Author: DarienY2

Renovated & Refreshed

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Darien YMCA Unveils Spectacular Pool Renovation for an Enhanced Aquatic Experience

Here for the Community Always Striving to Improve the Member Experience

 DARIEN, August 30, 2023 — The Darien YMCA is thrilled to announce the completion of an extensive renovation project that has transformed its pool area and men’s locker room, promising a fresh and rejuvenating experience for all members and visitors.

The renovation, which began in August, signifies the commitment of the board of directors and leadership to providing first-class amenities for the community. In September of 2022, the Darien YMCA upgraded the Training and Wellness Centers adding state-of-the-art exercise equipment.

The new large pool area boasts features designed to elevate the overall swimming experience and promote a healthy lifestyle. This complete overhaul offers modern aesthetics and improved lighting designed for swimmers, creating a more welcoming and visually appealing environment.

“We are excited to introduce this transformational renovation to our community,” said Jennifer Gardner, Darien YMCA CEO. “The Darien YMCA pool has been a cornerstone of our organization for years, and these enhancements reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional services and experiences. Our renovated pool area will create a more enjoyable experience for swimmers and spectators of all ages and abilities.”

The Darien YMCA invites all members and residents to come and experience the newly renovated pool firsthand. Our staff are available to provide tours of the facility and discuss information regarding membership, programs, and opportunities to improve your well-being  in spirit, mind, and body.

For more information about the Darien YMCA pool renovation, upcoming programs, and membership details, please visit darien-ymca.org or contact Lee Malloy Stendardi, Membership Director at 203-655-8228 x 1304 or visit Facebook page @TheDarienYMCA

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New pool renovations.

Facility Renovations

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New pool renovations.

FACILITY RENOVATIONS SCHEDULE

We are thrilled to announce that the large pool area renovations were completed ahead of schedule!  See revised POOL SCHEDULES for next week!

Thank you for your continued patience as we continue to improve our facility.

Here are some updates as of August 30:

  • Whirlpool is closed for unplanned repairs. The parts have been ordered and will be repaired as soon as they come in.  We will send out notification as soon as we are able to reopen.
  • Men’s locker room will reopen Saturday, September 2 as we taking care of some of the finishing touches. Please use the all age boys locker room.
  • The Hallways are painted and floors are complete. Our marketing team is working with an outside vendor to design new branded artwork. 
  • The Café at the Darien Y will reopen on Tuesday, September 5. 

WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOM

  • Open

LARGE POOL 

  • Open

GYMNASIUM

  • Open- NEW PICKLEBALL LINES ARE IN!

Head on over the our SCHEDULES pages to see the new FALL line-up!  Plus we are extending WEEKEND HOURS as of September 9! Saturdays, we are staying open until 6PM and Sundays until 5PM!

We encourage you all the come on in and see ALL OUR ENHANCEMENTS!

Thank you, 

Darien YMCA

***

Interested in using another YMCA Pool, please call ahead prior to going as many Y's do maintenance during this time.

VISIT FIND YOUR Y 

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Find a Fresh Look

Fitness Renovation Schedule

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Find a Fresh Look. Fid Your Y.

At the Darien YMCA we believe we all have the power to change, develop new skills and gain confidence. When we invest in our facility, we are investing in our community, and in YOU.

Please note, all Group Exercise classes will remain available as scheduled. Now’s a perfect time to try something new to you! Try a Group Ex Class while your typical workout area may be closed.

Here are updates on our renovation & maintenance schedule:

WOMEN’S & MEN’S LOCKER AND STEAM ROOM ARE OPEN!

OPEN FOR BUSINESSS!

  • WOMEN’S LOCKER AND STEAM ROOM
  • MEN’S LOCKER AND STEAM ROOM
  • WELLNESS CENTER
  • TRAINING CENTER
  • GYMNASTICS CENTER
  • GYMNASIUM
  • SMALL POOL 
  • LITTLE BITES

TOWEL SERVICE IS BACK!

