Growing with Experience

Volunteering at a migrant school in Suzhou, China

New experiences can be a formidable obstacle; especially for young children. Young children have less prior knowledge on which to draw information from. They may have difficulty predicting an outcome and that can result in a perceived, or very real, loss of control. The inability to control or influence a situation can be frightening for a person at any age; but imagine a child who lacks the beneficial assurance of "surviving" similar circumstances in the past. Every first swim class, first ride on the bus, or first new friend can be a dramatic adventure into the unknown. I'm sure as parents you're much more qualified and prepared to deal with these unpredictable situations than I am. However, as a provider of many of these new experiences for children in Kazakhstan, China, and the Middletown YMCA I feel I can be a qualified advocate for providing new experiences for children.

Some of my students in Baltabai, Kazakhstan

Everyone develops differently. Some children are comfortable in new situations, while others take time to adjust. However your child develops, there are theories of cognitive development that lend some insight into the process influencing a child's behavior. Jean Piaget's stage theory (1932) implies there are four stages of development in children. You can take a look at the four stages in this simple chart. Since 1932, criticisms of this theory included the rather streamlined focus of overall development. This is known as "domain general", which means learning is developed consistently over all the domains, or intelligences. There is a belief that these domains develop independently of each other and everyone develops these intelligences uniquely. This theory has also been criticized as of late, as do things amongst progression of technology and more information.

Visiting some of the Horseback Campers

Although the Stage Theory has been debated, Piaget's thoughts on how children process and internalize outside stimulus (assimilation and accommodation) are still utilized. Assimilation describes a situation in which a person receives new information and inserts it into previously identified knowledge (schema). This new information might not be consistent with reality because it is made to fit into the current knowledge of the child. This can be observed when a young child learns the word for dog. That child might call all animals dogs because his/her current schema does not differentiate between specific animals. Accommodation is the process of adjusting the current schema appropriately based on new external information. Using the prior example: the child now recognizes that the duck in front of him/her has very different characteristics than a dog and thus, cannot be called a dog. Ideally, both processes are working concurrently. Children are first accommodating new information using their senses, and then assimilating this new information into their current knowledge.

Most of us know that new experiences are beneficial to child development. Understanding the processes involved in this growth are essential in creating appropriate opportunities for your child to develop. It is difficult to watch a person struggle to accommodate new information and then discover how to assimilate that information into their existing perceptions. How can we set up children to succeed in these new environments? Children should be encouraged to challenge themselves, but success should be achievable. They should be comfortable in their environment and encouraged to explore and discover for themselves. They should be given the necessary tools to start and create new relationships; whether being encouraged to give high fives or sharing similar interests in group activities.

Friends, teachers, parents, and coaches all offer different learning perspectives. As a youth sports instructor and an assistant camp director at YMCA Camp Ingersoll I see relationships form and children develop every day. Many campers are experiencing basketball, hockey, archery, ropes, the pond, and camp crafts for the very first time. At the YMCA, we intentionally create peer interaction and challenging but achievable goals for our participants. We work to provide a fun and inviting atmosphere children can become more comfortable in every day. We are also offering some brand new programs this Spring, which can help to prepare you child for camp, school, or just plan life. Visit the Middlesex YMCA's website to learn more about our programs.

Middlesex Y Recieves Community Impact Award

Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.
~ Mahatma Gandhi

 The Middlesex Y is honored to accept the 2013 Community Impact Award from the Middlesex United Way. As a charity partner, we support the efforts of the United Way to make a positive and lasting impact on our community. The Y’s commitment to preparing children for their educational career is completely in sync with United Way’s focus on education and increasing children’s readiness to learn by school entry.

In the words of the United Way, “Learning starts long before school does, and the early years of childhood development are critical.” These shared values and goals strengthen our partnership and leverage the United Way’s investment into Y programs in order to produce significant, positive outcomes to prepare our children for their educational future. Our partnership is successful and thriving as it is based on mutual trust and shared beliefs.

