in each.

The Y – a leading nonprofit committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility – exists to strengthen community. The Y offers a unique combination of programs that improve health, nurture youth, and connect members of all ages to their neighbors and community. It’s the place where can you get back into a sport you used to enjoy, take a class with your spouse or child, or enjoy regular time together as a family.

Adult Y members and their guests take part in pickup basketball games at lunchtime; moms and dads help their young children learn how to be safe in the water through parent-child aquatics classes or improve their motor skills at Toddler Adventure Gym; families work out together in our Fitness Center or stride side-by-side on the treadmills and elliptical machines in the Cardio Center.

A complete listing of activities offered at the Family Y may be found in our 28-page online brochure, along with online registration for all summer classes, camps and programs.

The Family Y also offers a number of activities that are open to everyone in the community.

On Saturday, May 18, the Y hosts its first-ever Holistic Health Day. “Holistic” health is an approach to life that focuses on complete body health and the relationship between your environment and your health. It emphasizes the connection of the spirit, mind and body.
Find out for yourself by joining in a variety of classes and special activities, from Tai Chi to Qigong to Acupuncture, taking place in our Bedford and Bresslin Rooms from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Ping Pong is a popular activity at Youth Fun Night at the Y.

Ping Pong is a popular activity at Youth Fun Night at the Y.

And later on Saturday, May 18, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, the Family Y turns into a “clubhouse for tweens” for Youth Fun Night. On Youth Fun Nights, the Y is open just for 4th to 7th graders from the Westport and Weston school districts, no membership required. Kids can join friends, neighbors, and classmates for an evening of swimming, basketball, games and ice cream. The cost is $12 in advance; $15 at the door. For details or to register, visit http://www.westporty.org.

Y members and non-members alike also have a multitude of options for Y day camps and special programs taking place this summer. The Y’s downtown facility conducts weeklong specialty camps throughout the summer, for young gymnasts, dancers, basketball, lacrosse and more, as well as a variety of learn-to-swim programs.

The Y’s popular Hafaday Summer Swim Lesson Program is designed for children ages 4 to 8 and is held each weekday from 8:45 am to 12:30 pm. Hafaday is primarily a swim program, with both a lesson and a free swim period each day. Arts and crafts, music and gym time, including yoga, karate, and games round out each morning of fun. Parents are encouraged to sign up their children soon, as most sessions fill to capacity.

And according to Meg George, Camp and Youth Director, the Y’s special collaboration, Earthplace-Mahackeno Summer Camp 2013, is already close to capacity for some grades and weekly sessions. This one-year partnership, the result of Camp Mahackeno’s hiatus during construction of the new Y facility, will take place at Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center, a 62-acre nature sanctuary and educational center in the Old Hill section of Westport. Because of the combined operations this year, enrollment is limited.

How often do kids get a chance to say hello to a ferret? They will at Earthplace-Mahackeno Summer Camp this year!

How often do kids get a chance to say hello to a ferret? They will at Earthplace-Mahackeno Summer Camp this year!

Says Meg: “We’ve added a few spaces to our 3rd Grade group, but only by borrowing some spots from other grades. We currently have less than 10 spots left in all the sessions for Grades 5, 6 and 7. And many of our sessions for Grades 1, 2 and 3 are more than half full.”

“Interestingly, most of the campers currently signed up are new to either camp,” Meg notes.

“Unlike previous summers at Mahackeno, once sessions and grades are full this summer, we won’t be able to add any groups at the last minute,” she adds. “Please keep this in mind as you make your summer plans. We don’t want to see anyone miss out on a chance to be a part of Earthplace-Mahackeno Summer Camp 2013.”

Nationally, the Y engages 9 million youth and 12 million adults in 10,000 communities across the U.S. The Family Y serves 5,500 members who live and work in Westport, Weston and surrounding communities. Our current membership represents 15 percent of the towns we serve and 25 percent of all local youth. Nearly 40 percent of all local grade-school children are active in Family Y programs and special activities.

To learn more about the Westport Weston Family Y, including membership options and guest policies, contact Brian Marazzi, Membership & Marketing Director, at 203-226-8981, ext. 165 or visit www.westporty.org.

