The following press release was issued by Stephanie Lyons: April vacation is usually a time for teens to take one last break from school before finals. But a group of 50 young adults from across the North Shore, voluntarily gave up their spring break this year to travel to New Orleans, LA where they helped rebuild homes and wildlife habitats that were destroyed in 2005 by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While they thought it would a fun way to spend time with friends and give back to that community, each left profoundly changed by this meaningful week of service. “This trip to New Orleans was …

Here are some photographs taken by Marblehead Patch photographer Bob Roche at the Lynch Van Otterloo YMCA's Doggie Fashion Show Saturday afternoon. All proceeds from the event were donated to the YMCA's Teen Service trip to New Orleans, La., where they will help build homes for those in need and gain experiences to last a lifetime.

Local resident Emily Korriku, Associate Aquatics Director for the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA and Head Swim Coach of the Marblehead/Swampscott Bluefish Special Olympic Swim team participated in the Polar Plunge Fundraiser at Revere Beach for a second time. To raise money for the team, Korriku plunged into the freezing cold water with her assistant coaches Lindsey Bryant (attending college for Special Education), Ben Madigan-Fried, Mariana McCarthy, committed volunteer Kasey Kennedy, and swim team member Ryan Horrigan. This will be the team’s second year attending the Special Olympics Summer Games…

Having a goal to shoot for is always a good thing as it keeps you motivated and engaged.  Not to mention achieving something you’ve worked really hard for feels great.  Where many people go wrong is in creating the plan, or lack thereof, to help them reach their goals.  As the old saying goes, “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” If you wanted to go on a road trip you’d use a map to figure out the best way to get to your destination depending on what you wanted to see.  Goal setting works the same way.  You need a map to get you to your destination quickly and safely.  At the Y we use the …

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and although it’s just one day, there will be many parties and treats between now and New Year’s Eve that can cause your waistline to slowly grow. Not to mention breathing down New Year’s neck is Valentine’s Day and then Easter- both of which are associated with fattening goodies and candies. Here are my tips for keeping your waistline in check during the holidays.  Don’t skip meals.  Many people forgo eating before parties because they figure it will balance out their overindulgence later on in the day.  This tactic sets you up not only to make poor …

We all know that sports keep children active. Active children lead healthier lifestyles, as sports keep them moving, burning calories and give kids an option other than sitting in front of a screen. There’s no question that involving kids in sports from an early age is beneficial, but it can help in more ways than the physical. The Y, a leading nonprofit focused on youth development and healthy living, encourages healthy physical activity in children of all ages. Sports keep kids out of trouble, help them burn energy, and help them build confidence. “As a kid playing sports, I learned The …

Halloween is a once a year chance to dress up in costume and stock up on sweets. But for parents who encourage healthy choices and minimal junk food, this day can be a struggle with your little monsters. Kids in America consume an average 60-100 grams of sugar a day, and our nation’s childhood diabetes and obesity rates are scarier than any ghoulish costume. On the one hand, you want to let kids indulge and enjoy the holiday. On the other, you don't want to undermine all the work you do the rest of the year maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, not to mention the harm candy can…

The YMCA’s largest annual fundraiser, the Gala, is right around the corner on October 29. Local mom Michelle Reed has become our volunteer fundraising MVP, bring in auction items from all over the local area totaling over $5,000 in value. “I really love the Y, and it’s a place my family cherishes,” said Reed. “From the first moment I walked through the door, everyone has welcomed me warmly and pointed me in the right direction to find classes and help for my daughter.” Reed’s daughter, Natalie, is nine years old and spends a few days a week here in swim lessons at the Y. Natalie has a …

Last week, we bid farewell to Mary Orne. Chris Bevilacqua, our Teen and Camp Director for most of the last year, has taken the position of Associate Executive Director, and we welcome Adam Rodgers as our new Teen and Camp Director, and continue in our commitment to teens. Rodgers is a graduate of the University of Ottowa in Canada, and comes to us with six years of experience in youth programming. He has worked in various Ys throughout the area, and grown up in the Y community since he became a camp counselor at 17 years old. In Rodgers most recent job, he was Director of Camps for adventure …

Mary Orne has worked at the YMCA for almost 30 years, and in that time has worked in every department. As of next week, Mary Orne will be headed to the South Shore Y, to tackle a new job and help them raise funds for a capital campaign. After 30 years, we want to share some of the fantastic work she has done. Orne has taught many of your children in the Early Learning Center, on Children’s Island and everywhere in between. She helped raise millions of dollars to build the new Y. She has connected our community in countless ways, and never stops trying to bring people together. “I want …