 This is a great example of strong partnership. If it wasn’t for the willingness of Pat Charles, Jon Romeo, and Jeff R. Fournier, to partner with us and provide their space, we wouldn’t have been able to meet the additional needs of the low-income families in the area. In order to offer high quality early childhood education programs, you have to have dedicated, high quality staff. Karin James and her team work hard to prepare their students for lifelong academic success.

 We thank the Middlesex United Way for encouraging our efforts to prepare children from all walks of life so they can ultimately become independent, successful and productive.  Today more than ever we need our children to be prepared for rigorous academic standards even at very young ages. The Y’s programs help children and parents to make a smooth transition so that kids can move forward with confidence and ease. In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

 

 

-Michele Rulnick, President and CEO, Middlesex YMCA

 

 

 

The Value of Adult Role Models

I grew up with two brothers and a sister. Saturdays were spent in a mini-van traversing across Middlesex County from soccer practice, baseball games, and dance classes. In hindsight, it's no small feat that my parents could navigate the chaotic landscape of four eager and outgoing children. They could have simply locked the door and forced us to fend for ourselves forgoing expensive gas stops, temper tantrums, and who knows what else we put them through.

However, they persevered through all the headaches because they saw the value in these experiences. They saw us laugh with new friends. They heard us shout triumphantly when we mastered a new skill. They acknowledged the relationships we built with our coaches and instructors as essential to our growth and development as part of a community.

I am forever grateful for these childhood experiences my parents were willing to provide me. But, to be honest, I remember very little of the lessons or practices themselves. What I do remember are my coaches. I remember how cool they were. I remember  trying my hardest to impress them in order to get the "good job" or "high five". It wasn't a chore to get me to those practices or lessons. I waited eagerly for Saturday and my coaches were the catalyst behind that desire.

These non-parental adult role models occupy a large portion of my childhood memories. They have positively influenced my life by volunteering time, reinforcing positive values, and showing me examples of what it means to be part of my community.  The "Journal of Extension" talks about how "Youth have a tendency to listen more closely to another adult other than their parent. They even accept advice and accept challenges by non-parental adults".

At the Middlesex YMCA our mission drives our responsibility to provide adult role models for our community. Our Youth Mentors, Kids Korner Staff, Camp Counselors, and Youth Sports Coaches all strive to provide an atmosphere of inclusion and growth for our participants. We emphasize the four character traits of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility while creating age and developmentally appropriate activities for all of our children. We are aware of our influence on the youth of our community and are always excited for the opportunity to create lasting memories with our participants.

New memories will be made at our Winter 2 Session of youth sports starting on February 2nd. Click here for our Winter Program Guide.

If you are interested in reading more about the importance of non-parental adult role models please visit this article on the Journal of Extension's website.

Parental Involvement Awards Earned by Two with "Y" Ties

Two people in our very own Y family have earned the honor of receiving the 2013 Parental Involvement Recognition Awards presented by the State Education Resource Center, CT Parent Information and Resource Center and the Connecticut Commission on Children.

Parents who receive the Parental Involvement Recognition Award are nominated for active involvement in the their children's school or community; support of their local school and contributions to high-quality education for all children; evidence of their ability to make a difference in their local school or community; and dedication and advocacy to ensure equity for all parents and their children.

This past November, Brian Kaskel and Marilyn Dunkley both made the trip to the State Capitol along with their families, nominating teachers and principals from the schools their children attend to receive this special award. Brian has children who attend our Kids' Korner after school programs and Marilyn is a cook for our preschool program at the YMCA. We applaud their efforts within their children's schools and our community. We look forward to seeing more of their great work in the future!

