MISSION MOMENTS

When I was little, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a way to get me out of the house and distracted, a family friend signed me up for Camp Y-Owasco. This was truly the biggest blessing I have ever had. Through such a hard time at home, I was able to find my home away from home and my biggest passion. Camp became my favorite thing in the entire world. As I returned summer after summer, I quickly realized my dream was to one day become the camp director at Camp Y-O. As just a little girl I would tell everyone in my life how I was going to do it one day, and I truly can’t believe I am now! 

I feel so thankful to camp for giving me a place to be a kid, make my best friends still to this day, and be my home away from home- especially through the hard times. I feel so lucky to be able to work everyday to give kids that same experience that I had!

LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA is a 12-week small-group fitness program for adult cancer survivors who have become de-conditioned or chronically fatigued from their treatment and/or disease. The program is for any adult who is currently going through cancer treatment or has gone through some form of cancer treatment in the past and wants to regain their health and well-being. Here are some testimonials from past participants:

"LiveSTRONG gave me a new lease on life! I improved my balance, strength, and endurance. I never expected that at my age" Ann P.

"My balance, strength, and endurance still continue to improve through our Alumni group, THRIVE. The friends I made in LiveSTRONG and THRIVE are for life!"

"The LiveSTRONG group and THRIVE group offers each of its participants a special opportunity for wellness. It has the added benefit of producing wonderful bonds with great folks. I can not stress how grateful I am to the Auburn YMCA, THRIVE group and LiveSTRONG program..." Sylvia V. 

"The LiveSTRONG program was amazing! I really needed my strength building and working on balance. Great way to get aquainted with all the Y has to offer. Getting to use different machines correctly was good for me. I did see and continue to see improvement! I enjoyed the LiveSTRONG program so much I joined the Y and it is my second home! Off to my Stretch and Strength class now. I can not say enough about Laura and these programs." 

Over the past 100 years, Camp Y-Owasco has impacted the lives of so many in our community. It is hard to find someone who does not have a connection or tie to Camp Y-Owasco in some way, shape, or form. Through the years, camp has inspired many campers to keep returning year after year and eventually become staff members so that they can give back to the youth the way their counselors did for them. Camp has inspired many to push their comfort zones and try things they never thought they could do. Camp has inspired many to be better environmental stewards and to love and protect our natural surroundings. Camp Y-Owasco has been teaching and inspiring our community for 100 years, and through traditions, dedication, and the love of camp, we look forward to what Camp Y-Owasco can do for our community in the next 100 years.

Learn more by viewing our Anniversary video HERE

In the spring of 2022, our Preschool Director received a phone call from a single parent of three children (two teenagers and a 3-year-old).  This parent asked if any slots were available in Kidventures, our preschool summer program.  Kidventures was suggested by her pediatrician when the mother raised some concerns. She felt the child would benefit from socialization with children their age, getting into a routine, and developing language and self-help skills. The parent could not afford the total cost of the program. We were able to offer her a scholarship that allowed her to bring her young child to Kidventures five days a week for seven weeks.  As the summer progressed, we noticed the child’s language and self-help skills improved.  Another outcome was a significant positive change in this young child’s self-esteem!  The parent noticed the changes and growth and enrolled the child in the Y preschool program for the fall of 2022.  Being a working parent, she enrolled the child in the Y’s Before/After Care option.  Scholarship funds made this possible.  She now had reliable child care, could work her shift, and not worry about shuffling her child to and from a separate daycare.

During the school year, the child received speech and occupational therapy onsite. This child had a very successful year in our 3-year-old program because of the consistency and additional support.  The child again attended Kidventures to maintain the school routine.  Additionally, he was still able to receive therapies onsite.  The child continued participating in the Y preschool program.  He no longer needed speech therapy or occupational therapy. He made many friends and continues to make great strides! He successfully transitioned to Kindergarten in the fall.

This lovely message from a member speaks to the impact of dedicated Y staff.

