STORIES OF THE Y. THE REAL US.

We saw an outpouring of community spirit after the Carr Fire that many of us wanted to capture and maintain. We also realized that this spirit, while not always seen so broadly in the community, is exactly what lives within the Y every day. It’s not a fleeting burst here. It is the defining feature of who we are. It is the best of Redding. This is the real us. Follow our stories on social media #TheRealUs.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY: 
The Y fosters community, and gave 125 families free access after they had been displaced due to the recent Carr Fire. Real connections happen here. This is the real us.

Jessica lost her home in the Carr Fire, and her children found a safe place and healing at the Y.  To read more about Jessica’s story, click here.

Katie lost her home in the Carr Fire, the Y gave her a place to be herself. To read more about Katie’s story, click here.

STOPPING SUMMER LEARNING LOSS: POWER SCHOLARS:
Kids come in shy and insecure and emerge from the summer Power Scholars program with their heads held high, full of a new belief in themselves and a passion for learning. The program serves students who are already behind and likely to lose ground over the summer. Instead, they shoot ahead. This is the real us.

FIRST GRADE LEARN TO SWIM: (Safety Around Water)
Our donors protect the lives of kids each year by supporting the Y’s First Grade Learn to Swim program and teaching them safety around water. This is the real us.

CAMP HORIZON:
For kids in foster care, life can be filled with uncertainty and anxiety far beyond their years. But summer camp is pure joy and relaxation – and at Camp Horizon on the shores of Lake McCumber 68 kids got to experience that this year, thanks to our donors. This is the real us.

MILITARY MEMBERSHIPS: 
Deployment can be a stressful and uncertain time for our nation’s servicemen and women and their families. In partnership with the Armed Services and the Department of Defense, the Y is proud to offer memberships and respite child care services to eligible military families, giving them extra support during this difficult period. It’s our way of giving back to those who dedicate themselves to serving our country. This is the real us.

Y CLUB / MENTORSHIP: 
More than 100 sixth to 12th graders are enrolled in Y Club, which keeps them safe, nourished and engaged after school. And, thanks to our donors, many participate free or at a reduced rate, because we don’t believe in turning away kids who need us. This is the real us.

LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES: 

People get a fresh start and job training at the Y.  Through partnerships with the County’s FACES program and College to Career, the Y is helping people get into the workforce and giving them hope for a brighter future. This is the real us.

BASKETBALL: 
Since the Y invented basketball it has also built community on the courts. People of all ages, abilities and walks of life come together here. This is the real us.

RAISING A READER: 
Every year the YMCA puts books in the hands of kids who need them. And when kids read, they create a bright future for themselves and are more likely to avoid pitfalls like juvenile delinquence, drug use and teen pregnancy. Books change lives. This is the real us.

MEMBERS WHO GIVE BACK:
Y members generously donate to those who need a helping hand. From the Y’s backpack and shoe drives, to our annual Summer Camp Supply drive for youth in foster care, to the Christmas toy drive, our members open their hearts and support those in need. This is the real us.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: No one turned away due to an inability to pay
Cost should never be a barrier to any family or child who wants to join the Y community. Thanks to the many supporters of our YMCA, we are able to provide financial assistance for memberships, youth programs and child care. This is the real us.

BOOT CAMPS: 
Members discover a community of friends in the Y’s 130 weekly group exercise classes. Motivation and companionship on the road to healthy goals. This is the real us.

ENHANCE FITNESS / SENIOR STRETCH:
Older adults socialize, enjoy a cup of coffee with conversation and build strength to tackle daily tasks with confidence. This is the real us.

PRINCIPAL REFERRALS: Preschool and Afterschool Programs
Kids do not have to go home alone after school when the Y is on campus. Thanks to our donors, principals can refer students they know need our programs and we will serve them regardless of the family’s ability to pay. This is the real us.

Afterschool programs provide safe places for students to go at the end of the school day. Read about the Lopez Family’s journey to becoming a Y family at Boulder Creek, click here.

DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM: 
Half of Shasta County’s adult population is either pre-diabetic or already living with the diease. It doesn’t have to be that way. Community members are proactively addressing their health risks in the Y’s Diabetes Prevention Program. This is the real us.

AQUA ARTHRITIS:
For members who wade into the Y’s heated indoor pool for Aqua Arthritis classes, the warm supportive water is more than a comfort. Relying on its softening effect and each other’s motivating company, they’re staying mobile and healthy. This is the real us.

QUALITY KIDS PROGRAMMING:
Familes spend time together at the Y in Music and Me, Kids Cooking, Karate and More. This is the real us.

The Y is a place for everyone in the family. Read about Ava’s story, starting as part of the Y family before birth to being on staff in Y Club today, click here.