OTHER UPDATES:

  • Babysitting will be open Monday through Friday from 9am-1pm beginning Tuesday, September 6. Advance registration preferred. Space limited.

We welcome you to come check out our FRESH NEW LOOK!

Some features you can expect:

Matrix Treadmill

  • Bluetooth connection for your wireless headphones.
  • Wireless charging station for your mobile devices.
  • Cardio equipment easily connects to Apple and Samsung watches and various heart rate straps.
  • Individual fans on each machine to adjust for personal comfort.
  • Wi-Fi network connected with access to several Apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, and YouTube. 
  • Automated email notification to the manufacturer as soon as there’s an issue, which will trigger a local technician to promptly visit and resolve the problem while notifying the YMCA Wellness Director.

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Girl in pool with Swim Across America cap on.

DARIEN YMCA’S SWIM AGAINST CANCER

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JOIN US AND MAKE WAVES TO FIGHT CANCER

Swim Across America is a National non-profit that has raised over $100 million for cancer research & clinical trials through open water swims, pool swims & clinics throughout the USA! Join our Darien YMCA swimmers to fight cancer together in Fairfield County!

Darien YMCA's Swim Against Cancer is taking place on May 14th. All funds raised will benefit Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy.

We will be swimming laps and having fun relays to make a tangible impact right here in our community! All ages welcome.

WHERE: Darien YMCA
2420 Post Rd,
Darien, CT 06820

WHEN: May 14, 2022
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

11-12pm: PSDY Piranhas only
12-2pm: General public and YMCA members

HOW TO JOIN: Click the register button in the middle of this page and get your own fundraising page to send out to your friends and family. All swimmers and volunteers must complete the waiver found here and bring to the event check-in. If you are under 18, please bring the waiver signed by a parent or guardian

FUNDRAISING: We encourage swimmers to each raise at least $100. Many will raise more but if everyone raises $100, our swim could raise thousands to support cancer research, prevention and treatment.

FUNDRAISING INCENTIVES: Every swimmer who participates will receive a Swim Across America cap and tattoos! Raise the amounts below and receive great SAA items for your efforts!

This year we are offering more prizes at more levels! Check out all the great incentive levels below, and see how much money you can help raise in the fight against cancer!

  • $50 - SAA T-Shirt.
  • $100 - SAA Sunglasses + $50 fundraising incentive.
  • $300 - SAA Towel + $100 fundraising incentives.
  • $1,000 - If you raise $1,000 you are acknowledged as a WaveMaker and receive WaveMaker benefits.

Individual WaveMaker Status: $1,000 minimum:

WaveMakers go above and beyond by raising at least $1,000 regardless of your age. Anyone can achieve WaveMaker status - swimmers, volunteers or SAA My Way participants. WaveMakers get special recognition and an exclusive WaveMaker gift. You can learn more about WaveMaker Status here.

QUESTIONS? Feel free to email Amy D'Andrea

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Project SEARCH Internship

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Path to Employment for Young Adults with Disabilites

Join us for a Virtual Info Session April 27

About this Project SEARCH Internship

Project SEARCH is a nine-month internship program for people with disabilities. It is for those between the ages of 18-30 including transitioning high school students, who seek competitive employment. The Project SEARCH internships with Abilis run in two locations: one internship program at Greenwich Hospital and one internship program at the Darien YMCA.

At the Darien YMCA Abilis Project SEARCH Internship, interns  rotate in different departments including facilities, wellness, childcare, marketing and membership.

In these programs, total immersion in the workplace facilitates the teaching and learning process, as well as the acquisition of employability and marketable work skills. For instance, interns participate in three, unpaid internships and explore a variety of career paths. Along the way, the interns increase their independence, self-confidence, and self-esteem preparing them for future employment. To assist them, Interns work with a team that includes their family, their Project SEARCH instructor, an Abilis job coach/developer and a business mentor.