" I would like to salute the Aqua HIIT and Boot Camp programs for seniors. Our instructor, Lindsey, is the best. On day one for me, she made me feel very welcome. She is always tuned in to our needs in class and is very good at explaining why and how to do the exercises.
She fosters an atmosphere of congeniality and really knows how to read the room/pool. This group is not just an exercise program; it is a community that really seems to care about each other. It is important to lift up the people who deserve it, and Lindsey is one of those people."

Respectfully, Betsy

This family lives in our community, and has a child at home, who is almost 2 with Brain Cancer.
Mom stays home to care for the sibling, but wanted their 3 year old to have a stable preschool experience.
One where he could "be a kid" and "forget the worries of home" for a few hours each day. He does not live in the AuburnSchool District, so he is not eligible for any 3PK program funding.
He attends our program on a 90% scholarship. 

Cece’s water journey starts with a bit of my swim history. I had been an avid swimmer my entire life. I spent my summers at my grandparents’ house that was on the lake. My family put me into swim lessons as soon as I could walk. None of my family members could swim. My mother and grandmother were terrified of the water. My dad could only swim under the water and my grandfather could doggy paddle a little bit. Needless to say they were fearful of me being around the water.

I was jumping off the high dive at our local pool at the community college within days of my first swim lesson. When I entered 7th grade, I joined the swim team and swam competitively into my college years. I obtained my lifeguard and waterfront director certification and taught swim lessons in high school and college. I knew that when I became a parent swimming would be a big part of my child’s life.

I waited patiently for Cece to turn 6 months old as that is the recommended age for an infant to be introduced to a pool. Cece turned 6 months on Thanksgiving Day. We booked a hotel near our family gathering that had a pool and she was able to take her first real swim. She was so calm and happy. I was excited that she had such a good time.

From then on, we would go to the Y and eventually to Casey pool in the summer. As she was getting older we worked on different skills. She was very comfortable and really enjoyed our swim outings together.

My friends ended up purchasing a new home in Fulton that had an outdoor pool. We were invited over as soon as the weather warmed up enough. Cece was 2 years old and was just starting to get to the point where she was ready to take off swimming on her own.

We were having an enjoyable day. I decided to take a break on my friends patio where I could see her from afar. She wanted to stay in the pool and swim with my friends’ husband and older kids. Cece was sitting on the steps into the pool. All of a sudden she decided she would jump off and swim for herself.

My friends’ husband had his back turned and in that moment Cece started to go under. As I watched I could see she was struggling and yelled to our friend. Her Uncle Josh quickly scooped her up, but the damage was done. This one incident left her completely scared of the water. She wanted nothing to do with swimming for the rest of that summer. I was heartbroken.

I was patient. I waited for the next summer to come and hoped that time would help. It did not. She did start to slowly inch back into the water as long as she could have a hold of me every step of the way.

I worked with her and tried many of the techniques I was taught from when I took the Red Cross swim instructor course. Very little progress was made. I didn’t want to loose hope that she would always be fearful. That fall I decided it was time to sign her up for swim lessons.

It did the trick. Under the instruction of someone new Cece slowly gained her confidence back within her first month of classes. By the conclusion of the swim class that fall she was ready to sign up for another class.

She worked her way through the different levels and on the drive to class each night we would go over swim safety and rules. She was learning these safety tips from the great instructors that she has had here at the Y.

At the end of 1st grade we went to the ocean for the first time for our summer vacation.

There were parents there with their young kids that were shy about getting into the pool at the hotel. Cece went over to them and was instructing them on what to do and the little kids were picking up on what she was telling them. She was very excited that she was able to help them on their swim journey.

When the Stingrays tryouts were announced at the start of 2nd grade this year I asked her if she wanted to go give it a tray. Enthusiastic YES!

She was very dedicated at making her practices and she has increased in skill dramatically over the season. I was very surprised that at her first swim meet she showed no fear and got right in and did what she needed to do.

Her last swim meet this season was in Fulton and our friends from that eventful summer came to cheer her on. She ended up getting her best time in the 25 yard freestyle and I am very proud with all that she has accomplished this year and in her swim journey.