Summer Fun All Set to Begin at the Y

Saturday, May 4, 2013 by:Family Y
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Pages from Summer_2013_Program_Brochure-3Midge’s Membership Blog:

As far as I’m concerned, SUMMER IS HERE!  And the best way to get your jump start is to sign up for our summer session of classes.  Registration begins Monday, May 6, at 8:00 am.  Classes fill up fast so please try to register as soon as possible.

The Y has a great summer class selection in addition to various camps.

AQUATIC CLASSES – Your kids can be sea worthy in no time at all, and it is especially important, with all the pools and beaches opening that our children can swim and be safe.  The Y’s emphasis on safety in instruction is paramount.

We are offering an option of classes taken once a week for eight weeks or four times a week for two weeks.  If you prefer private or semi-private instruction, this is also available for all ages. Pediatric aquatic therapy and special needs instruction is also available.

HAFADAY – Sessions fill quickly for this amazing summer program, which gives children the vital chance to build swim skills, regardless of previous experience, and have a lot of summer fun. Designed for children ages 4 to 8 and held each weekday from 8:45 am to 12:30 pm, Hafaday is primarily a swim program, with both a lesson and a free swim period each day. It’s the best way to learn to swim. Arts and crafts, music and gym time, including yoga, karate, and games round out each morning of fun.

We have 9 weekly sessions, beginning Monday, June 17 and continuing on through the week of August 12. Students in swim lessons are grouped by age and ability. The cost for Y Members is $270 per week; $295 for non-members. Click here to sign up.

BASKETBALL – We have various weekly basketball camps for different age groups as well as Basketball/Hockey camp for the younger kids.  For the older kids, there’s the Elite Basketball Academy Weekend Clinics in June.

Weekly Sports & Recreation Summer Classes will be offered in the following disciplines:  Intermediate Fencing; Guitar; Little Lacrosse; Youth Indoor Tennis; Parent/Child Indoor Soccer; Youth Floor Hockey; Dribbling with Dad; and more. Just check our online brochure for details, then register at www.westporty.org.

DANCE CAMPS – For the twirling Divas there are quite a few choices for a variety of ages, from Princess Dance Camp for the tiniest ballerinas to the older pre-teen group of Hip Hoppers and Tappers.

GYMNASTICS – The gymnasts will not be lazy this summer.  There’s a multitude of opportunity to tumble, practice and play at all levels of gymnastics, from competitive to pre-competitive to just plain fun.

EARTHPLACE-MAHACKENO – Last but certainly not least, is our beloved summer day camp. The exciting new wrinkle this year is that our Mahackeno campers get to explore a whole new world of nature and fun this summer thanks to our partners at Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center.

Have we left anything out of our summer planner? No doubt — so please come and visit us at the Y’s Member Services Desk just inside the Church Lane Entrance in downtown Westport to talk more about our summer camps, classes and programs.

 

The joys of summer camp!

The joys of summer camp!

Family Y Swim Programs Offer Mix of Fun, Physical Activity and Safety

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 by:Family Y
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A young swimmer has fun taking the plunge at the Y's Splash! Week learn-to-swim program.

A young swimmer has fun taking the plunge at the Y’s Splash! Week learn-to-swim program.

As swim season approaches, the Westport Weston Family Y encourages local children and parents to explore the many benefits of swimming, while also keeping safety top of mind. In the Y’s swim programs, participants can enjoy water sports, enhance or learn new techniques, meet new friends and develop confidence, while also learning safety skills that can save lives.

“Swimming is a fun and enjoyable activity for children and adults alike, and it’s an easy way to stay physically active and improve strength, flexibility and stamina,” said Nicole Turechek, Aquatics Director. “The Family Y is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for everyone to swim and learn water safety practices – a vital life skill in a community like ours, blessed with so many beaches, inland streams and lakes and backyard pools.”

“We’re also fortunate to have the support of community partners like the Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities, which sponsors Splash! Week, our newest learn-to-swim program,” Turechek adds. “With their help, we were able to offer children daily half-hour lessons during the April School Vacation at a cost of only $20 for the entire week.” (See below for a  photo gallery of fun images from Splash! Week.)

Stewie the Duck, the Leonard Charities’ ever-popular mascot, will be back at the Y during the Y’s Hafaday Summer Swim Lesson Program. Now in its 36th season, Hafaday provides children ages 4 to 8 weekly sessions throughout the summer. Held from 8:45 am to 12:30 pm each day, Hafaday has both a lesson and free swim, with arts & crafts, music and gym time rounding out each morning of fun. Enrollment is under way at www.westporty.org; parents are encouraged to sign up their children soon, as most sessions fill to capacity.