THE SHARKS SWIM TEAM:
Kids are buidling confidence, learning a lifetime sport, and enjoying fun and healthy competition on the Y’s Shark Swim Team. This is the real us.

LIFEGUARD AND CPR TRAINING:
Teens and young adults are getting job training, building leadership skills and saving lives. This is the real us.

CAMP MCCUMBER INC. & CAMP MCCUMBER RESIDENT CAMP:
More than 300 kids each summer experience the pure joy of camp in the woods at Camp McCumber. The Y was the camp’s founding partner and has preserved this tradition for 65 years. This is the real us.

Y camps are about discovery. Read about Caitlin’s camp experience and how she saved to go to Y camp, click here.

HEALTHY KIDS DAY:
Every year kids and families crowd into the Y to learn healthy habits, check on their swimming skills and safety around water, learn about healthy summer activities and just let loose and play at our annual free community event – Healthy Kids Day. This is the real us.

PRESCHOOLS:
Healthy communities start in preschool. Kids who attend the Y’s preschools are ready to succeed in kindergarten — gaining skills and confidence that will carry them through their school career. This is the real us.

FREE COMMUNITY SWIM LESSONS:
Kids take the first step in swimming confidence with free assessments. From there, parents can feel assured they’re safely placed and they can go on to become skilled swimmers who are far safer around the North State’s abundant water sources.  This is the real us.

HOLIDAY AND SUMMER DAY CAMPS:
Parents go to work knowing their kids are growing and exploring their potential. The kids think they are just having fun. This is the real us.

CHILD WATCH:
Many toddlers experience their first socialization in the Y’s child watch program, under the expert care of a certified preschool teacher and her staff. Parents can relax, work out and get a few moments to decompress. This is the real us.

FREE SWIM LESSON VOUCHERS:
Many kids learned to swim at the Y last year only because our donors covered the cost of Free Swim Vouchers. They’re now protected against the real threat of drowning in our community’s many lakes, rivers and pools. This is the real us.

END OF THE YEAR SCHOOL PARTIES: 
Community organizations meet, play and stay safe at the Y during annual sober grad parties, team practices, non-profit events and board meetings. Community comes together at the Y. This is the real us.

RANCHERIA SUMMER CAMP:
“It’s just like Disneyland!” Says Maria Orozco,  Kids enjoy an action-packed week at the Redding Rancheria Summer Camp held each year at the Y. This is the real us.

FAMILY SWIM TIME: 
Familes play together at the Y’s pools, while kids develop potentially life-saving familiarity with water. This is the real us.

CELEBRATIONS: 
Members celebrate milestones, rejoice in each other successes and support each other in times of hardship and loss. Life-long connections happen every day. This is the real us.

SEAMLESS SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM:
School nutrition programs take the summer off, but the Y doesn’t. Kids keep their bellies full thanks to the summer food program served at the Y. This is the real us.

COTTONWOOD COMMUNITY SWIM: 
The Cottonwood pool opens to the community each summer because of the Y, which has managed it  and ensures it is available to everyone. The pool also serves our Power Scholars, who receive free swim lessons as a part of their program. Keeping a community gathering spot alive and vibrant. This is the real us.

STEWIE THE DUCK:
Stewie the Duck teaches preschoolers how to be safe in the water, how to properly put on a life vest and the importance of buddying up. These life-saving skills are provided in part thanks to a grant from our partners at First 5 Shasta. This is the real us.

FREE PRENATAL YOGA:
Mommies-to-be are grounded and rejuvenated in the Y’s specially designed Prenatal Yoga Class. Research shows the babies enjoy health benefits, too. This is the real us.

FIRST TIME JOB TRAINING: 
Hundreds of youth get their first jobs at the Y. Some find their calling, while others learn the skills that launch them in another chosen profession. The Y offers more than 200 jobs. This is the real us.

For Bruce, the Y gave him a chance at his first job. To read more of Bruce’s story click here.

THE CAFE:
Sharing a cup of coffee is a better way to get and stay connected than social media. Real human connections. This is the real us.

EAGLE SOAR YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER PARTNERSHIP:
For kids who live in motels, walking into the Y each month is like seeing the castle at Versailles. It’s a glimpse of a life they may only have imagined, and that vision for a better life is powerful. This is how we break the cycle. This is the real us.

SWIMMING FUNDAMENTALS:
Kids who can’t swim are in constant danger around our rivers, lakes and pools in the North State. The Y has long been on a mission to teach swimming and water safety to everyone — in fact, a Y invented the concept of group swim lessons.

HOMESCHOOL PE:
Families who homeschool their kids find PE to be one of the biggest challenges, but the Y provides a physical and social solution. Through the Homeschool PE Porgram students can enjoy a workout with friends — even if it’s just a vigorous game of basketball. This is the real us.