Project SEARCH is a collaboration between Abilis, Greenwich Hospital, Darien YMCA, various local school districts, and the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services.

Who is eligible for a this Internship?

First, to be eligible for Project SEARCH, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and have a developmental disability. Second, they must be eligible for development or disabilities services, and want to work competitively. Lastly, if the young adult is currently a high school student, a recommendation is required by their school district.

For other young adults, tuition is paid by the Department of Developmental Resources (for those eligible) or a family may choose to pay privately. The Greenwich Hospital Project SEARCH program starts September 2022; the Darien YMCA program starts January 2023. Registration is required for our information session.

Information Session Details:

Learn How Young Adults with Disabilities Can Find Employment Through An Unpaid Project SEARCH Internship.

DATE: April 27, 2022

TIME: 6:00 PM

WHO: Open to the public

LOCATION: Zoom - Meeting link will be sent after you register.

Questions, contact: Nick Stewart at stewart@abilis.us

Dorian working in Facilities

Dorian working in Facilities

Alex at Holly Pond Preschool

Alex at Holly Pond Preschool

Chris working in Wellness

Chris working in Wellness

Mohammad in Wellness

Mohammad in Wellness Center
Abilis Logo
Project Search Logo

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Young Man photographing the Darien Y pool for a Video Project with Norwalk Community College

Best of Darien Videos

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DARIEN TV79 ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF STUDENT VIDEO PROJECT PARTNERING WITH NORWALK COMMUNITY COLLEGE

(Darien, CT): September 26, 2021 The television production talents of area students will be on display on Darien TV79 as the station has concluded a “Best of Darien” video challenge to students studying digital media at Norwalk Community College.

“We asked the NCC students to visit Darien and shoot a montage of local scenes featuring the ‘Best of Darien’, and the results were phenomenal,” says TV79 Program Director Jim Cameron. “These budding videographers saw our town through fresh eyes, yet captured the scenes that make Darien so special.”

The project was a class assignment by Assistant Professor Julie Casper-Roth who leads NCC’s digital media division.

“It was a win-win-win project,” says Ms. Casper-Roth. “The students got real life field experience, great feedback on their projects from the judges, and TV79 got 11 fresh station ID ‘bumpers’”

The 30 – 60 second spots highlight such icon Darien scenes as Tilley Pond, the Darien Library, the Darien YMCA, shoppers on the Post Road and our local beaches. The spots will run for many weeks to come on TV79 and can all be viewed here:

SEE VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

The entries were judged by Cameron and other members of the TV79 Advisory Board, who had a very hard time selecting a winner.  As a result of a tie, the $100 prize for the best of “The Best of Darien” will be split by two NCC students, Jacqueline Ramirez and Olivia Naimoli.

Darien TV79 is the Town’s government television station, accessible on Optimum channel 79, Vimeo, Facebook and YouTube.  The station is funded by the Town, grants from the Area Nine Cable Council and The Darien Foundation.  For more information visit the station’s new website:  DarienTV79.com

Norwalk Community College serves 6500 students in Southern Fairfield County and is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The college houses a wide array of programs in the sciences, humanities, and arts. The Film and Television Program (set to change its name to Digital Media) is designed to prepare students for jobs in the diverse and ever-changing field of media production.

 

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

Photos attached of NCC students during video shoot in Darien

For more information:   JIM CAMERON / Program Director    203-952-5758

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FAMILY DINNER

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FAMILY DINNER NIGHT

A stress-free, tech-free, fun family evening at home while supporting Darien’s restaurants!

The Y is proudly partnering with local restaurants to honor the at-home Family Dinner Night! We know it’s a stressful time; that’s why we’ve put together the tools to help you enjoy an easy, but fun family evening together!

Order a delicious family meal to go from one of our amazing Family Dinner Night restaurants listed below and enjoy some of the provided tech-free family activities to help make your evening at home special, engaging, and fun for everyone!