Registration for the Y’s Summer Session begins Monday, May 6, with new classes starting on June 24. There are a variety of programs to choose, including parent-child swim classes, pre-school and youth swim lessons, as well as semi- and private swim lessons, at any age, with or without a parent.

Kim and Stew Leonard read from their Stewie the Duck book, a kids' favorite.

Kim and Stew Leonard read from their Stewie the Duck book, a kids’ favorite.

The Family Y also offers a wide range of Aqua Fitness classes, from Ruth Sherman’s treasured Senior Aqua Fitness classes in the warm-water Brophy Pool to Patty Kondub’s energetic sessions in the Stauffer Shallows. Those looking for even more of a challenge can try our Deep Water Workouts, held Friday evenings from 6:30-7:30 pm.

May is National Water Safety Month, an opportune time for the Family Y to recommend that all adults and children in their care practice the following safety tips when in and around the water:

  • Only swim when and where there is a lifeguard on duty; never swim alone.
  • Adults should constantly and actively watch their children.
  • Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  • Parents or guardians of young children should be within an arm’s reach.
  • Children and adults should not engage in breath holding activities.

In addition to learning lifesaving water safety skills, children can increase their physical activity by swimming. Only 19 percent of U.S. children get 60 minutes of physical activity a day, according to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot – a survey that gauges children’s activity levels during the school year

Swimming motivates children to strive for self-improvement, teaches goal orientation, and cultivates a positive mental attitude and high self-esteem. It also teaches life lessons of sport and sportsmanship, so that children can learn how to work well with teammates and coaches and how to deal with winning and losing.

A young Water Rat at the annual Blue-Red meet this winter, a fun event featuring kids and parents.

A young Water Rat at the annual Blue-Red meet this winter, a fun event featuring kids and parents.

The Family Y is also home to the Water Rat Swim Team, a nationally competitive group of 200-plus young swimmers, as well as the Y Masters, an equally accomplished team of adult swimmers who participate in organized workouts throughout the week and compete in national meets.

There is a place for everyone at the Y – anyone at any skill level can take swimming lessons. It is never too late to learn how to swim and to enjoy the water. The Y offers two levels of adult instructional swim classes, for beginners and intermediate swimmers, and private lessons.

As a leading nonprofit committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y has been a leader in providing swim lessons and water safety for more than 120 years. Since its founding in 1923, our local Y has taught more than 33,000 local children how to swim! And to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in our Y’s swim programs, financial assistance is available to those in need to help cover the costs.

To learn more about the Westport Weston Family Y’s swim programs, please contact Nicole Turechek at 203-226-8981, ext. 128, or nturechek@westporty.org.

Get a Jump on Summer Camps at the Family Y

Friday, April 12, 2013 by:Family Y
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Earthplace gangRegistration is under way for all of the Westport Weston Family Y’s camps and special programs taking place this summer. Don’t delay; sign up today! Click on the subhed links below to get started or visit www.westporty.org for more information.

Earthplace-Mahackeno

Since 1938, the Mahackeno Outdoor Center has been the setting for our Family Y’s summer day camp. For the 2013 season, Camp Mahackeno will be collaborating with another Westport institution, Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center, so we can continue to serve our campers and families during the construction of our new Y facility at Mahackeno.

This wonderful opportunity will allow us to have yet another great summer in a beautiful outdoor setting here in Westport. Earthplace and the Family Y are working together to plan a summer with fun activities and themes, great staff and many opportunities for campers to make new friends and memories.

The program is for campers who are entering 1st grade through 8th grade. Earthplace will continue to welcome preschoolers age 3 to Kindergarten to camp. You can also find more information about this summer’s camp by visiting www.earthplace.org.

The Y offers a wide variety of swimming programs and water-safety clinics.

The Y offers a wide variety of swimming programs and water-safety clinics.

Hafaday Summer Swim Lesson Program

Sessions fill quickly for this amazing summer program, which gives children the vital chance to build swim skills, regardless of previous experience, and have a lot of summer fun. Designed for children ages 4 to 8 and held each weekday from 8:45 am to 12:30 pm, Hafaday is primarily a swim program, with both a lesson and a free swim period each day. It’s the best way to learn to swim. Arts and crafts, music and gym time, including yoga, karate, and games round out each morning of fun.

