YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Kids Get Healthier Through Techreation
It can be a challenge to help kids get enough daily physical activity, but a new program is showing that media and technology don’t have to be obstacles to instilling healthy lifestyles from an early age. In fact, they can actually be great tools in the ongoing effort by families and communities to help kids eat well and play often.
Metrocenter YMCA’s new Techreation course introduces kids entering grades 2-6 to digital media skills and healthy living information. Children are empowered to create images, video and messages that help them use their unique voices to communicate the importance of physical activity. They also learn to collaborate on group projects.
Techreation was created by staff of the Metrocenter Y’s YTECH program. YTECH’s mission is to advance digital inclusion and youth community engagement by providing access to technology, relevant, skills-based curriculum and training and opportunities to connect, collaborate and take action. YTECH works closely with local schools and partner organizations not only to increase access to technology, but also to equip youth to engage in social issues that matter to them, working together to raise awareness and motivate action.
YTECH is excited to announce plans for Techreation and similar courses this summer at the following Ys.
July: Bellevue Family Y, week of July 9; Northshore Y, week of July 16
August: Northshore Y, week of August 6; Bellevue Family Y, week of August 13, Dale Turner Family Y, week of August 20
To reserve your child's spot for Techreation Summer 2012 classes, contact one of the YMCAs listed above.
HEALTHY LIVING
Living Tobacco-free Gains Momentum in Auburn
Through a generous grant from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, the Auburn Valley YMCA’s Living Tobacco-free Program provides free services to residents of Auburn and surrounding communities, including year-round weekly support groups, workshops, provider education and youth tobacco prevention. Since 2010 the Auburn Valley Y has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Auburn Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in this ongoing campaign. On December 1, the Auburn Valley Y and ARMC hosted Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, internationally acclaimed whistle-blower, ex-tobacco industry insider, educator and advocate. He spoke at three events: an all-school assembly at Rainier Middle School, a Tobacco 101 training for youth workers and a Community Leaders Dinner at ARMC. The Y also co-sponsored the Tobacco-free Alliance of Pierce County Annual Summit featuring Dr. Wigand. The events were covered by Q13 Fox News, Pierce County TV, TV France and the Auburn Reporter.
“Youth are targeted by the tobacco industry as their next lifetime consumers. Tobacco is the only product legally sold in the U.S. that, when used as intended, kills. One out of three children who try tobacco today will die from it,” said Dr. Wigand. “The best cessation treatment is preventing the use of the first tobacco product; this is 100% effective and comes from educating our children on how the industry targets them.”
Along with continuing current programming in 2012, the Y will launch a pilot program at Rainier Middle School integrating tobacco prevention education for students, staff and parents through tobacco-free youth leadership activities.
To learn how to bring these programs to your community, contact Heidi Henson, hhenson@seattleymca.org or 253.223.7538.
To view a news clip of Dr. Wigand’s speech, click here.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
YMCA Earth Service Corps Grows LeadersWhen it comes to caring for the Earth and convincing others to do the same, there’s power in numbers. And when that power takes root from a young age, all the better.
Ken Abraham is a science teacher at Pine Lake Middle School and the advisor for the school’s YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC) group. He took on the role five years ago when a student who had learned about this Y program asked if he would lead a club. What keeps him at it? Seeing the students get motivated and united in their work toward a common purpose – taking care of the Earth.
Students grow, learn and get their hands dirty on this team! Activities include planting, recycling bottle caps, ripping out invasive species, voting on their favorite piece of litter found that day or putting together an educational presentation for the student body. Field trips allow the students to explore and experience local resources such as the kokanee salmon and the Cedar River Watershed.
“I know that I can help change the world just by doing baby steps, and the minute I stepped into this class I could tell this was my ticket to doing so,” says Jackie O’Hara, Pine Lake YESC participant. “Mr. Abraham shows us how everything we do can either help or harm our planet.”
“Growing up on a farm in northern Ohio, the fields and woods were my playground,” says Ken. “Ever since then, the outdoors has been my passion. It pleases me that it’s shared by the Y, and it makes me proud to see it shared by students. I do what I do for them and their future.”
To learn more or volunteer, email yesc@seattleymca.org.
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