CHILD WATCH 

The Gaston County Family YMCA is dedicated to providing high-quality Child Watch for our members. Your child's well-being is our number one focus as we concentrate on value based, fun activites that nurture healthy development and growth. Well-trained staff provide safe, high quality care so you can have peace of mind while you are in the YMCA facility. Staff members are partners with parents and other caregivers, working together to help kids grow up healthy, happy and strong!

Childwatch is free for YMCA Family Memberships.

Y-Guides and Princesses

Ages: Fathers and children ages 5 – 12 years

Tribes:  Each Tribe holds 8 to 10 pairs that meet each month at members homes on a rotating basis.  The individual tribe sets the tribal schedule, with a general rule of 4 hours a month.  The YMCA offers Nation Events each month for everyone to participate in!

Tribe Selection:  Participants are given the option of creating their own tribe or joining an existing group.  We try to place pairs in relation to where they live or the school they attend.  However, if you already know someone participating you are welcome to request a tribe on the back of this form.

Costs: 
First Year Costs: $55 for Members, $75 for Non Members
2nd Year and on: $45 for Members, $65 for Non Members
Additional Child: $35 each Members, $45 Non Members
Individual events may have additional fee at time of sign up.

YMCA Indian Guides History

In 1926, Harold Keltner, a YMCA executive in St. Louis, Missouri, and Joe Friday, an Ojibway Indian hunting guide, founded a YMCA parent/child program which became knows as Indian Guides. The program was based on dignity, patience, endurance, spirituality, feeling for the earth, and concern for family.  In 1954 the first Y-Indian Princess Program was formed in Fresno, California, which allows fathers and daughters the opportunity to participate.

To register download the registration form!  Contact your local YMCA or Tammy Dickerson, tdickerson@gastonymca.org or 704.865.8551, with questions about the program!

HOME SCHOOL GYM AND SWIM

The YMCA Home School Gym & Swim program focuses on introducing sports, skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, and character values. Everyone plays, makes new friends, and has fun in our non-competitive classes.

WHAT - The Gaston County Family YMCA offers a range of programs, including basic physical education classes, for home-schooled students of varied ages and abilities.  Activities include, but are not limited to, bowling, soccer, swimming, basketball, fitness training, group games, hiking Crowder’s Mountain and the Presidential Fitness Challenge. All gym activities incorporate the YMCA Supersports Games Approach: Everyone Plays, Everyone Wins.

WHEN – The Gym and Swim program is offered as two 12-week semester sessions, fall and spring:  6 weeks of gym/fitness, 6 weeks of swimming.


WHO – Grades K-8 (groups split up by age and swimming ability)

WHERE – Held at the Gaston County Family YMCA, Central Branch, at 615 West Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28052.

COST - Members: 1st child-$45 per session; $5 discount per sibling
Non-member Participants: 1st child-$65 per session; $5 discount per sibling
Financial assistance is available. 

CONTACT US @ 704-865-8551