We have 9 weekly sessions, beginning Monday, June 17 and continuing on through the week of August 12. Students in swim lessons are grouped by age and ability. The cost for Y Members is $270 per week; $295 for non-members.

Stewie’s Splash! Hour
The Family Y has partnered with Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities to promote water safety throughout the community. During each week of Hafaday, Wednesday’s from 12:30 to 1:15 pm, there will be a special opportunity to meet Stewie the Duck and participate in water safety activities outside of the water. Plus, each child will receive a book, a sing-a-long CD and a Personal Floatation Device.

Because Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities is underwriting this event, the cost is only $20/child. Be sure to sign up early to get your first choice of weeks.

Click HERE  to add Stewie’s Splash! Hour to your child’s Hafaday experience.

February 20, 2013 057Summer Gymnastics Camps

The Family Y’s Gymnastics Center is the setting for a range of summer camps. In the afternoons, there’s Gymnastics & Swim Camp: Gymnastics, Free Swim and Games, all in our air-conditioned Gymnastic Center! This camp runs from 12 to 4 pm each day throughout the summer (8 sessions in all). Your child must be able to swim without flotation device and must be 6 years old by June 1, 2013.

We also offer a Summer Fantasy Gymnastics & Art Camp in the mornings, for young gymnasts ages 4-7, as well as a summer program geared to competitive gymnastics: Specialty Competitive and Pre Competitive Gymnastics Camp Week takes place Aug. 19-23. The fee is $280 for the week; Y membership is required. For more information, email Sally Silverstein at ssilverstein@westporty.org.

Dancing, and drawing, like a princess...

Dancing, and drawing, like a princess…

Dance Camps

Our Dance Center has several fun summer programs, starting with Princess Dance Camp. This popular camp focuses on a different Disney princess each day to give dancing divas ages 3 to 5 a fun introduction to ballet and jazz. Led by Dance Center Director Lillian Cenatiempo, campers will also enjoy a craft that helps bring our princesses to life, with a story about one of our princesses each day during snack time. The week session are June 24-28 and July 15-19 and cost $180 per session for Y members and non-members alike.

July 15-19 is “Future Stars Dance Week,” for ages 6-10, which includes dance techniques, learning of choreography, lunch, dance routines plus a free swim. And this summer we have two week-long sessions for Broadway Bound Dance Week. It’s designed for young dancers ages 7-10, who will spend the week learning dances to music from the Broadway musical Newsies. The week includes costume making, a visiting instructor from New York and a fun in-studio presentation the final day for friends and family. The first session will be held June 24-28 from 12:30 to 3:30 pm and the second takes place July 8-12.

Summer Basketball, Lacrosse & Floor Hockey

The Family Y offers a host of week-long morning programs designed to keep young kids active and give them the chance to develop basic skills in lacrosse, hockey and basketball. Click on the link above for more information and to register.

We’re also offering Elite Basketball Academy Weekend Clinics on June 22 and 29 for 6-8 Graders and on June 30 for 9-12 Graders, both girls and boys. Improve your individual skills and team play at both ends of the court with the help of top-quality coaching and a highly competitive environment. The Coaches are Tod Shofield, former professional basketball player and currently coaching and on staff at Greens Farms Academy and Paul Groves, Director of Middle School Athletics at GFA. Avid young hoopsters will get individual workouts,  intensive conditioning drills and skills stations and group lectures about strategy and playmaking.

Saturday, June 22, Grades 6-8 (as of Sept. 2013), 9 am – 4 pm
Saturday, June 29, Grades 9-12 (as of Sept. 2013), 9 am – 4 pm
Sunday, June 30, Grades 6-8 (as of Sept. 2013), 9 am – 4 pm

Fee: $85/day (no Y membership required); please bring drinks, lunch and snack. To register click on the links above or contact Sally Silverstein, Sports & Recreation Director, at ssilverstein@westporty.org or 203-226-8981, ext. 118.

And, of course, the Family Y also offers a full schedule of Summer Session classes and programs. To review our Summer Brochure, please click here. Registration for the Summer Session of classes and programs begins Monday, May 6.

The Family Y also schedules open time in the Upper Gym for pick-up games and individual practice.

The Family Y also schedules open time in the Upper Gym for pick-up games and individual practice.

