|
BARDMOOR BRANCH YMCA E-NEWSLETTER
Message From the Executive Director
We all have our methods and techniques for relaxing after a hard day or week at work. I am a soccer player and a runner, but my most therapeutic hours are spent with a crazy chocolate Labrador dog called Gaia. Like most dogs he shows us unrelenting love, but he also has enough of a mischievous side to keep my wife and I on our toes.
On the face of it, having a three year old dog that wags it’s tale relentlessly and leaps around joyously whenever you arrive home can only be a good thing. His enthusiasm forces me to have fun walking him for thirty minutes morning and evening, and his desire to fetch means I have to throw a ball for another ten minutes morning and evening each day. How could a person not stay healthy with that kind of encouragement?
The stress comes from his obsession with shoes and socks – anything foot related. He has shredded and chewed many pairs, but his greatest feat came when he swallowed a visiting friends sock whole. Many hours and days of watching for the sock, or pieces of it to appear followed, with no result, until a full three months after the incident on a morning walk, he gagged and coughed quickly, and there was the complete sock lying at my feet, albeit a little discolored. Needless to say I washed the sock and sent it back to my friend as a memento. And now, I still enjoy my walks and ball throwing sessions, but also look at my dog with even more admiration because of his iron stomach.
Strong Kids Class for young Cancer Survivors
The Bardmoor YMCA and All Children’s Hospital have come to an agreement on a partnership to provide exercise options for young people who have recovered from Cancer. The YMCA will be holding fun and active Strong Kids classes at the Bardmoor facility for 10 to 13 year olds, and 14 to 17 year olds.
As we have mentioned before, there is overwhelming evidence that exercise has great benefits for individuals recovering from Cancer. For adolescents, who are already experiencing physiological and psychological changes as they grow into adulthood, the effects of cancer can be particularly troublesome, so we are very pleased to be pioneering this effort to benefit youngsters in our local community, and to provide data and anecdotal feedback to other YMCA’s around the country who may want to begin similar efforts. Our classes for the younger age group will involve regaining strength, flexibility and endurance through games and exercise activities in the Kids Zone and Group Exercise room, while the older age group will be working in the wellness center. For more information contact Jennifer Bingham at jbingham@suncoastymca.org.
With only 30 spots available for the Bardmoor YMCA World Cup Soccer Camps, and an exclusive Soccer Shirt and soccer ball available to those first 30 registrants, this is truly a case of the early soccer fan getting the goodies.
The camps will be held at the Ridgecrest YMCA, but run by Mike Roberts. Mike is an experienced English coach, so while children might struggle to understand his thick London accent, they will learn a lot from his demonstration skills. There are 2 separate weeks of camp available, beginning the week of June 22nd and July 27th. Look online or call the YMCA to register.
There are also opportunities for pre-schoolers and school agers to take part in our half day camps held at the Bardmoor Branch. Themed weeks include Community Hero Camp, GI Jen Junior Camp, Fairy Tale Camp, and Animal Adventure camp in partnership with Pet Supplies. For more information contact Ashley Carter at acarter@suncoastymca.org or 394 9622.
A Menu of Options for Volunteers
Our membership desk now has a menu of volunteer options available for those who are interested in helping. Opportunities range from the Kids Zone, to Membership, to Wellness to Administrative help; and also range from as little as one hour a week to twenty hours a week.
Bardmoor YMCA Volunteer Opportunities.
Kids Zone.
- Parents Day and Night’s Out – helping hands with kids and set up and clean up.
- Kids Zone AM and PM – check in kids, play games, clean and keep children safe.
- Cleaning kids zone facility and toys.
Membership and Wellness.
- Social facilitators – saying hello, conversing, making sure members are happy and comfortable.
- Phone Calls – calling new members and silver sneakers who have just joined to say welcome.
- Cleaning and dusting machines and facility.
- Phone surveys – calling branches to help with engagement improvements.
- New Member Surveys – collating and organizing statistics.
- Helping to develop social events and occasions for members.
