2024 YMCA Impact Tours
Sponsor:
Start and end times indicate the time the bus departs from and returns to the hotel.
Impact Tour A: Fostering Connection across Generations: The YMCA and City of Centennial Address Isolation through Intergenerational Programs
Wednesday, April 3 9:30 am–12:00 pm
Fee: $40 (Advance sign-up and payment required; includes tour and bus transportation)
Three years since the height of the panic, isolation and loss of connection from teens to older adults continue to be issues in Colorado. Together, the YMCA and the City of Centennial are working to address the challenge through intergenerational programs at the Centennial YMCA -Center of Generations.
Located in a 6,345-square -foot YMCA space withing the open-air mixed-use The Streets of South Glenn is a place where older adults can meet friends, have a cup of coffee, play a board game, or join a low impact yoga class. In the same space, teens are gathering in the maker space, social content studio or joining in on the YMCA's first foray into eSports. During this tour, attendees will ahve a chance to see and engage with multi-generational guests, hear froma program participant and talk with a representative of the City of Centennial about the impact of the program on their residents.
Impact Tour B: Public-Private Partnership Collaboration for a New YMCA in Growing, Diverse City of Aurora
Wednesday, April 3 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Fee: $35 (Advance sign-up and payment required; includes tour and bus transportation)
Sponsor:
Aurora is a city with a fast-growing and culturally diverse population. For more than 20 years, the YMCA of Metro Denver operated youth sports, before and after school and teen programs as wel as supporting refugee familieis without an official branch or center. to better serve this community, the YMCA and Wheatlands Park and Recreation Authority entered into a public-private partnership to raise the funds to build and operate the $21 milllion Aurora YMCA at Wheatlands. In operation for just over two years, this state-of-the-art facility is a gathering place for the community and features the latest EGYM strength training technology, aquatics center, nutrition kitchen offering adult and youth cooking classes, soccer pitches for youth sports and much more.
Tour attendees will hear about starting conversations with municipalities and partners, creative avenues in capital fundraising and see program offereings at the Aurora Y.
Impact Tour C: Unlocking Potential: Power Scholars Program at Wyatt Academy Transforms Summer Learning for Students
Wednesday, April 3 3:30 – 5:30 pm
Fee: $45 (Advance sign-up and payment required; includes tour and bus transportation)
Every summer many students lose months of grade-level math and reading skills. Children from underserved families are especially at risk. For nearly 10 years, the YMCA has partnered with BellXcel to provide its evidence-based summer learning model for free at four Denver public schools. Wyatt Academy was the first school to partner with the YMCA to adopt the report and demonstrated results among its students -95% of parents reported improvements in their child's confidence and students experience an average two months's gain in math skills and 2.3 months in reading skills.
Through grand funding and donations by individuals supporting youth education programs, Power Scholars has expanded over the years and includes six elementary schools across Denver and the Cherry Creek school District. Attendees will tour the 134-year old, three-story Wyatt Academy space dedicated to the Power Scholars program, talk with the BellXcel Educator of the Year and Principal Melody Means, and hear first-hand from a parent on the incredible impact of the Power Scholars program for their child.
