The Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road, offers the following programs. For information, call (219) 762-9622 or visit the Web site at www.ymcaofportage.org.
PRESCHOOL ACADEMY DAY CAMP
The Preschool Academy Day Camp is a first-camp experience for 3- to 5-year-olds who have not yet attended kindergarten. Camp is held at the Portage Township YMCA building, 3100 Willowcreek Road, and playground area and is led by the YMCA preschool staff. The campers will participate in hands-on discovery, learning and fun. Each camper will help make a snack each day of camp. Ability to use the restroom independently and a YMCA membership are required.
There are two sessions this summer, and each one is for two weeks. A minimum of eight campers per camp must be registered by June 2 for the first session (which runs from June 9 to June 20) and by June 30 for the second session (which runs from July 7 to July 18).
The 3- to 4-year-olds attend from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the cost for a two-week session is $ 24.50 for Primary Plus YMCA members or $35 for Primary YMCA members. That includes the registration fee.
The 4- to 5-year-olds attend from 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The cost for a two-week session is $31.50 for Primary Plus YMCA members or $45 for Primary YMCA members. That includes the registration fee.
SUMMER DAY CAMP
The Portage Township YMCA will offer Adventure Camp and Summerz-R-WILD Day Camp during the summer. This summer there are 10 weeks of Day Camp that will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting June 9 and ending Aug. 15. For families wishing to use camp as a child care program, the Portage Township YMCA also provides before- and after-camp care called extended care. The camps are designed children in kindergarten through eighth grade and feature various value-centered experiences and fun activities. All campers need to bring a swimsuit and towel. Portage Township Schools provides free breakfasts for those campers who arrive before 7:30 a.m. and provides free lunches for all campers. If you choose to send a sack lunch and beverage to camp, for safety reasons, no glass bottles are permitted. There is a nonrefundable registration fee of $15, and a YMCA membership is required. The cost for camp only is $16 per child per day ($11.20 for Primary Plus members) or $70 per
child per week ($49 for Primary Plus members).
The cost for camp with extended care, which meets from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., is $85 for the first child in the family per week ($59.50 for Primary Plus members) with discounted rates for the second and third child residing in the same house (on the $59.50 rate for Primary Plus members, there are no further savings for additional children). A per-day rate of $19 per child ($13.30 for Primary Plus members) is available with no further savings for additional children.
MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL
The Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road, is offering a summer membership special for people ages 14 and older. Memberships are valid from the date of purchase until Aug. 31 at a cost of $1 per day. The last day to purchase summer memberships will be July 31. Summer special members are allowed full use of the YMCA.
TEETER TOTTER TOTS
The Portage Township YMCA offers Teeter Totter Tots, a new program for youngsters 1 1/2 to 3 years old and their accompanying adults, from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at the YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road. The cost is $17 for Primary Plus YMCA members, $24 for Primary members and $48 for others.
FYI: Call (219) 762-9622.
WALK THE 'Y' WEIGH
The Portage Township YMCA is offering Walk the "Y" Weigh, a program designed to combine an exercise and weight loss program. Walk the "Y" Weigh will meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays or from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Thursdays at the YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road. The participants will walk and do strength and flexibility training to get their weight-loss programs on track. The second component will be weight-loss education, counseling, and weigh-ins to keep their weight-loss program on track. Walk the "Y" Weigh will start by the cardio desk and meet in the cardio room, the track, the aerobic room and the upstairs conference area. The cost of the program is free for Primary Plus members, $20 a month for Primary members and $40 a month for others.
FYI: Call Sue Fingerhoot, certified lifestyles coordinator, at (219) 263-7240.
PRESCHOOL ACADEMIES
The Portage Township YMCA is now accepting registrations for the 2008-2009 preschool academies. All classes will meet in the newly remodeled and secured preschool academy wing of the YMCA building, 3100 Willowcreek Road. The nine-month program serves children who are one or two years away from starting kindergarten. The child must be able to use the restroom independently, and a YMCA membership is required.
Class size is limited to 16 children in the two-day-a-week classes and 18 children in the class that meets three days each week. Since space is limited, prompt registration is encouraged. The twice-weekly classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The child must be 3 years old on or before Aug. 1. The thrice-weekly classes meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The child must be 4 years old on or before Aug. 1. A nonrefundable registration fee of $20 is required. The fee for the twice-weekly class is $45 for Primary Plus members and $50 per month for Primary members. The fee for the thrice-weekly class is $67.80 per month for Primary Plus members and $75 per month for Primary members. A Primary YMCA membership costs $64 per year. The cost of a Primary Plus membership varies according to age and number of household members.