 

Spring Break Programs at the Family Y, Apr. 15-19

Wednesday, April 3, 2013 by:Family Y
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A youngster enjoys Adventure Gym at the Family Y's Gymnastic Center; it takes place on weekdays, 9-11 am.

Registration is now under way for a host of special programs and activities taking place at the Westport Weston Family Y during the upcoming Spring Recess for local schools, Apr. 15-19. These special programs are open to Y Members and non-members alike.

Splash! Week. Our newest learn-to-swim program is a great way to introduce young children to water safety and swimming basics. And thanks to generous support from the Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities, the fee for Splash! Week is only $20 for five daily half-hour lessons — and all participating kids receive free water-safety gifts. Several morning sessions are scheduled for both age groups (ages 3 to 5 and ages 6 to 12) and all will feature a 30-minute swim lesson Monday-Thursday, a special visit from Stewie the Duck on Wednesday, and an open swim during the Friday sessions to practice what you’ve learned during the week. Click here to register.

Vacation Gymnastics & Swim Camp. Learn to improve your gymnastics skills — and swim each day. This camp is for kids age six and older and takes place from 12 to 4 pm all week long. Bring a snack and a drink; participants must be able to swim without a flotation device. There’s also a daily drop-in option for this fun program, coordinated by Senior Sports & Recreation Director Sally Silverstein, who heads up the Y’s nationally renowned competitive gymnastics program. The fee is $165 for the week for all participants, or $40 per day. Click here to register.

School Vacation Program. Can’t get away from work while your kids are off for the week? The Family Y’s School Age program provides days packed with fun activities at the Y for children in Kindergarten through 6th grade. There are daily field trips in the morning and swim time in the afternoon. Drop-off at the Y begins at 7 am, with pick-up until 6 pm. For more information or to register your child, please contact Tasha Dennison, Senior Director for Child Care and School Age, at 203-226-8981, ext. 113 or tdennison@westporty.org.

Toddler Adventure Gym. Each weekday from 9 to 11 am, our Gymnastic Center is a wonderland of bouncy cushions, mini-slides and other tyke-size tumbling. The price is $10 a session, and it’s open to all children ages 6 months to 4 years old and their parents or guardians.

Click here to access our online registration system. If you have a question or would like more information, please call the Y’s Member Services Desk at 203-226-8981.

‘Step Away from the Sofa’ — and Into a Spring Class at the Y

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 by:Family Y
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Quality time for daughter and dad in our warm-water Brophy Pool.

The Westport Weston Family Y’s Spring Session of new classes and activities begins the week of Feb. 25 and continues into June.

With its commitment to develop youth and promote healthy living for all, the Family Y offers a wide range of ways for members of all ages to stay active, have fun and be fit. Find out more at www.westporty.org, including a look through our 28-page online brochure of Spring 2013 classes and programs.

For many Y families, “stepping away from the sofa” and becoming a part of all the Y offers begins with one of our parent/child swim classes.

Designed for children ages 6 months to four years old, the primary objective of these classes is to acquaint both the parent and the child to the aquatic environment. They are designed for the child to have fun in the water, learn basic propulsive movements and personal safety under the guidance of his or her parent.

The program begins with Shrimp/Kippers (ages 6-18 months), introduces parents with infants to a safe aquatic environment, providing a positive hands-on experience for both. Skills such as blowing bubbles, kicking, floating and limited arm movements are introduced, with the parent holding infant at all times. Classes are held Wednesday 10:30-11:00 am; Saturday 8:45-9:15 am; and Sunday 10:30-11:00 am. The Spring Session runs weekly from Feb. 25 to June 16; the fee for Y members is $250 per parent/child.

The Family Y’s three indoor pools offer healthful activities for all ages, including an array of Aqua Fitness classes. These high intensity, low impact, nonswimming workouts take place Monday-Friday 6:45-7:45 am, 9:00-10:00 am; Monday & Wednesday 6:15-7:15 pm; Sunday 9:15-10:15 am. There are also a number of special aqua fitness classes, from our Pre/Post Natal Water Exercise classes to the Arthritis Aqua Program and Senior Aqua Fitness classes taught by Ruth Sherman.

Y member David Blansfield gets in a morning workout early on Super Sunday.

Housed in the historic Firehouse, our two-level Fitness Center includes strength and cardiovascular equipment and a large stretching area for flexibility and functional exercises.

