The Portage Township YMCA's After School Care/Y-Care LAUNCH program began September 27. These children are from Aylesworth, Willowcreek, Central and Myers and our bussed from their school to the Y's Aylesworth Elementary site. They are very excited to be able to take advantage of the outdoors and incorporate exercise in their day. The YMCA also runs a second site at Jones Elementary School. The children at that location are from Jones, Crisman and Kyle.
The Portage Township YMCA has been actively involved in school age child care for over 20 years. Children can be dropped off at our secure, affordable childcare as early as 6:30 am and stay after school till 6:00 pm. For many working parents, this is a growing need. As Holly Cook, Y-Care parent says, "K-Care and Y-Care has given me the opportunity to work while my husband, who was laid off, could find time to explore the workforce."
In the last ten years, obesity rates have increased 60%. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the current generation of American children could be the first to live shorter lives than their parents. The Portage Township YMCA developed LAUNCH as a proactive approach to address the recent rise of childhood obesity.
LAUNCH will provide the opportunity for each child in our School Age Child Care program (Y-Care) to eat fresh fruits and vegetables for snack after school at least three days per week, to participate in active play at least one hour each day and to learn about health and nutrition so that they can learn to make positive choices for themselves in the future.
But the program doesn’t stop there – LAUNCH will offer each registered household the opportunity to participate in family-oriented fitness activities at the YMCA facility one night per week. LAUNCH will also offer each family the opportunity to attend educational, interactive workshops and presentations on different aspects of their health and wellness through our partnership with St. Mary Medical Center.
Funding and Partners LAUNCH is funded through grant dollars from the United Way of Porter County as well as in-kind donations through our partnerships with St. Mary Medical Center and other organizations in our community.
When The first cycle of LAUNCH will begin Tuesday, September 27, 2011 and end Friday, May 25, 2012. This program will take place daily for the youth and once per week for families.
Where Children at each Y-Care site will participate daily in one hour of interactive play. Family fitness opportunities will be hosted at the YMCA once per week. Health and nutrition opportunities will be held at the YMCA once per quarter.
Contact Please contact Amber Alexander, Senior Program Director, for more information regarding this program at amber@ymcaofportage.org or the phone number listed below. Additional information may also be found on our website.