Brian Kaskel

Marilyn Dunkley

The Y Welcomes Youth Sports Coach, Ben Silliman

                The Middlesex Y’s youth sports program has been going strong for the past 13 years.  This pattern is sure to continue with the welcoming of our new youth sports coach, Ben Silliman. Ben earned his degree in Health and Physical Education from Springfield College and undertook internships in phys. ed. at Zanetti Montessori School in Springfield and Enrico Fermi High School formerly of Enfield.  Coach Ben has also ventured abroad to further his experience working with kids. During his time in Kazakhstan, Ben taught English to children in Kindergarten up to 18 years of age. This included helping the younger kids write to pen pals in English as well as facilitating English social clubs for the older kids. Ben also utilized his knowledge of physical education, in Kazakhstan, with his leadership at a soccer camp where he had kids practice drills and then hold discussions about their game play in English. Ben also spent time living in China, where he taught English to kids as young as two. Ben talks about his experiences,

                “Children in other parts of the world are just like kids in the United states. They want to have fun and be able to accomplish tasks in a fun way. It’s all about helping them achieve goals and outcomes while fostering the excitement that every parent wants to see in their child.” Ben mentions the many benefits of youth sports including confidence bolstering and advancement of interpersonal skills. Ben points out,

“Building relationships can be hard for some kids, especially without a common interest.” Not only does the Y’s youth sports program provide that common interest for kids to come together around, it also teaches certain skills that allow them to socialize easier and meet new friends. Ben says that he is a big high-five guy. He gives the kids high-fives of reassurance but also encourages them to give each other high-fives.

“Interaction between the kids is just as important as my interaction with them. That seemingly insignificant moment of a high-five can help form a connection between kids.”

                Ben is not new to the Y. He has been a part of the Middlesex Y’s affiliated Camp Ingersoll in Portland for 13 years serving as a lifeguard, swim instructor, boating director, and specialty camp coordinator. As Assistant Youth and Camp Director, Ben supervised and developed curriculum for all of the specialty camps at Ingersoll including Soccer, Mega Sports, Mega Fort Building, Dance, and Fishing.   Ben says that he really focused in on designing programs around sequential learning, using a progressive curriculum that introduced new skills at regular intervals. Ben also worked with rental groups at YMCA Camp Ingersoll, facilitating many ice breakers as well as team building activities on the camp’s ropes course.

                Youth Sports at the Middlesex Y is a great program for building your child’s confidence and social skills and of course, is a fun way for your child to be active! There are two, five-week sessions of youth sports this winter. The first is already underway and ends on February 1^st, but you can still sign your child up and receive a discounted admission cost. This session’s sports are, Parent and Me Soccer, for age 3 years-old, Pee Wee Soccer, for ages 4 and 5, and Pee Wee Kickball, for ages 4 and 5. The second round starts February 2^nd and runs through March 8^th and includes, Parent and Me Basketball, for ages 3 years, Pee Wee Floor Hockey, ages 4 and 5 years, and the Sports Spectacular, for ages 5 and 6 years, which includes a variety of sports such as T-ball, soccer, basketball, hockey, and more.

                To register today or for more info, contact Ben Silliman at 860-343-6239 or bsilliman@midymca.org, or stop by the Y at 99 Union St. in Middletown. Also, check us out on Facebook and at midymca.org.

 

YMCA Macdonough Preschool Students Receive SURFS Awards

Each month, members of the Macdonough School learning community gather at the SURFS Up Assembly. These assemblies allow students, teachers and community partners to sit back and reflect on the wonderful things that are happening in the classrooms of the school.

SURFS behavior is expected by all students at Macdonough. SURFS stands for:

S=Self-Responsibility

U=Understanding

R=Respect

F=Fairness

S=Safety

One of the very special parts of the day is the awarding of the SURFS winners for the month. Children who receive the award are called up on stage and presented a certificate by their teacher for their great behavior. The school recognizes that good behavior starts at home, so the families of the children are also invited on stage. I was so happy to see our very own YMCA preschool students Taliah Jackson and Darelle McFadden receive their very first SURFS awards today! We are so proud of their hard work and thank them for being such great representatives of the YMCA at Macdonough School. Keep up the great work!

 

Cherish the Past; Embrace the Future

This morning some 40 of us gathered at Camp Ingersoll in Portland to pay our respects to Major Gary R. Grant, USMC. Gary’s military service and personal sacrifice were in our hearts and minds as we dedicated the camp’s flagpole in his honor. Together with friends, veterans, active duty soldiers, Middlesex YMCA staff and board, and an assortment of children of all ages, the family read aloud a touching note from Gary’s daughter Caryn who was only 2 years old when she lost her father.

