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Staycation O N T H E M O N T E R E Y B A Y 12 F A L L 2 0 1 9 S ummer camps around the coun- try have now shuttered for the season, including those offered by the YMCA. But the venerable institu- tion is just gearing up for fall. Established in London in 1844, and seven years later in the United States, the "Young Men's Christian Association" was organized for the purpose of Bible study and prayer in response to unhealthy social conditions toward the end of the Industrial Revolu- tion. e mission of the YMCA was "to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all." With a core value of caring, the organization sought to dem- onstrate a sincere concern for others, for their needs and well-being." It still does. Yet today, the YMCA, which serves a broad and diverse demographic of males and females, focuses on strengthening communities through youth develop- ment, healthy living, and social responsi- bility. "Our core values really haven't changed, but we are open and welcoming to people of all different faiths, ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and orientations," says Scott Tebo, director of marketing and commu- nications for the Central Coast YMCA. "is broader perspective is behind our name change from YMCA to 'e Y'." While Tebo wants the community to understand the welcoming posture of e Y, he also wants people to know about the diversity of enrichment activities available for the whole family. Central Coast YMCA, headquartered in Salinas, has five locations in three counties, including Hollister, Watsonville, Soledad, Salinas, and Monterey. All five locations offer programs geared for health and wellness, including their Youth Fit 4 Life program, designed to improve the health of children by promoting an ap- preciation for a healthy, physically active lifestyle into adulthood. "About one-third of American children are overweight or obese," Tebo reports. "Only four in 10 children under the age of 12 complete the recommended amount of physical activity, a number that drops to 1 in 10 among adolescents." rough Youth Fit 4 Life, children par- ticipate in high-energy physical activities, designed to promote strength, endurance, and flexibility, and supported by a short educational component where kids learn about healthy eating habits and setting goals. e Y also offers group exercise classes to enhance fitness, flexibility and mobility among senior citizens. But not every activity feels like a fitness regime. At the Salinas Y, which man- ages the Salinas Aquatics Center, and at the Watsonville Y, which has a pool, members are jumping and diving, taking swimming lessons, and swimming laps. e Salinas Y has a swim team, known as the "Steinbeck Sharks," and the Watson- ville Y is looking into starting a swim team this fall. e Salinas Y recently purchased a Witbit inflatable water park, which is "a little like a mini blow-up 'Ninja Warrior' game," Tebo said. "We're trying to sched- ule a family fun night this fall, which might be a 'flick n float,' where we project a movie outside while family and friends hang out in or around the pool." e Y also looks forward to the fall soccer season, followed by basketball in the winter. Athletics are, aer all, a claim to fame at e Y. In 1891, James Naismith designed the game of basketball while teaching at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massa- chusetts. In 1901, in support of a YMCA campaign "to teach every man and boy in North America to swim," George Corsan taught swimming at the Detroit YMCA, using "radical new methods: group swimming lessons and lessons on land." And, in 1950, YMCA volunteer Joe Sobek invented racquetball in Greenwich, CT, as a dynamic alternative to squash and handball. "We're even thinking about starting pickleball," says Tebo, referring to the paddle ball sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Using solid paddles made of wood or composite materials, players hit a perfo- rated ball similar to a Wiffle Ball, over a net. "Pickleball seems to appeal to, but is not limited to, seniors." And dodgeball is making a comeback at e Y, as a remix of that traditional kids' game, designed to benefit agility, balance, movement, and hand-eye coor- dination. Yet, rather than using that hard red-rubber ball that bruised the body and the mind, dodgeball now uses a so, gator- or rhino-skin, no-sting rubber ball, and fair-play rules apply. by Lisa Crawford Watson Celebrating 175 Years o f f a M i l y, f E l l o W S h i P a N d f u N a T T h E y M C a

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