The Catskill Chronicle

CLARYVILLE, NY (April 10, 2011) – On Saturday, April 16, 2011, the Frost Valley YMCA is encouraging all kids and parents in Sullivan and Ulster counties to come to the Y for a play date and commit to being active every day.

It’s all part of the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day™ – the nation’s largest health day for families. The free event will take place at Frost Valley YMCA, Claryville, NY from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and feature activities such as rock climbing, hikes, Zumba class and drug-dog demonstrations.

As a leading nonprofit strengthening community through healthy living, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits to kids and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity. At a time when one in three children in the United States are overweight or obese (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), developing healthier habits that include increased physical activity is more important than ever.

As part of Healthy Kids Day, the Y encourages families to make play dates everyday as a simple way to become healthier, more active and connected. The Frost Valley YMCA recommends five simple activities families can do to play together:

1. Schedule a Game Night: Play games with the kids that incorporate physical activity, such as Charades.

2. Dance, Dance: Turn on your favorite party music and dance! Make this activity more fun with a dance contest.

3. Go Riding: Find a new bike path or park for a fun afternoon outdoors; grab your helmets and go rollerblading or bike riding.

4. Channel Your Inner Youth: Remember playing hopscotch, jump rope, Simon Says or freeze tag as a kid? Teach your favorite childhood game to your kid(s) and play them together.

5. Play Outside: Visit your neighborhood park or camp out in your backyard for some outdoor fun. Get everyone moving with fun sports like soccer, basketball or baseball.

Frost Valley YMCA is proud to host representatives from a variety of local health and wellness organizations, including Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, EPIC, Sullivan County Health Services, Claryville Fire Department, Ulster County K-9 unit, and Operation Safe Child who will be leading demonstrations, creating ID cards, and facilitating fun activities that teach a healthy lifestyle. They are also there as a resource to parents.

Nationally, Healthy Kids Day is supported nationally by the Dodge brand, PepsiCo and Sam’s Club.

For information please call 845-985-2291, e-mail: info@frostvalley.org or visit: www.FrostValley.org. Keep up with daily happenings at Frost Valley on twitter at twitter.com/frostvalley.            

Frost Valley YMCA is eight miles from Claryville and 14 miles from Big Indian in the Catskill Mountain High Peaks. It¹s open every day through four seasons, welcoming school children, family, group and business retreats every week from September through June. The camp is just 2.5 hours drive from metro NY/NJ and about 1 hour from Kingston.