DINNER MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Families that eat frequent family meals together foster:

· Overall nutritious eating

· Teens who are less likely to engage in risky behavior

· Children with better language skills and academic scores

· Lower obesity rate

· Better relationships with each other and their community

Source: The Search Institute

Families that eat together 5-7 nights per week create strong, healthy relationships that keep kids substance-free.

· Those who have fewer than 3 family dinner nights per week are 4 times more likely to use tobacco and 2 ½ time likelier to use alcohol.

Source: National Center on Addition and Substance Abuse (CASA)

FAMILY DINNER NIGHT ACTIVITIES

  • Donate Now
  • Make a check payable to Darien YMCA and mail to Darien YMCA, Development Office, 2420 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820
  • Call the Darien YMCA, Development Office at (203) 655-8228 ext.1358
  • · Download an Annual Appeal pledge card here, complete, and email to Karen Ford at kford@darien-ymca.org
  • Complete your donation online, via mail or in-person
  • Research your employer’s matching gift process and submit donation receipt
  • Confirm your company has made a donation to the Darien YMCA
  • Setup your recurring gift online!
  • Call the Darien YMCA Development Office at (203) 655-8228, ext. 1358
  • Download a pledge card here, complete, and email to Karen Ford at kford@darien-ymca.org
  • Donate Stock, Set-up a Legacy Gift, or Honor Someone, please contact Karen Ford at (203) 655-8228 ext. 1358 or kford@darien-ymca.org
  • Give an in-kind gift of supplies, equipment, or furniture, contact Karen Ford at (203) 655-8228 ext. 1358 or kford@darien-ymca.org

    • Source: TheFamilyDinnerProject.org

    25 Questions to Ask Around the Dinner Table!

    Eating dinner as a family is one of the best ways to connect as a family, share what’s going on, and enjoy each other’s company. In today’s world, it’s easy to let our phones distract us at the dinner table. In an effort to strengthen family relationships and help parents connect with their children, we want to share 25 questions you can ask around the dinner table to help cultivate conversations with your children.

    Be sure to take turns answering questions, too! This allows your children to learn even more about you in a fun way.

    1. What was the best part of your day?

    2. What was the hardest part of your day?

    3. What’s something new you learned today?

    4. What’s something that made you laugh today?

    5. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

    6. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

    7. Who is your favorite movie character?

    8. If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?

    9. Would you rather fly or breathe underwater?

    10.Who is your favorite superhero?

    11.What makes a great friend?

    12.What’s one thing you want to learn?

    13.Would you rather be 100 feet tall or the size of an ant?

    14.What would you do if you were president?

    15.What do you want to be when you grow up?

    16.If you could do anything you wanted for a day, what would you do?

    17.What’s one thing you are scared of?

    18.What’s your favorite thing about school?

    19.What’s your favorite thing we do as a family?

    20.What are you excited about for tomorrow?

    21.If you could pick a new color for the sky, what color would you make it?

    22.What’s your favorite song?

    23.What would you do with $100?

    24.What is your least favorite color?

    25.What are you most thankful for?

    One fun way to use these questions is to write them on slips of paper and keep them in a jar or basket. Each night at dinner, every family member gets to pick one slip of paper from the jar and ask everyone else that question. Try it at dinner this week

    Blog originally posted by Country Home Learning Center, a premier daycare serving families in Austin, TX.

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    Full Court Peace initiative

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    Boys Basketball Full Court Peace Intiviative

    Full Court Peace initiative is A Huge Success

    The Darien YMCA Basketball Program partners with Full Court Peace to raise money and refurbish basketball courts in Norwalk, Conn.

    DARIEN, CT (July 8, 2021) The Darien YMCA basketball program has over 2,000 kids participating on a yearly basis making it one of the most popular youth sport programs in Darien.  It's the starting point for many kids to learn about becoming and staying active and promotes healthy habits that kids will carry with them throughout their lives.

    But not all kids and families have the same opportunities.

    The Darien YMCA partnered with local non-profit organization, Full Court Peace, to refurbish 2 basketball courts, on July 10th, in Norwalk, CT to give more kids these opportunities.

