The YMCA of Greater New York is offering a variety of new summer programs for 2018, including the integration of health and wellness education into each camp activity.
This summer, the YMCA will be focusing on incorporating Social and Emotional (SEL) Character Development and the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Healthy Living curriculums into their camp activities, including the brand-new Teen Camp.
SEL is a process by which both children and adults learn and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage both their own and others’ emotions. This teaches them to set and achieve goals, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make good choices. Categories that are focused on include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision making, and relationship skills.
CATCH is a curriculum that was first developed in the late 1980s by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and is designed to prevent childhood obesity by educating kids on making healthy lifestyle choices. Using “Go, Slow, and Whoa” terminology, children will learn about and identify healthy foods as well as increase daily physical activity.
“We’re doing a much more than just regular camp activities,” says Lisa Garcia, senior director of Y afterschool and camp. “We’re preparing them for middle school, high school and college.”
For those in middle or high school, Teen Camp not only keeps teens engaged and active while they are off from school, but also helps to develop teamwork skills and to build self-confidence and responsibility through hands-on learning activities.
Other new camp programs being offered this year are progressive swim camps, science camps, and performing arts camps. Pre-registration for all programs is required.
Image: YMCA summer camps build lifelong skills.
Courtesy YMCA of Greater New York
