Category: Youth Development

Making Waves for a Cause: The Marsh Madness Polar Plunge Recap

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

A Chilling Challenge with a Warm Heart

Imagine stepping into icy 34-degree waters, the cold stealing your breath away as you take the plunge. Now, imagine doing it for a cause that changes lives. On March 15, hundreds of brave adventurers did just that at the Marsh Madness Polar Plunge, an annual fundraising event hosted by the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. This event wasn’t just about the thrill—it was about making waves for a greater cause by raising essential funds for the YMCA’s Open Door Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to youth when their families need extra help to afford programming such as summer camp, before & after school care, school’s out programs.

“Regardless of their family's ability to pay, events like this make sure that kids in our county have access to high-quality programming that is affordable. The experiences they have with their peers and our mentors have long-lasting impressions on their lives – from core memories to learning social skills and building confidence in a safe place. Every kid deserves – and receives – the same chance for potential.”

-Phil Borup

Freezin’ for a Reason: The Impact of Your Support

Every dollar raised at Marsh Madness helps ensure that children, no matter their financial circumstances, can access life-changing YMCA programs, including swim lessons, summer camp, and memberships.

  • $100 provides two children with six weeks of swim lessons, helping them learn vital water safety skills.
  • $250 gives a struggling family a seven-month YMCA membership, offering them a place to stay active and engaged.
  • $500 sends four children to one week of summer camp, giving working parents peace of mind.
  • $1,000 ensures 12 children have meals and snacks in childcare for a month.

The ripples of generosity from this year’s plunge will be felt by countless families across Berks County.

Epic Costumes, Fierce Competitions, and Award-Winning Spirit

The event was more than just a plunge—it was a celebration of community spirit. Participants sported wacky costumes, formed spirited teams, and competed for top fundraising awards.

Pot of Gold Awards (Top Individuals)

  • Shamrock Award (Male with most money raised): Joseph Conte 
  • Four Leaf Clover Award (Female with most money raised): Kim Evans
  • Leprechaun Elder Award (Oldest Plunger): Bill Oswald
  • Fairy Tales Award (Best Female Costume): Rylee Coyle
  • Ogre Drag Award (Best Male Costume): Joey Conte

Blarney Chalice Awards (Top Groups)

  • Fiddler Folly Award (Best Team Costume): Christopher, Robin, Candice, and Ira Wierzbowski
  • Member Spirit Award (Member team with most participants or best costume): Reading YMCA Swim Team
  • Community Spirit Award (Business with most money raised): Exeter Leo Club 

Y Spirit Awards (Branch Awards)

  • Most Money Raised: Reading YMCA 
  • Best Spirit: Sinking Spring YMCA’s Group Fitness Team

Community Champions: Our Incredible Sponsors

Marsh Madness wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our local businesses. A huge thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event a success:

Platinum Sponsors

Redner’s, Chicco, Enersys, The Works at Wyomissing

Gold Sponsors

MailShark, West Lawn Quoiting Associates, UGI Energy Services INC, Reading Orthodontics Management, Dorothy M Hass Charitable Trust

Silver Sponsors

Alarm Tech Services INC, Reading Precast INC, Performance Roofing Associates, EHD, Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys, Burkey Construction, Fulton Bank, Herbein, Maillie LLP, Precor, Fleetwood Orioles Nest #23

Bronze Sponsors

Sheetz, Tree’s Salon, Sims Lawn and Landscaping LLC, West Wyomissing Fire Co, Lincoln Park Fire Company, Boehringer’s Drive-In, Hidden View Woodworks, Kristen Young Pilates LLC, ReMax of Reading, Rudolph LLC

Iceberg Sponsors

D & S Portable Toilets LLC, Geist Sporting Goods, Elwood and Carol Klinger, Simple Again, Keystone T’s, Bob Zelano Refrigeration, Prospectus Berco

Support the Y’s Mission: It’s Not Too Late to Donate

Visit our website to learn more about YMCA programs, volunteer opportunities, and how to support local nonprofits in Reading, PA. Every contribution helps strengthen our community—because when we come together, we rise together.

Make your splash today! Donate Now

YMCA Summer Day Camp & Playground Programs: A Transformative Experience for Kids Treasure New Experiences. Build Confidence. Make Memories.

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

Summer’s calling! It’s time to start planning for a summer camp bursting with weekly adventures, unforgettable trips, and lifelong memories. You’ll give the kids something to look forward to and you’ll stay ahead of the game when summer finally arrives. 

Summer Day Camps offer children much more than just a break from school—they provide a holistic developmental experience that nurtures physical, social, and emotional growth. The Summer Day Camp & Playground programs at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County are designed to create memorable and enriching summer adventures for children. They create new memories and friendships, explore new things, and gain independence all while trying new, fun activities!

Day Camp (full-day, 8 AM – 4 PM) is offered at all five locations of YMCA of Reading & Berks County: Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley. For families who need to accommodate their work schedules and want to extend the day for their kids, the Y also offers options for wrap-around care for mornings and/or afternoons.  The Y also manages numerous Playground Programs (half-day, 9 AM – 1 PM) at multiple locations throughout Berks County. 

