The Community YMCA Helps Families Charge Into Summer at Healthy Kids Day®, April 29

On Saturday, April 29, The Community YMCA’S Camp Zehnder, Child Achievement Center and Family Health and Wellness Center, are hosting Healthy Kids Day, a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active now and all summer long.

“Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s official start to the best summer ever,” said Rhonda Anderson, President and CEO of The Community, which serves 20,000 people across Monmouth County. “We’re here to help kids and families get the most out of the summer season with ideas to fill each day with the potential for growth, achievement, fitness and fun.”

Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being for kids and families. It was established in 1992 in response to alarming statistics that one in three U.S. children is obese. Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year.The Y will highlight many of its summer programs at Healthy Kids Day including day camp and swim lessons.

Camp Zehnder, 3911 Herbertsville Road, Wall, 08724

From 9 a.m.–12 p.m., walking tours of the 140-acre camp will be available and families will enjoy fun, fitness challenges, a bounce house, nutrition information, healthy snacks, and more. Children will have a chance to try fun and challenging obstacles that are part of the Spartan Edge weeklong specialty camp offered at Camp Zehnder, where kids develop resilience and teamwork. Families who attend Healthy Kids Day at Camp Zehnder also can enter to win a free week of camp.

Child Achievement Center, 201 Broad Street, Matawan, 07747

Families will enjoy a “Passport to Fun” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. with school-age games and crafts, face painting, kids Yoga demonstrations and fitness fun with an obstacle course. Healthy snacks and a nutritious food project will be hosted by the Y’s food partner Red Wagon Meals.

Family Health and Wellness Center, 166 Maple Avenue, Red Bank, 08724

From 12 p.m.-3 p.m., families will enjoy face painting, kids Hip/Hop and Zumba, a Teddy Bear Clinic led by Hackensack Meridian Medical Health and Riverview Medical Center’s ER staff, race relay and free throw contests, Giant Jenga, a gift card raffle to local businesses, and more. Healthy snacks from Wegmans and giveaways will be available. Families interested in a healthy start to summer can sign up for a special priced three-month membership.

For more information, visit www.TheCommunityYMCA.org.

About The Community YMCA

The Y is a leading nonprofit charity that strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Community YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents in greater Monmouth County, NJ through programs such as: preschool, before and after school care, summer day camp, teen leadership, arts enrichment, health and wellness and personal and family counseling. In 2015-16, the Y provided more than $404,000 in financial assistance and program subsidies to strengthen over 1,115 children and families. For more information, visit TheCommunityYMCA.org.