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Natural Awakenings South Central Pennsylvania

The YMCA West Shore Branch Hosts Healthy Kids Day

Mar 29, 2014 11:59PM ● By Nancy Somera

Families are invited to be guests for the day at the annual free Healthy Kids Day event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 27, at the YMCA West Shore Branch. A variety of fun activities are planned for kids from ages 3 to 12, including a moon bounce, face painting, crafts, open swim and gymnastics open play. The first 100 children to attend receive a free T-shirt.

Popular and versatile local disc jockey Heidi Linn will be combining music with announcements throughout the day, inviting guests to dance and enjoy demonstrations of kickboxing set to music. A variety of wellness topics and free health screenings will be available, including a dietician and free hearing tests, as well as a free fingerprinting service from New York Life.

“This is a fun day for our community to visit health vendors, sample some of the Y’s offerings and learn more about the programs we offer,” says Jason Snyder, wellness and marketing director for the YMCA West Shore Branch. “Families will also find information on summer and sports camps that begin in June,” he says.

Healthy Kids Day is just one event by which the Harrisburg YMCA strengthens the community. Currently in the final month of its annual campaign, the four Harrisburg branches are working together to raise $605,000 to be able to deliver programs that focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, while providing financial assistance to any community member that may need it. Last year, the Harrisburg YMCA gave direct assistance to 1,870 people, totaling $291,000, and nearly $1.5 million in total combined direct and indirect assistance.

Snyder explains the importance of the campaign. “Membership dues pay only for the operation of facility and programs,” he says. “As a nonprofit, we rely on the annual campaign to generate funds to subsidize programs so they are affordable and available to everyone in our community.”

The programs and services funded by the campaign benefit children and families in many ways, such as after-school care, summer day camp, swim lessons, youth sports, mentoring and many other community-building activities. Scholarships for memberships and programs are available for individuals or families that apply and qualify. The campaign runs through the end of April and donations are accepted in person or online.


Location: 410 Fallowfield Rd., Camp Hill. For more information, call 717-737-9622 or visit YMCAHarrisburg.org.