To get you started with some high-tech help in beginning (and sticking with) a personalized fitness regimen, all new Y members receive three free FitLinxx® fitness orientations with their membership. Our fitness staff will provide you with an introduction to the equipment in the Fitness Center and design a basic exercise program to get you started.

Need some further expert guidance? The Y’s Personal Trainers can help you achieve your fitness goals. We’ll work with your doctor, physical therapist or athletic coach to provide a program to fit your specific needs. Personal Training is great for those new to exercise as well as the seasoned fitness buff. Contact Shelley Moll at 203-226-8981 x198 or smoll@westporty.org to discuss what path to fitness best suits you. The fee for Y members for a 1-hour session is $75; for non-members, it’s $85 per session.

Instructor Perry Moody (foreground) teaches a TRX class in the upstairs studio of the Bedford Building.

Group Fitness classes are included with membership and are a great way for many members to get in a regular exercise groove, and meet some new workout buddies along the way. We offer more than 50 classes a week, including the popular TRX® Suspension Training Classes.

This is a revolutionary total body fitness program that uses gravity against the individual’s own body weight to simultaneously develop strength, balance, flexibility and core stability. The TRX® straps are attached to an anchor point. Each participant grabs the handles with their hands or attaches their feet in the foot cradles. One simply changes the angle of their body from the ground for the exercises. Members can sign up for TRX classes each week in advance, either online or at the Member Services Desk.

In celebration of Healthy Heart Month, our Fitness staff is conducting a special contest among Y Members. Take a cardio workout or yoga session during the month of February and receive a heart-shaped sticker. Place your heart with you r name and phone number in the box at the entrance to the cardio center for a chance to win a Nike Fuel band. This wrist band uses a sports-tested accelerometer to measure your physical movement throughout the day.

There’s something for everyone at the Family Y! Find out what class or special activity is right for you or your family by checking out our Spring Session brochure, or stopping by our Member Services Desk at the Church Lane entrance.

Winter School Break Programs at the Y, Feb. 18-22

Thursday, January 24, 2013 by:Family Y
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Our Gymnastics Center makes a fun, cozy home for Toddler Adventure Gym, weekdays 9-11 am.

Planning a ‘staycation’ at home during the upcoming school break, February 18-22? Make the Family Y part of your family’s plans by registering your children for our School Vacation Program, which provides days packed with fun activities at the Y for 1st through 6th grade children. Click here for the sign-up forms. (Because of a staff development day on Feb. 18, this program will run from Tuesday-Friday.)

For children ages 4-8, there’s our popular Hafaday Swim Lesson Program. Taking place 8:45 am-12:30 pm each day during the winter recess, Hafaday has a lesson and free-swim period; arts and crafts and gym time to round out the fun. Click here to register.

Our Vacation Gymnastics & Swim camp is for kids age six and older and takes place from 12 to 4 pm all week long. Learn to improve your gymnastics skills — and swim each day. Bring a snack and a drink; participants must be able to swim without a flotation device. Sign up here. There’s also a daily drop-in option for this fun program.

And in the mornings, 9 – 11 am, there’s always our Adventure Gym for toddlers and kids up to 4 years old and their parents or guardians. Our gymnastics center is a great place during cold weather for some exercise and play time. The cost is only $10 per session and is open to all — invite your friends!

Stewie the Duck Makes a Splash at Mahackeno

Thursday, August 2, 2012 by:Family Y
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Our young Mahackeno campers were treated to a special visit from Stewie the Duck on Wednesday. Stewie and our other friends from the Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities (including Kim Leonard and her daughter Madison) gave a special and very lively reading of their “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim“  interactive book about water safety.

The fourth and final two-week session of Camp Mahackeno begins Aug. 6, and it’s followed by a Special Events Week that begins Aug. 20. Visit the Mahackeno page on our website for details, or contact Camp Director Meg George at mgeorge@westporty.org.

The Family Y is also partnering with the Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities to promote water safety through our Hafaday Summer Swim Lesson Program for kids ages 4 to 8.

During each weekly session of Hafaday, on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:15 pm, there is a special opportunity to meet Stewie the Duck and participate in water safety activities outside of the water. Plus, each child will receive a book, a sing-a-long CD and a Personal Floatation Device.

Because Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities is underwriting this event, the cost is only $20/child. Click on this link for more information about Hafaday and our special Stewie’s Splash! Hour. Weekly sessions run through the week of Aug. 20.

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