The YMCA (not the dance!)

So a number of people will have heard me reference the YMCA so I thought I'd explain more about it. We have joined the Rye YMCA on a family membership. Their mission statement is 'The Rye YMCA is a family orientated community service organisation which welcomes all people and promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body'. It's a non profit organisation and is actually staffed by a large number of volunteers alongside paid employees. The best comparison to the UK is probably like a public leisure centre but one that draws a much more diverse range of people and seems to put a lot more back into the community. In fact their website states that 

'Most importantly, the Y works to ensure that our programs and services remain accessible to all through a variety of on-going philanthropic endeavors. Our primary cause is to strengthen the foundation of community through a focus on three areas: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. At the Rye Y, no one is turned away because of an inability to pay. Thanks to the generosity of donors, fundraising special events, grants, foundations, and hundreds of volunteers, the Rye Y delivers free, subsidized or sponsored programs and services to thousands of Sound Shore residents each year, ensuring the availability of the Y’s benefits to those most in need'

So what do we do at the YMCA? For me, it's where I'll exercise (on top of the morning runs). I have already tried a couple of classes and so far am very much enjoying them. They have a 'Child Watch' service where I can leave Ethan for a small fee while I use the facilities. Even better, once he's been there a few times I can use the 'Tot Drop' service and leave him for up to two hours while I go off site. As you can imagine without any other form of childcare help this will be very useful, if only to go and eat cake and read a book! Matt can also use it, although he has joined a gym in the city, he plans on using the 'Y' (what the locals refer to it as) at the weekends.

And how about Ethan? This is where it gets really good. We have managed to get into all the classes we requested (they operate a ballot system each term). So on a Sunday Matt can take him to his swim class and on a Wednesday I'll take him to a gym class. Both these classes are free under our family membership. On a Thursday we've got a place on the 'Rock Your World' music class, this one is not a freebie but is substantially less than some of the other music sessions around (I assume it must be subsidised). (So people don't get confused we're also doing other swim classes which I do with him on a Friday at a place called Aqua Tots).

So basically the Y is where Ethan and I will probably spend a fair amount of time. So far everyone there is really friendly and it is a really nice place to spend time.