Her memories of the worn tree that served as the old camp flagpole where her father’s plaque was kept were mingled with pleasant remembrances of the sights and sounds of camp. She and her brothers David and Michael found safety and solace at Camp Ingersoll when their family was reeling from the sudden loss.

We were honored to have retired and active military with us for this morning’s dedication. Guests tramped up a slight hill to the amphitheater in the crisp November morning to bear tribute to Gary’s successful efforts to save a team of stranded Marines on a mountain in Viet Nam. The sun shone brightly and we listened and laughed and wiped our tears when the flag was raised and Taps was played.

The children waited patiently for the ceremony to conclude and we made our way to the pavilion for hot cider and blueberry buckle cake. The flagpole stands at the new amphitheater where the next generation of camp kids will put on skits, try on new skills and sit under the stars to make memories that will last as long as they do. Today we cherished our past and remembered our loved ones and fallen heroes. And today we embraced the future where kids will grow and dream and play.

Judy Hall, DSW

Director of Development

Middlesex YMCA

Partnership

If we are together nothing is impossible. If we are divided all will fail. Winston Churchill

Accomplishing great things rarely happens by the efforts of just one person; and often we are amazed at what a group of people can get done. Last Friday, the Middlesex YMCA gathered with our Business Partners for a lunch to celebrate the many positive outcomes that have resulted from our partnership and to hear about where the Y is headed from new CEO Michele Rulnick.

Thanks to the generosity of our Business Partners, we have provided numerous scholarships for family memberships at the Y, for hundreds of swim lessons, and for a special new program at Camp Ingersoll called My Time. My Time provides two fully-paid camp sessions to children with a family member diagnosed with cancer. This past summer, 9 kids took part in the first-ever launch of My Time and it was a resounding success. Giving kids the time and space just to be kids – does it get any better than that? The program will be expanded this summer to provide more kids with the joys of camp and to give parents a helping hand with camp tuition while they cope with the effects of cancer on the family.

Our business partners heard from Michele that we are poised to chart a path for our future this year. With continuing leadership from Y Board Chair Rich Carella, the board will examine all of the possibilities to improve our physical plant so we can attract new members and provide our popular programs and services in an environment best suited to all of our members’ needs.

We’re more than a gym, a pool and a fitness center. We’re a cause and we’re part of the fabric of the community.  Have you been to the Y lately? Come and visit. And be our partner. Together, we will accomplish great things for many kids and families. Be part of a vibrant organization that is making a difference every day.

Thank you, to our 2013 Business Partners!

Judy Hall, Director of Development

Middlesex YMCA

L-R:  Mary Ann Lentz, Liberty Bank; Chandler Howard, Liberty Bank; Kristen Roberts, Comcast; Sue Dionne, Middlesex YMCA; Pat Custy, A & A Office Systems; Michele Rulnick, Middlesex YMCA; Pat Walsh, May Bonee & Walsh; Sean McCann, Best Cleaners; Rich Carella, Chairman of the Middlesex YMCA Board; Dave Shulman & Ray Bourret, Suburban Stationers; Robert Mosca, Board member Middlesex YMCA; and Dan Bonelli, Comcast.

goPINK Project and the Y...A Winning Combination!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is an unfortunate reality that almost all of us know someone who has been diagnosed with this disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2013, 232,340 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the United States and approximately 39,620 women will die from this disease. To fight this disease and find a cure, organizations depend on the generosity of donors and grant funding to perform their research.

The Y will be a participating business in the 4th Annual goPINK Project. EG Salon co-owners Georgi Marino and Ellie Gagnon came up with the idea to offer their clients pink hair streaks for a $20 during the month of October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All the money was then donated to the Middlesex Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center. This center provides high quality breast cancer services to women in our community. This project is in its fourth year and they expect it to be the biggest year yet with a record number of participating business throughout the community.

