Category: Youth Development

As summer comes to an end and families begin to plan for the upcoming school year, one significant decision weighs heavily on parents’ minds:

Where will our children go after school?

– the decision weighs heavily on parents’ minds

Why are afterschool programs important?

The hours after the last school bell and before parents come home from work are a risky time for children and teens to be unsupervised. That’s why the YMCA provides afterschool programming to more than 300 kids in our community each day.

Tell me about the YMCA Afterschool program.

YMCA Afterschool provides help with homework, a healthy snack, and leadership programs for our teens. Philanthropic support ensures every child – regardless of their family’s financial circumstances – has a safe, supportive place to be after school.

“I have to work to support our family, but our budget won’t cover after school care for my two kids. What can I do?”

This is a question many parents ask themselves as they make plans for the school year.

Thankfully, the Y can help.

The YMCA of Coastal Carolina Hope and Possibilities Fund makes it possible for parents to say “yes!” to out of school support like Afterschool and summer camps.

Donate to help a family in need send their kids to Afterschool.

Through the support of generous and caring neighbors like you, the Y is able to provide high-quality and affordable after school care to local families – even those on already stretched budgets.

When you give to the Y, you give children the opportunity to thrive, teens a place to belong, and parents the support they need.

Please consider a special back-to-school gift to the Y today. We are all in this together. Thank you for caring for our community’s kids!

by Helina Brown, Bank of America Student Leader

As summer arrives, parents seek engaging and educational activities for their children. YMCA 360 emerges as a versatile tool, offering a variety of interactive videos and programs to enrich kids’ summer experiences.

Diverse Educational Series

YMCA 360 caters to different interests and age groups with its diverse series. “Art Camp” encourages creativity through simple art projects, fostering self-expression and imagination. “Literacy for Littles” offers read-aloud books that improve listening skills and vocabulary, nurturing a love for reading early on. “Camp Exploration” teaches about nature and outdoor activities like bird watching, promoting adventure and curiosity from home.

Accessible Anytime, Anywhere

A key advantage of YMCA 360 is its accessibility. Families can access activities on-demand, whether at home, traveling, or during downtime, thanks to the app’s engaging content library.

Embracing YMCA Values

Built on community, inclusivity, and youth development, YMCA 360 extends these principles into the digital age, ensuring continued nurturing of young minds beyond physical locations.

Peace of Mind for Parents

Parents appreciate YMCA 360 for offering constructive activities that stimulate creativity, promote literacy, and encourage outdoor exploration. It reduces concerns about excessive screen time, emphasizing productive learning experiences.

Conclusion

In today’s digital age, YMCA 360 stands out with its educational content and meaningful activities. Whether your child loves art, books, or outdoor adventures, YMCA 360 enriches their summer and fosters a balanced approach to fun and learning. Learn more about YMCA360

Interested in Camp Exploration?

Check out the links below to access YMCA360!

Get Outside

• Like a Scientist – YMCA360
• For the Birds – YMCA360
• Get Down and Look Around – YMCA360

Art Camps

• Trifold Painting- YMCA360
• Impressionist Squishy Art- YMCA360
• 3D Hand Drawing- YMCA360

Literary for Littles

• The Itsy Bitsy Spider YMCA360
• Breath Slow and Steady Teddy BearYMCA360
• Barnyard Banter YMCA360

Last Friday, the Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA hosted STEAM Day in Myrtle Beach for our Afterschool kids. Kids participated in healthy physical activities and health science with Tidelands Health, science, and art projects. Everyone who attended received a STEM toy donated by the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association thanks to our Ltn. Governor Pamela Evette and BMW.

Photo Gallery of STEAM Day

At-Home Summer Learning

Every child is at risk for summer learning loss. Reading and learning through play using STEM toys are ways to engage your kids over the summer so they continue learning and are ready to go back to school! Here are more tips for summer learning.

Every child also received copies of STEAM activities!

Did you know that children who are reading proficiently by 3^rd grade are three times more likely to graduate from high school? Sadly, many children do not have access to books during the summer. In middle and upper income communities, there are 13 books per one child, but in lower income communities there is only one book for every 300 children. Because of this, children from low-income households lose 2+ months of reading achievement every summer.

So, what can parents do to help prevent learning loss in their children? Here are a couple of options:

• Start early! 80% of brain growth happens by the age of three, so anything a parent can do to introduce words, colors, and numbers to a child, no matter how young, will build the foundation for them to be successful! (United Way of Horry County)
• Check your local libraries for STEM workshops and books for your children! In Georgetown and Horry Counties combined there are over 15 public libraries, many of which have children’s sections for those k-12, along with STEM activity sessions. Librarians are happy to help finding the perfect book for your child, no matter their age or interests!
• Use online resources! Many websites, such as www.sciencebuddies.org and www.thestemlaboratory.com, offer free STEM activities or worksheets that your children can do from home! YMCA360 is another online resource that can be used; YMCA360 is an app that features over 30 videos of instructors reading books to children of all ages!

Summer STEAM Activities

At the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, we engage the children in our AfterSchool, Jumpstart Preschool, ChildWatch, and Summer Camps in STEM and literacy learning activities that will lead to positive academic outcomes in later years. The success of our children is the success of our future, and we strive to support the wellbeing of all in our community. By participating in summer learning loss prevention tactics, we, and you, can help our children grow and prosper!

YMCA360 Membership

YMCA360 has content for kids, in addition to hundreds of fitness classes!

Join Today

The Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA hosted the 2nd annual Georgetown Kids Mud Run on April 20, 2024. A fun, muddy time was had by all who participated!

