Conference Events
2024 NAYDO Conference Schedule
YMCA Impact Tours
YMCA IMPACT TOURS
Sponsor: gro>
Start and End Times indicate the time the bus departs from and returns to the hotel.
Wednesday, April 3 | 9:30 am – 12 pm
Impact Tour A: Fostering Connection Across Generations: The YMCA and City of Centennial Address Isolation through Intergenerational Programs
Fee: $40 includes tour & bus transportation | Advance registration required
Nearly three years since the height of the pandemic, isolation and loss of connection from teens to older adults continues to be an issue in Colorado. Together, the YMCA and the City of Centennial are working to address the issue through intergenerational programs at the Centennial YMCA – Center of Generations.
Located in a 6,345-square-foot space within the open-air mixed-use The Streets of SouthGlenn, the “COG,” as it is known as, 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 have a chance to see and engage with multi-generational guests, hear from a program participant and talk with a representative of the City of Centennial about the impact of the program on their citizens.
Wednesday, April 3 | 10 AM – 1 PM
Impact Tour B: Public-Private Partnership Collaboration for a New YMCA in Growing, Diverse City of Aurora
Fee: $35 includes tour & bus transportation | Advance registration required
The city of Aurora is fast-growing and has a culturally diverse population. For more than 20 years, the YMCA of Metro Denver operated youth sports, before and after school and teen programs as well as supporting refugee families all without an official branch or center. To better serve this community, the YMCA and the Wheatlands Park and Recreation Authority entered into a public-private partnership to raise the funds to build and operate the $21 million 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 offerings at the Aurora Y.
Wednesday, April 3 | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Impact Tour C: Unlocking Potential: Power Scholars Program at Wyatt Academy transforms summer learning for underserved students
Fee: $45 includes tour & bus transportation | Advance registration required
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 program and demonstrated results among its students – 95% of parents report improvements in their child’s confidence and students experience an average two months’ gain in math skills and 2.3 months in reading skills.
Through grant funding and donations by individuals supporting youth education programs, the Power Scholars has expanded over the years and includes six area 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 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.