We will be welcoming staff from EG Salon to apply pink hair extensions at the Y. For a $20 donation, you can get an awesome pink hair extension and support a great cause. 100% of all donations go to support programs of the Middlesex Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center. Salon staff will be at the Y to apply extensions on the following dates/times:

Monday, October 7th from 11:00 am-1:00 pm

Saturday, October 12th from 8:00 am-12:00 pm

Wednesday, October 16th from 5:45 pm-8:45 pm

Gather your friends and head down to the Y! All are welcome. If you would like to participate, please stop by the front desk and sign up for a time slot. Drop ins are also welcome.

For more information about the goPINK Project, please click here to visit their website.

For more information about the Middlesex Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center, please click here.

We hope to see you at the Y. Please consider donating in honor of someone currently living with the disease, in memory of someone who has lost their battle with the disease or in honor of a survivor!

From Camp to Classroom

It has been just over a week since YMCA Camp Ingersoll and Summer Enrichment have come to a close. The camp season filled me with new hope, a renewed energy, and an overwhelming sense that the good we did during the summer months will carry on through this new school year as we pass the torch to our Before and After School Professionals and teachers. It is my hope that we remember we have the power to shape the life of every young person we meet. For me, Dr. Haim Ginott expressed it best; “as a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized”. While Dr. Ginott refers to the “teacher”, it is imperative that we do not limit this word and remove ourselves from it. We each have in ourselves the power to be great teachers. We all have the ability to shape a child’s life, and it is essential that we build them up, not knock them down. Going into this new school year, I hope, with great optimism, that we can strive to send our students “home in the afternoon liking himself just a little better than when he came in the morning”.

Upcoming YMCA Facility Improvement Schedule

We are just one week away from the beginning of our facility improvements that will impact the usage of certain areas of the Y. Some of these projects are weather permitting so the dates of completion may vary slightly. If that occurs, we will notify our members. Please feel free to speak to a Y staff if you have any specific questions. Thank you for your understanding during this time.

Both Pools Closed

Friday, August 16 at 2:00 PM

Reopens: Tuesday, September 3 (5:15 am)

See the Front Desk for a list of local Ys that you can visit.

Basketball Court Closed

Monday, August 19

Reopens: Monday, August 26

Humidity effects the curing process, so date and time is subject to change.

Front Entrance of the Y Closed

Monday, August 19

Reopens: Friday, August 30

During this time you can access the Y using the Annex (handicapped entrance) on the Union Street side of the building or the ramp entrance on the Crescent Street side of the building .

Ladies Fitness Locker Room Showers Closed

Friday, August 23

Reopens: Monday, August 26

You will still have access to the locker room, just not the showers. Women will have exclusive use of Family Locker Room for showering during this time.

Fitness Plus Men's Showers & Whirlpool Area Closed

Monday, August 26

Reopens: Tuesday, September 3

Men can access the fit plus locker room but not the shower area. Male fit plus members can use the General Facility Men's Locker Room Showers until this project is complete.

Repairs to the Parking Lot

Wednesday, August 28-Friday, August 30

Full Usage: Saturday, August 31

We will be re-coating and sealing our parking lot during the time frame above. During this time you will have use of half of the parking lot at time while the other half is being worked on. Please use caution when
driving around the lot. Parking spaces will be limited and the lot may be full. This project is weather permitting.

Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive

Join us this weekend as we team up with Walmart and Durham School Services to provide children and families in need with a fresh start to the school year. We will be collecting donations of new school supplies for local school children.

Come see us Saturday, August 10th and Sunday, August 11th from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at Walmart in Cromwell. For more information, please click here.

Can't make it down this weekend? Don't worry. We will be collecting supplies from Monday, August 12th to Friday, August 16th at the Y in Middletown. Simply drop your donated supplies off at the front desk.

Thanks for donating and we hope to see you there!

One of our members dropping donated supplies off at the Y!

Y staff member Kevin Devery braves the rain on Friday to collect supplies!