SPRING SPLASH LEARN TO SWIM

March 20, 2024April 8, 2024 Cecilia Huss

SPRING SPLASH! LEARN TO SWIM

(Ages 3 and up) Appropriate for beginner to advanced beginner swimmers.

LEARN WATER ESSENTIALS BEFORE THE START OF SUMMER!

The Y has been teaching children to swim for over 100 years. Regular, consistent swim lessons are the best way to help your child become a strong and confident swimmer. Get them started or continue their progress with our Spring Splash: Learn to Swim program.

This 6 week program will help your child:

gain confidence and improve their stamina
become more independent in the water,
float, tread water and learn a healthy respect for the water

From asking an adult if it is ok for them to enter the water, to what to do if they accidentally fall into a body of water, to how to breath properly in the water and more, this program is a great way to get your child started on their lifelong journey to becoming a more confident, competent swimmer.

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

WHEN: April 22, 2024 - June 3, 2024 (6 weeks)

Preschool Ages 3-5: (choose 1 day)
Mondays 4:50pm - 5:30pm OR
Fridays 4:50pm - 5:30pm
School Age Ages 5-9:
Wednesdays 4:50pm - 5:30pm
School Age Ages 9-12:
Fridays 4:50pm - 5:30pm

FEE:

Members: $192

Non-members: $276

QUESTIONS? Feel free to email Amy D'Andrea

Girl in pool with Swim Across America cap on.

DARIEN YMCA’S SWIM AGAINST CANCER

May 4, 2022May 6, 2022 DarienY2

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

Project SEARCH Internship

April 3, 2022April 19, 2022 DarienY2

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

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

Best of Darien Videos

September 27, 2021September 27, 2021 DarienY2

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

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

African American Young Man photographing the Darien Gymnasium and Fitness Center for a Video Project with Norwalk Community College

Women photographing the Darien YMCA Gymnastics Center for a Video Project 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

Full Court Peace initiative

August 6, 2021September 17, 2021 DarienY2

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 10^th, 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.

Darien YMCA Gymnasts Shine!

May 28, 2021October 29, 2021 DarienY2

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!