YMCA Center for Achievement
Located in the Virginia Edwards Community Center in Benton Harbor (721 Nate Wells Sr. Drive), the YMCA Center for Achievement is a unique after school program for youth ages 7 to 17 in the Benton Harbor area. The Center for Achievement is a joint partnership between the Benton Harbor Housing Commission and the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA Family Center.

The Center for Achievement will offer Benton Harbor youth the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in an asset-rich environment. The facility has such amenities as a gymnasium, computer lab, art room, recording studio, community room, and stage. The Center will off an array of programs focusing on the following areas: Education, Health and Wellness, Community Involvement, and Teen Leadership. Summer hours for the Center are 12 to 5 pm.

For more information on the Center, please contact Jerry Price, YMCA Youth Director, at 269-925-2540 or 269-429-YMCA..

YMCA Summer Basketball Clinic  (grades 6-12)   – new!
5 Week Program Begins July 15th
New this summer!  Boys and girls, 6th through 12th grade are invited to join this exciting clinic held on Tuesdays, 7:00-8:00 pm. We will focus on individual improvement, dribbling, passing, shooting / scoring, basketball IQ, rebounding/boxing out, and free throws. The YMCA coach for this clinic has taught college basketball camp, summer camps and coached high school basketball. Register today – we know your child will have a great time!  Call 428-YMCA (9622) or stop by the Member Service Desk to register.

Gla-Da-Wen-Ta Day Camp  (ages 5-12)
Weekly Sessions begin June 9th  
Beginning June 9th, the YMCA day camp program will enable boys and girls to have camping experiences – and return home each day! Gla-Da-Wen-Ta Day Camp, held at Riverview Park in St. Joseph, offers a wide variety of activities that will give your child the chance to discover new skills, make new friends, develop a respect for the outdoors, and most of all, have fun!
Click here to get all the details!

Kid's Kamp  (ages 3-5 and 5-7)
Keep your children both creatively involved and physically active during the summer and still be able to plan your summer vacation! Kid's Kamp is a series of one-week camps offering kid-friendly themes loaded with hands-on fun. Each session includes story-based arts and crafts, games, songs and gym activities, plus swimming. Children in Kid's Kamp will swim on Monday and Wednesday of each session. All children must be toilet-learned. Limit: 12–14
Monday–Thursday,  9:00-11:30 am

Gymnastics Camp!  (ages 6-12)
Be a part of our five-day gymnastics camp designed for ages 6 to 12! This camp is appropriate for a beginner, yet challenging for an advanced participant. Activities will give special attention to progression on all apparatus. Learn about all aspects of gymnastics with skilled coaches, demonstrations, and presentations. Participants will give an end of session performance demonstrating their skill level. Fee includes T-shirt, snacks, and craft project.
Dates offered:  June 16–20    June 14–18    July 28–August 1    August 18–22
Monday – Friday,  9:00 am to noon
Fees: YMCA members – $53.00, non-members – $68.00

Tumbling Clinic  (ages 6-12)
The clinic is for beginner through advanced levels. Children will start with the fundamentals of tumbling and progress into higher skill levels.
Date offered:  August 5–7
Tuesday – Thursday,  9:00-11 am
Fees: YMCA members – $25.00, non-members – $40.00

Youth Racquetball  (ages 8-14)
June 11 – July 10
Boys and girls learn the basic skills and rules, and play other evenly matched opponents. Racquets and eye protection will be provided for those who don't have their own. All players should arrive as early as possible at the first class.
Wednesday 1:30-2:30 pm 
Fees: YMCA members – $13.00; non-members – $26.00

Youth Strength Training  (ages 11-16)
In this educational course, participants will learn a variety of age-appropriate strength exercises including proper technique and how to build his or her own comprehensive strength program. There will be a strong emphasis on character development. A portion of this course will be held in a classroom setting and the remainder in the weight area. It is taught by a certified YMCA Personal Trainer consistent with guidelines from the National Strength Conditioning Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Tuesday, Thursday  10:00-11:15 am
Fees: YMCA members – $16.00, non-members – $32.00

T-Ball  (boys and girls ages 4-7)
June 10 – July 8
YMCA T-Ball is a positive approach to instructional baseball. This is a noncompetitive program with no teams – everyone gets an equal opportunity to play and have fun! Parents are asked to help the players on the field during practice and scrimmages. All players receive a shirt and T-Ball. Players should provide their own glove. During inclement weather, T-Ball will be held in the main gym.
Tuesday  6:00-6:45 pm 
Fees: YMCA members – $25.00, non-members – $37.00

Babysitters Clinic  (ages 11 and over)
A four day workshop designed to train youth to be responsible babysitters. Class will include emergency care and first aid, child development stages, games to play with children, parent relations and more! To enhance their classroom skills, participants will spend 2 additional hours in the YMCA nursery for course completion. Participant must attend all 4 days. Limit: 10.
Class fee includes First Aid Kits.
Monday–Thursday  9:00-11:30 am
Dates offered:   June 9–12    July 28–31
Fees: YMCA members – $33.00; non-members – $40.00

Kidz Water Fitness Program – WaterArt!  (ages 8-12)  
Keep your kids healthy and fit! This class will provide a fun-filled session of healthy water exercise to strengthen the heart, stretch the mind, and build confidence endurance and friendships. The last fifteen minutes will be free swim time, rewarding the children for their efforts. All fitness levels welcome! Limit: 10.
Tuesday  6:30-7:15 pm
Fees: YMCA members – $15.00, non-members – $30.00

Diving Lessons  (ages 7-14)
This program is for individuals who would like to learn the fundamentals or improve their diving skills. Must be able to tread water and swim 1 length of the pool.
Tuesday  4:00-5:00 pm
Fees: YMCA members – $22.75, non-members – $45.50

YMCA Dolphins Swim Team  (ages 6-18)
Discover the friendship, excitement and self-confidence that comes with competitive swimming. All swimmers between the ages of 6 and 18 are welcome to join this growing team. Participants must be able to swim two lengths freestyle (front crawl), two lengths back crawl, and have had an introduction to breaststroke. Aquatics Director Emily Nannfeldt or Program Director Karen Richardville will be happy to answer any questions you may have; to speak to Emily or Karen, call the Y at 428-9622. The Dolphins Swim Team is for YMCA members only. Summer session runs May 12th to August 22nd.

For more detailed information about the Dolphin Swim Team, click here.
To view the current Dolphin news in a new window, click here.

Fees:  First family member – $70.00; Second member – $40.00; Additional members – $25.00

Birthday Parties!
Parents, need to plan a birthday party but don’t want the confusion? Celebrate your birthday at the YMCA! Parties include gift bags, gym activities, lifeguards for swim time, a party supervisor, and use of a decorated party room with plates, cups and napkins. The Climbing Wall and new Sportwall are available for an additional fee. All activities are supervised; setup and cleanup are included. For information and reservations, contact Karen Richardville or Kristi Barker at 428-YMCA. Fee includes 12 children; each additional child is $9.00.