Photo Album

The YMCA of Coastal Carolina hosted Healthy Kids Day at all three center locations in Georgetown, Pawleys Island, and Myrtle Beach. This free, annual event features a variety of family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids, healthy families and a healthy start to the summer season.

Healthy Kids Day ® is the Y’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids and families. For over 30 years, YMCAs and their communities have hosted free community events aimed to inspire kids and families to keep their minds and bodies active throughout the summer months and beyond.This is a nationally recognized event, and during this day, we will be promoting the healthy spirit, mind, and body of the kids in our community.

2024 Healthy Kids Day Photo Album

The YMCA of Coastal Carolina was the proud recipient of the NLGA STEM Service Project donations at the National Lieutenant Governors Association Spring Meeting. 

David Byrd, Chief Executive Officer for the YMCA of Coastal Carolina thanked the NLGA participants and said, “STEM is a big part of our future. Our YMCAs across the United States and particularly here in South Carolina, focus heavily on STEM. I see it everyday with our kids and our families. We are honored today to receive this gift of 100 STEM toys.”

Sponsored by BMW Manufacturing Co, NLGA Members wrapped and donated 100 STEM-related toys to the YMCA of Coastal Carolina to give to kids in our programs.  As of April 1, 2024, more than 450 youth in six states or territories have STEM opportunity as a direct result of NLGA Members meeting and working together.

“Getting our kids involved and engaged with STEM is so important to developing the workforce of tomorrow” said Lt. Governor Pamela Evette. “We are thankful to BMW for their support and the YMCA of Coastal Carolina for providing hands-on learning experiences throughout the school year and during the summers — allowing parents to get to work and helping our kids to thrive.”

YMCA Afterschool and Summer Camp programs incorporate STEM, literacy, academic support, and physical activity into the daily schedules. Evidence shows that providing out-of-school time (OST) learning directly impacts what is possible to learn inside classrooms — just as what happens in classrooms impacts OST learning.

Hatton Gravely, Chief Development Officer for the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, adds, “Kids learn through play, and these STEM toys will enhance what the kids are learning in school and at the Y in programs. We are so grateful to be selected by the NLGA for this wonderful gift!”

Second graders in Myrtle Beach will get life-saving lessons in water safety through a free program offered by the YMCA of Coastal Carolina in partnership with Tidelands Health.

More than 350 second graders at Myrtle Beach Primary School will participate in the Safety Around Water program at the Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA in Myrtle Beach. The program focuses on water safety and self-rescue skills while reinforcing that water should be fun, not feared. 

As the exclusive health system partner of the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, Tidelands Health is helping support the expansion of the Safety Around Water program to Myrtle Beach. For more than a decade, the program – also known as YSplash! – has been offered to second graders in Georgetown County every fall at the Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA and the Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA.

“In a beautiful coastal region like ours with the ocean and so many waterways, ponds and pools, it’s essential that children learn at an early age how to enjoy and be safe in and around the water,” said Dr. Lucretia Carter, pediatric medical director for Tidelands Health. “The Safety Around Water program builds water skills that will serve these kids for a lifetime. Tidelands Health is proud to support the expansion of this program to Myrtle Beach for the health and well-being of children now and for years to come.”

During the four-week program, students will learn essential skills including swimming and floating and techniques that help prevent drowning. Students will also learn about potentially dangerous rip currents and boat safety, as well as what to do and who to contact if there is an aquatic emergency. Safety Around Water starts April 15 at the Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA.

“The YMCA of Coastal Carolina embodies the YMCA’s reputation as ‘America’s Swim Instructor’ by annually teaching hundreds of local children valuable water safety and swimming skills. We are proud to expand our Safety Around Water program to all second graders at Myrtle Beach Primary School while continuing our tradition of providing the program in Georgetown County,” said David Byrd, CEO of the YMCA of Coastal Carolina. “Now more than ever, it’s important to remind parents and caregivers that water safety needs to be top of mind as families start to return to their favorite summertime activities – many of them at the beach, pool or waterways.”

Thank you to our donors who made this program possible

Tidelands Health

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Lestingi and Melinda Grafton

Healthy Kids Day 2024 Activities

The YMCA of Coastal Carolina is hosting the Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day® on August 20th at all three center locations in Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Georgetown. This free, annual event features a variety of family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids, healthy families and a healthy start to the summer season. 

• Date: April 20^th, 2024 
• Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm 
• What is Healthy Kids Day? Healthy Kids Day ® is the Y’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids and families. For over 30 years, YMCAs and their communities have hosted free community events aimed to inspire kids and families to keep their minds and bodies active throughout the summer months and beyond.This is a nationally recognized event, and during this day, we will be promoting the healthy spirit, mind, and body of the kids in our community.
• When is Healthy Kids Day? This year, the event will take place on April 20th at all three of our locations! Most events will occur between 10am-12pm unless noted otherwise, such as the Georgetown Mud Run (begins at 1pm).
• Where are the events occurring?
  • Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA: 5000 Claire Chapin Epps Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC, 29577
  • Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA: 12965 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC, 29585
  • Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA: 529 Browns Ferry Rd., Georgetown, SC, 29440
• What kind of events will be happening? Each center will have local vendors and activities for all ages! Some examples include:
  • Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA: YMCA Kids Beast Mode Class Demo / Obstacle Course, Face Painting, Food Trucks (food available to purchase), Myrtle Beach Fire Department, and more!
  • Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA:Obstacle Course, Kids Fitness Classes, Gaga Ball, Creation Station, Jumpy Castle, and more!
  • Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA: Georgetown Mud Run, Bounce Barn, Family Photo Booth, Face Painting, All 4 Paws, and more!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

• Graves Pools & Spas
• HTC
• Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union
• Tidelands Health