Successful Blood Drive!

Thank you to everyone who donated blood this past Monday, July 26. The Puget Sound Blood Center parked their mobile bus in the Skagit Valley Family YMCA parking lot and we had a great turnout. We had 27 people come out and donate blood in about 6 hours, which is the 2nd highest turnout we've had!

The supply is low of all types of blood all around the Puget Sound area, so thank you to everyone who stopped by and made a difference! Take the next opportunity to donate blood if you can, whether it's at the Y or not. Give life, Give blood!

Newsletters Are Here!

Look for the latest edition of the Skagit Valley Family YMCA newsletter in your mailbox, at the YMCA, and (soon) on the web site, http://www.skagitymca.org/. There are some really great messages about how the Y makes a difference in the lives of people in our community! The newsletter shows how the Y strengthens community with Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.

Look for the article about how you have made a difference with your Step-Up Campaign contribution. Together, we raised a record amount this year! Thank you for investing in your community!

You will also see an article about Membership Director Cindy Lindquist who is celebrating her 30th year with the Skagit Valley Family YMCA! Her hard work and dedication has made a big difference in Skagit Valley over the years, so the next time you are at the Y, stop by and say "Thank you!"

Thank you Cindy!

New Calendar!

Do you have a tough time keeping track of all the wonderful offerings at the Skagit Valley Family YMCA? Check out the new association-wide event calendar on our web site!

The calendar has registration opening/closing dates for sports, dates for swim lessons, child care camp dates, special events, and more! If you are trying to figure out what session of swim lessons your child can participate in without interfering with soccer, than our new calendar is the place to go. Forgot when the Fall facility hours go into affect? It's all there on the calendar!

We will be constantly updating the calendar as dates get added or changed, but be sure to check the program schedules/fliers before making plans because all information is subject to change.

Changes Are Underway!

We are busily, but gradually starting to make changes that incorporate the new logo and name of the Y! If you receive our weekly emails, you'll notice our new banner with the logo and focus points. Rachel Willet with Skagit Bold Solutions did a fantastic job working on the new banner to make sure it met all the national YMCA graphic standards and also looks awesome! We all love it!

Those of you who visit the Fulton Street building and Sports Center will soon see our "Did You Know..." boards with the new logo and focus points. Every time you walk in you will see a quick fact about the Skagit Valley Family YMCA that you probably didn't know. For example, did you know that about 1,500 kids learned to swim at the Skagit Valley Family YMCA last year?! Did you know that the Skagit YMCA employs 28 full-time staff and 130 part-time staff? We don't want to give away all our fun facts, but look for them and cool pictures in a few days!

New Logo, New Name, Same Great Y!

The National YMCA kicked off the rebranding effort yesterday that affects all YMCAs! The YMCA will officially be known as "the Y" (because that's what people call us, so now we'll start calling ourselves that) and the logo been changed (see left)!

The Y offers programs that strengthens community and the hope is that with this rebranding, people will see what Y programs are all about: For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, and For Social Responsibility.

We are changing the way we talk about ourselves so people better understand the benefits of engaging in the Y; we are not just a gym, weight room, pool, or sports facility. The Y is where kids come to learn character and values while learning to swim or score in a sporting event, where adults gain self-esteem as they get healthier, where older adults get together for a good time, and where families stay together as they participate in family programs.

The Y did some research and discovered that while nearly 100% of Americans recognized the YMCA name and had good feelings about it, very few knew what we actually stood for. The rebranding is an effort to clarify our cause, programs, and voice! Visit the Skagit Y Facebook page to see a great video about why these changes are being made. The FB page and this blog will continually be updated as all Ys, including your own Skagit Y, go through the rebranding process.

YMCA Closed on Sundays

The YMCA will be closed on Sundays July 4-Oct. 3. Facility hours have also changed to our summer hours. Go to the web site, www.skagitymca.org, to see our operating hours, holiday schedule, and more.

YMCA Celebrates 125 Years of Camping!

Did you know the YMCA had a huge role in the 'invention' of camping? Camping officially began at the YMCA in 1885 when a volunteer named Sumner Dudley lined up a few tents at Orange Lake in New York. With the tents, flag pole, and camp fired Dudley hoped to teach seven teenagers character and values. That was the first continuously used camp.

Today, YMCA camps all over the nation serve 800,000(!) campers each summer, which includes the Skagit Valley Family YMCA's Camp Anderson and Y's Kids Day Camp. In fact, this year is the 50th Anniversary of YMCA Camp Anderson!

"Camp Anderson is proud to be a part of the long-standing tradition of camping at the YMCA," said Marty Reese, Camp Anderson Director. "The YMCA has shaped camping into what it is today, a place where youth can grow close with nature, develop outstanding character values, learn life skills, and create lasting friendships."

Did you or your children ever go to Camp Anderson or any YMCA camp? If so, tell us your stories and memories by posting a comment or email them to Marketing Director Vanessa Harrington at v.harrington@skagitymca.org.