    Full Court Peace uses basketball as a healthy outlet to connect athletes from suburban and urban communities, and 30 Darien basketball athletes and families joined Norwalk athletes and families to create another safe place for kids to gather and play basketball.

    “We believe the appearance and functionality of an outdoor court are important, and that places where basketball is popular should feature updated facilities, bright paint and an inviting atmosphere. We also believe that the repair and subsequent use of these facilities can be a shared activity between diverse communities,” said Mike Evans, Full Court Peace, Founder/Executive Director.

    Darien youth and families raised over $10,000 in funds to support Full Court Peace and the YMCA Financial Assistance program to ensure everyone - regardless of their ability to pay – can belong to the Y, participate in programs, and improve their lives.

    “We were very excited to have our local Darien basketball players and families jump in and help with this project. What better way to teach our YMCA core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. We are also committed to excellence and dedicated to developing the finest of athletes, as well as the finest of citizens, through all our sports programs,” said Joe Marzano, Darien YMCA, Sports Director.

    By working together, the YMCA and FCP are building unity and community through basketball, making sure that all kids, whether on the basketball court at the Darien YMCA or at neighborhood courts in Norwalk, CT have a chance to come together and play ball!

     

    Please consider joining this ongoing effort by donating to support  programs and services provided by the Darien YMCA. Donate Now!

    Your support and generosity help to serve our community so everyone can continue to learn, grow, and thrive during these challenging times.

     

    Well DONE!!!!

    Full Court Peace Volunteers on Basketball Courts in Norwalk
    Full Court Peace Volunteers on Basketball Courts in Norwalk
    Full Court Peace Volunteers on Basketball Courts in Norwalk
    Full Court Peace Volunteers on Basketball Courts in Norwalk

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    Darien YMCA Gymnasts Shine!

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    Darien YMCA Gymnasts Shine

    In 2020 Covid-19 brought the world, and the Darien YMCA competitive to gymnastics program to a standstill. However, it did not take long for our coaches and gymnasts to find a way to come together and move forward as a team. Throughout last spring, the Darien YMCA Gymnastics coaches connected with their gymnasts via Zoom, helping to ease the mental and physical effects of being separated from each other and the Y gymnastics center, their home away from home. Thrilled to return to the gym last summer the team worked together to restrengthen and prepare for the rigors of competitive gymnastics training.

    As the gymnasts adjusted to wearing masks and training in pods, their coaches and the Darien YMCA staff worked to bring some normalcy to their routine. With some creative planning gymnasts were able to compete again, holding virtual meets. In partnership with the Darien Athletic Foundation the meets were live streamed so that family & friends could follow along in real time. The Darien YMCA is incredibly grateful to Damian Andrew and the Darien Athletic Foundation for the many hours donated to making sure our gymnasts’ friends and families could watch them shine!

    The hard work and dedication of our gymnasts over the last year culminated in some amazing successes this spring at the USA Gymnastics State, Regional and Eastern Division levels. In April, 10 Darien YMCA Gymnasts had a very strong showing at state Level 4-6 championships. Later that month four Level 9 gymnasts, Saskia Chermayeff, Sarah Cross, Sofia DeStefano & Mia Karlehag qualified at the USAG Regional meet for USAG Level 9 Eastern Championship. Gymnasts must score in the All-Around top 7 for their Division/Age Group at the USAG Regional event to qualify for the Eastern Championship. At the Championship held in May in Atlanta the Darien YMCA gymnasts were the only YMCA gymnasts to qualify for this coveted event – a huge accomplishment!

    We are beyond proud of the grit and determination our gymnasts and coaches have shown over this last year. We look forward to watching all of our gymnasts from house league to Level 9 continuing their journey in the Y’s gymnastics program!

    Well DONE!!!!

    Jacquelyn Coppola

    Courtney Timmeny

    Maddie McGivney

    Taylor Davies

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