Keep The Promise Campaign Update
Thanks to everyone who donated to our Keep The Promise Campaign for 2009. We have a goal of $28,000 and at the end of April had made it to the $20,000 mark, which was a great effort.
As you know our campaign dollars go to children, families and seniors who need help with membership or program opportunities to get and stay healthy with the YMCA. In this economic climate we have had a lot of people looking to the YMCA for support. From Families with a bread winner who has lost their job, to seniors on fixed incomes, to children who need healthy programs but have parents who cannot afford extra activities, to Cancer Survivors young and old looking for help with recovery, the YMCA is truly there for all. If you would like to help our community efforts, please click on the ways to give tab at the top of our main web page, or talk with a staff member at the Bardmoor Branch.
Sunday Studio Cycling opportunity, swim Lessons, parent’s night out beach party, a dog wash fundraiser, crafty art class and so much more.
Don’t forget!
We are starting a Special Sunday Studio Cycling class to focus in on specific cycling skills. The class is open to all, with a cost of $20 a month for YMCA members and $40 a month for community members. Contact Jill Lawrence at jlawrence@suncoastymca.org, or 394 9622 for more details.
Swim lessons at the Bardmoor Country Club begin June 8th for ages 6 months through 12 years old.
Parent’s Night Out has a beach party theme this month, to celebrate the end of school. Friday May 29th, 6 to 10 pm at the YMCA.
Pet Supplies Plus of Pinellas Park are helping us with a fun dog wash fundraiser, July 11th at their Pinellas Park location. They have a state of the art Dog Wash station, and we will have the volunteers to get covered in suds and hair for you! 50% of the proceeds go to the YMCA Financial Assistance program, as well as $5 of any additional $25 spent in the store.
Kristen Roles is beginning a Crafty Arts program at the YMCA. The class will consist of creation, construction and design projects, with each child leaving each week with a personally created gift or memento for friends or family. Ask the membership desk or Ashley Carter at acarter@suncoastymca.org for more information.
Movie Day at the YMCA, for adults and seniors, takes place in the large conference room, 2:30 on the last Thursday of every month. Free to all community members, with free popcorn and a big screen showing of popular and current films, contact Susan Lanzilotta for more details at slanzilotta@suncoastymca.org or 394 9622.
Welcome to the YMCA of the Suncoast!
In these tough economic times, we're all feeling the stresses and pressures that have emerged with our nation's recession. At the YMCA, we want to take the pressure off and provide an avenue for stress-relief! Health is wealth, and your personal wellness is priceless. If you are a current YMCA member who has been affected by unemployment or other financial hardships, we can help.
New in 2009! Enroll in our “Try My Y” Member Referral Program and earn YREWARDS! Receive a free t-shirt and your first 100 points in our rewards program. Share the Y with friends or family by passing along guest passes, and if your friend joins the Y, you get YREWARDS! Ask our staff how you can enroll in this exciting program today!
DownloadsPinellas County Before/After School Program Group Exercise Class Descriptions SilverSneakers® Fitness Program
|
LocationBardmoor Branch Hours of Operation:Mon-Thur 4:00 am-10:00 pm Holiday Schedule Easter Closed |
Bardmoor Branch YMCA Facilities
The Bardmoor Branch YMCA is located at the northeast corner of Starkey and Bryan Dairy roads in the Morton Plant Mease Outpatient Center. Opened in 1998, this 12,000 square-foot facility caters to the health and wellness needs of over 4,000 individual and family members. Stop in and visit us!
The Bardmoor YMCA features:
Strength Training Center 
- Cybex circuit
- Free weights
- Multiple benches
- Stretching area
Cardiovascular Center
- Treadmills
- Elliptical cross trainers
- Recumbent bicycles
- Upright bicycles
- Stairmasters
- ARC trainers
- Nu-Step (seated stepper)
And Much More!
- Aerobics studio
- Kid’s Zone
- Exercise classes
- Member activity room
- Teen and youth programs
- Senior programs
- Locker rooms with showers
Home | Events | Ways to give | Join the YMCA | Translate
