YMCA Healthy Kids Day 2009
On Saturday, April 18, the Salem Family YMCA invites the community to participate in YMCA Healthy Kids® Day, the nation's largest health day for children and families. YMCA Healthy Kids Day includes fun, engaging and creative activities for children and families and promotes yearlong wellness and healthy living. YMCA Healthy Kids Day events are free and open to all.
"As families struggle to balance life's daily demands and new challenges during the economic downturn, it is important that we reach out and invite the community to have some fun and tap into community resources" says Karma Krause, Membership & Marketing Director. "Through this event, the Salem Family YMCA and our partners give our neighbors the opportunity to take their minds off daily stresses, and instead focus on sustainable healthy lifestyle changes together, as a family."
This year, our partners offering activities and demonstrations include:
- Skateboard demonstrations by Exit Real World
- Fire truck and Salem Fire Department crew
- Marion County Sheriff car
- Salem-Keizer Volcanoes pitch timer
- Town & Country Bowl "mini-lane"
- Awesome 3000 registration and information
- Oregon Department of Forestry information about being safe in forests
- Sodexho USA nutrition information and education
- Easter Seals Children's Therapy Guild information and give-aways
- Farmer's Insurance Digital ID for kids and Amber Alert information
- Salem-Keizer Head Start information
- Salem-Keizer Schools Safety Town and Cautious Kids program information
- Spinnaker Pediatric Dentistry information
- Play area with Wii games and Dance Dance Revolution
- Demonstrations of Kid Zumba, Martial Arts, Gymnastics, YMCA Camps and Dance
- Interactive activities and demonstrations from AmeriCorps members
- Healthy food samples provided by Organic Fresh Fingers, EZ Orchards, Jamba Juice and others
A highlight of the event will be the Mascot Dances, held periodically in the gym. Kids and mascots like the Volcanoes' Crater and the Awesome 3000's Geo will move and shake to kid favorite songs and dances.
"Saturday the 18th is going to be a great day to be in downtown Salem", says Krause. "Besides Healthy Kids Day, there are other events families may want to take advantage of and make it a full day outing in downtown. We recommend making the short walk from the Y to the Salem Hospital to see the new critical care tower during their open house". Also, on the 18th, the City of Salem is holding it's Grand Opening for the Union Street Railroad Bridge near A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village, and Babies, Bellies & Beyond event will be held at Salem First Baptist Church.
YMCA Healthy Kids Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the YMCA, located at 685 Court Street NE.
The event is made possible by this year's sponsor, Salem Hospital.
The Salem Family YMCA has been strengthening the fabric of the Salem community for over 100 years through programs that build strong kids, strong families, strong communities. For more information about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, call the Salem Family YMCA at (503) 581-9622