Even at 96-years-old, Lil Sugarman of Swampscott makes her way to the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA four times each week, “when the weather cooperates.” Despite a surgery that left her with limited mobility, Lil does what she can from the comfort of a folding chair on the side of the group exercise room. She is a long-time member and loves the variety of fitness classes that the Y offers. The companionship and connection to her neighbors keep her coming back week after week. This past week, her fitness family celebrated her 96th birthday here at the Y. “It gives me a lift each day. Coming to the Y …

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA is reminding parents about the importance of incorporating regular physical activity and healthier eating habits into their children’s lives. One in three children and the majority of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood obesity in the United States is now the number one health concern for parents, topping smoking and drug abuse, according to the American Heart Association. In Marblehead, 23.3% of children, male and …

According to the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness advocacy organization, 15.1 million children nationwide are left unsupervised after 3 p.m., responsible for taking care of themselves. In Massachusetts, 26% (274,176 kids) of K-12 youth are responsible for taking care of themselves after school. As a leading nonprofit committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Lynch van Otterloo YMCA offers quality afterschool programs that not only help youth learn, grow and thrive, but keep them safe and surrounded by caring adults.    Combining play with …

As we all get back-to-school-ready, purchasing new clothes and school supplies, we should pause to consider nutritional choices as well. Are your children getting all the essential vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy and function at their highest level? Studies show that many adult conditions including heart disease, obesity, cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes often result from nutrition imbalances in childhood. “As a leading nonprofit for healthy living, the Y strives to teach good health and nutritional habits for kids and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity,” Lynch/van …

At the Lynch/van Otterloo Y, our Early Learning Center is in full swing preparing to start a new year. We are preparing our community for a new round of little ones, getting ready to teach the Y’s mission of healthy living, social responsibility, and youth development to a new generation. Mom Sarah Fox is sending her daughter, Grace Marie, to school at the Y this fall. Grace Marie is the granddaughter of the school’s namesake, Marie Wolverton. “I’m excited to send her to school at the Y,” said Fox. “I’ve never sent her anywhere and it’s hard to do, but I’m glad she’ll be here. The sense of …

Up until last year, the Sailing Camp on Children’s Island was a part of the day camp, rather than its own separate entity. But separating the Sailing Camp has made huge strides for the program and for the young sailors who attend. Katie Morgan is at the helm as the Sailing Camp Director this summer, and has been going to Children’s Island since she was 11 years old. She has been part of the Sailing staff for six years, and was enthusiastically chosen to be the Sailing Camp Director this summer. With Sailing Camp separate, a group of kids spends all day learning about sailing and practicing …

To support after-school programs across the country, JCPenney launched a nationwide campaign that invites customers to turn small change into “pennies from heaven” by rounding up their purchases and donating the difference to local organizations, including the YMCA of the North Shore. Donations made through pennies from heaven will provide children in need with access to life-enriching after-school programs at the Y. “With budget cuts in education, there’s never been a more important time to support after-school programs as a valuable community resource that helps to bridge the education gap…

Stress is defined as the emotional and physical reactions you experience as a result of changes and demands in your life. Stress can come from many different factors, such as work, personal relationships, and the environment, and though stress is largely an emotional issue, it can manifest physically as well. According to webmd.com: Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. Seventy-five percent to 90% of all doctor's office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart …

Rachael Gourley didn’t realize how much her life would change when she started working at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA in March. Gourley, who has been raising her daughter Aalana on her own since she was born two-and-a-half-years ago, started working in the YMCA Gymnastics Center because of her love for gymnastics, cheering and tumbling. What she didn’t immediately realize was the network and community she had entered into. “Every single aspect of my life has changed since I started working at the Y,” says Gourley. “The YMCA is like an extended family, I have made friends here that I know I’ll…

Ten-year-old Carly Kulevich, a resident of Marblehead, won the title of 2011 YMCA Junior National Balance Beam Champion at the national meet in Toledo, Ohio last month. Kulevich is the youngest competitor ever to receive this national title. She competed in the 15-years-old and and under age category. In addition to Junior National Balance Beam Champion, Kulevich took 5th in the All Around Competition making her the youngest All American National Champion. She also Placed 5th in Vault and 8th on bars. When Kulevich was asked what her favorite part of the competition was, she said, “It was …