Families Invited to Healthy Kids Day at Wayne YMCA on April 21

Families are invited to the Wayne YMCA on Saturday, April 21 for Healthy Kids Day, a free, fun-packed event to inspire children and their parents to engage their bodies and minds all summer long

From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., guests can enjoy sports and group cycle classes, swimming, inflatables, a DJ, camp games, fitness camp activities, planting activities, crafts and tattoos. The Wayne Police Department will do car seat and bicycle safety checks, and Friends of Wayne Animals will hold an adoption event.

Sponsored by St. Joseph's Healthcare System, Healthy Kids Day features food trucks, a police car, fire truck and ambulance, community vendors, and a BeFit interactive performance at 1:00 p.m. A surprise super hero will make an appearance. The Y will raffle off a three-month membership and families that register for summer camp that day will have a chance to win a free week of camp.

“Healthy Kids Day is a terrific family outing that also serves as a catalyst for planning an active summer,” Wayne YMCA Executive Director Laura Tiedge said. “Children who set goals for growth thrive and start the new school year from a place of strength,” Tiedge said. Research shows inactivity causes children to fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during the summer as compared to the school year, she noted.

As part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Wayne YMCA is urging adults to participate in Five Days of Action, April 16-20, and learn how to identify and address child sexual abuse. The problem is pervasive: one out of every 10 children is sexually abused, and in 90 percent of cases, the child knows and trusts the abuser.

As part of the “Step Up & Speak Out” campaign, YMCA members are asked to learn the facts about child sexual abuse, share tools and resources, and sign the Pledge to Protect Children in the lobby. The campaign includes a major social media component using the hashtag #5DaysofAction. For more information, go to http://www.metroymcas.org/preventnow.

The Wayne YMCA is a branch of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges. Metro Y President and CEO Richard K. Gorab belongs to YMCA Guardians for Child Protection, a group of Y leaders who are spearheading the awareness movement.

Healthy Kids Day will be held at the YMCA, 1 Pike Drive, rain or shine and is open to the public. Visit wayneymca.org or call (973) 595-0100 for details.

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ABOUT THE Y

Established in 1885, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges invests in its diverse communities to promote wellness, safety and quality of life for children, adults and seniors. Its seven branches in East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Hackensack, Hardyston, Stillwater and Wayne are committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility through an array of programs. Some 35,000 people belong to the Metro Y, which awards more than $2.8 million annually in direct and indirect financial assistance.