YMCA Completes Youth Center Renovation
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
The Kosciusko Community YMCA recently completed the renovation of the facility's youth center.
The renovations, which were funded by a grant from the Dekko Foundation, included installing a new flooring, repairing and painting the ceiling, putting in new lighting fixtures, painting the walls and adding new and updated equipment.[[In-content Ad]]The project started with an idea last spring. Teresa Dittmer decided the youth center was a logical next step in the renovation of the YMCA facilities since the front area and babysitting area already were updated.
Dittmer then wrote a grant proposal to the Dekko Foundation to fund the project. Eventually, the foundation approved a grant for $37,000 and the project started in mid-November.
As part of the grant, children who used the center had to earn the different parts of the project by displaying the core values of the YMCA. If a young person was observed by YMCA staff demonstrating one of the values, a block was added to a progress poster on the wall. Once all the blocks on a level were filled, that part of the remodeling project was added to the center.
Brightly colored walls and floors highlight a new pool table and air hockey table, three pieces of exercise equipment specifically for children, a new 52-inch plasma television, a Wii video game system and four new computers with Internet access.
Children over the age of 6 can go to the center while their parents are using other facilities at the YMCA or after school or during special events. At the center, they can get help with homework, play board or activity-based video games and use computers.
Activity-based games at the center include Wii sports games and Dance Dance Revolution as well as the Trazer game system. The Trazer system uses a sensor strapped on the students body to detect motions commanded by the game.
The exercise equipment is designed specifically for children. A semi-recumbent bicycle, elliptical machine and treadmill are available to young people using the YMCA facilities.
Banners representing the four core values of the YMCA - Responsibility, Respect, Honesty and Caring - are displayed prominently around the center, which is fitting, since the children had to display them to earn everything in the center.
The youth center is open whenever the YMCA is open. It is supervised from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Any child under the age of 10 must be signed in and out of the Youth Center by an adult.
The center is free for the use of members. Non-members can purchase a one-day pass for $5. Passes for non-members visiting with a member are $2.50.
Reservations can be made to rent the facility for special events. For private parties, the cost for the center is $50 per hour. To rent the facility when other children can come in and out, the cost is $25. The center is staffed for both private and semi-private parties.
Brochures about the center are available at the YMCA. For more information about the center, contact Dittmer at 574-267-9622.
The Kosciusko Community YMCA recently completed the renovation of the facility's youth center.
The renovations, which were funded by a grant from the Dekko Foundation, included installing a new flooring, repairing and painting the ceiling, putting in new lighting fixtures, painting the walls and adding new and updated equipment.[[In-content Ad]]The project started with an idea last spring. Teresa Dittmer decided the youth center was a logical next step in the renovation of the YMCA facilities since the front area and babysitting area already were updated.
Dittmer then wrote a grant proposal to the Dekko Foundation to fund the project. Eventually, the foundation approved a grant for $37,000 and the project started in mid-November.
As part of the grant, children who used the center had to earn the different parts of the project by displaying the core values of the YMCA. If a young person was observed by YMCA staff demonstrating one of the values, a block was added to a progress poster on the wall. Once all the blocks on a level were filled, that part of the remodeling project was added to the center.
Brightly colored walls and floors highlight a new pool table and air hockey table, three pieces of exercise equipment specifically for children, a new 52-inch plasma television, a Wii video game system and four new computers with Internet access.
Children over the age of 6 can go to the center while their parents are using other facilities at the YMCA or after school or during special events. At the center, they can get help with homework, play board or activity-based video games and use computers.
Activity-based games at the center include Wii sports games and Dance Dance Revolution as well as the Trazer game system. The Trazer system uses a sensor strapped on the students body to detect motions commanded by the game.
The exercise equipment is designed specifically for children. A semi-recumbent bicycle, elliptical machine and treadmill are available to young people using the YMCA facilities.
Banners representing the four core values of the YMCA - Responsibility, Respect, Honesty and Caring - are displayed prominently around the center, which is fitting, since the children had to display them to earn everything in the center.
The youth center is open whenever the YMCA is open. It is supervised from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Any child under the age of 10 must be signed in and out of the Youth Center by an adult.
The center is free for the use of members. Non-members can purchase a one-day pass for $5. Passes for non-members visiting with a member are $2.50.
Reservations can be made to rent the facility for special events. For private parties, the cost for the center is $50 per hour. To rent the facility when other children can come in and out, the cost is $25. The center is staffed for both private and semi-private parties.
Brochures about the center are available at the YMCA. For more information about the center, contact Dittmer at 574-267-9622.
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