Some of the most popular features of YMCA Summer Camp (included in the cost of camp) include:

  • Weekly themes, spanning different interests from sports and superheroes to music, art and traditions from around the world
  • Top-notch weekly field trips, Top Flight Golf, Reading Fightins baseball, and Laser Tag
  • Weekly trips to the swimming pool and/or water games
  • Food art with our on-staff nutritional chef
  • Activities, games and challenges are age appropriate

Summer Camps Provide Life-Long Benefits

The YMCA Summer Camp is more than just entertainment. It’s a structured program designed to provide life-long benefits. Children gain increased self-esteem, enhanced social skills, and memories that last a lifetime!

Preventing Summer Learning Loss

Academic experts recognize the challenge of summer learning loss. In fact, the summer learning slide can add up to equivalent of three years of reading loss by the end of fifth grade. Our YMCA camps address this by incorporating educational elements into fun activities. By keeping children mentally stimulated through problem-solving, team-building, and creative challenges, camps help maintain academic readiness.

Social and Emotional Development

Camps provide a unique environment for children to develop crucial social skills. More than 75% of families report that their children feel a sense of belonging during camp, and over 73% note that their kids make new friends. The camp experience helps children build self-confidence, learn teamwork, develop leadership skills, explore social interactions, and create a sense of belonging and community.

Personal Growth and Skill Building

Through so many learning experiences and activities with their peers, campers can navigate challenges in a nurturing, low-pressure environment with our counselors and mentors. Through incremental personal experiences, they build their confidence as they try new challenges and acquiring new skills through the activities – from STEM to arts and crafts, to swimming and sports.

A Lasting Impact

YMCA Summer Day Camp is not just a summer program—it’s a transformative experience that supports children’s holistic development. By combining fun, learning, and personal growth, Y camps provide an invaluable opportunity for children to explore, learn, and thrive during their summer break.

10 Things to Do at the Y

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

When you have fun options, prioritizing your health and wellness feels anything but “routine.” Putting self-care first helps enhance your sense of joy and contributes to a better quality of life.

The YMCA of Reading & Berks County offers something for every age. Here’s a top 10 list of activities to keep your mind, body and spirit strong.

  1. Health & Wellness. Exercise in one of five fitness centers outfitted with new free weights and cardio equipment that streams your devices so you can track your progress or catch up on your shows. Have little ones? Check the times for supervised childcare in the Kids Court while you work out or get a massage at New Beginnings in Sinking Spring Y. With fitness and nutrition orientations and cooking classes, the Y helps you improve your lifestyle choices.
  2. Fitness Classes. Find your fun in fitness classes including Zumba®, yoga, spin, aquacise, LesMills™ BodyPump and many more that cater to different fitness levels and interests.
  3. Get a day pass or membership to have a ball playing racquet sports year-round. To keep beginners and practiced players moving, the Y has indoor pickleball courts. You also can shoot hoops in, or maybe even rent, the gym.
  4. Head to the indoor swimming pool at the Reading YMCA branch where you can enjoy lap swimming, recreational swimming and swim lessons for all ages.
  5. Certifications and Classes. Take CPR, AED and lifeguarding classes in life-saving procedures offered through American Red Cross.
  6. Summer Camps. Enroll your children in summer day camp and playground programs! Every week features amazing field trips within and beyond Berks, fun weekly themes, pool/water days, sports, arts and crafts, and educational programming for fun camp challenges. Campers will learn new skills, preventing summer learning loss. They’ll make new friends and life-long memories!
  7. Celebrate a Birthday. At the Sinking Spring Y, make the day special with exclusive access to the Kids Court (Play Port, bounce house and climbing wall) and dedicated party staff. There are also options for Nerf parties and Gaga Pits.
  8. Kids Night Out. Parents can take the night off and drop their kids (grades K-6) off for an evening of fun and games, crafts, snacks and movies. This monthly event rotates among the Y’s five branches.
  9. Enrichment Programs. In addition to early learning centers, the Y offers Before & After School Care and School’s Out programs for school-aged children. Homework help, games and nutritious snacks are a few of the things you can expect.
  10. Participating in community events offers a special sense of connection, camaraderie and purpose. Save these dates:
  • Take the plunge on March 15 at Blue Marsh for the Y’s Annual Marsh Madness Polar Plunge event to benefit youth.
  • Come to Healthy Kids Day, a free family fun day hosted by the YMCA and Berks County Parks & Recreation on April 26 featuring a color run for kids, food trucks, smoothy-making bikes, crafts, fitness activities and local vendors.
  • Pick your partner and register online (beginning March 30) for the Annual Cornhole Tournament on June 13. This family-friendly event will have brackets for adults (12+) and families (ages 6-12 can team up with an adult), food trucks and prizes.

For 166 years, the YMCA of Reading and Berks County has worked to strengthen our community by building healthier families, empowering youth, fostering inclusivity and providing a foundation for connection and belonging. The Y has five fitness/wellness centers, two early learning centers, and is one of the few in the nation to offer residential housing programs. In addition to its physical branches in Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley (Fleetwood, Oley and Schuylkill Valley), the Y provides enrichment programs and community activities with several organizations and schools throughout the county. ymcarbc.org

Level Up Your Summer Camp Experience

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

YMCA Summer Day Camp & Playground Programs

 By: Shelley Eppihimer, VP of Youth Development, YMCA of Reading & Berks County

 

With summer around the corner, parents are seeking fun, engaging, and affordable ways to keep their children active and entertained. The YMCA of Reading & Berks County offers an exceptional array of Summer Day Camp & Playground programs that provide a safe, structured, and fun environment for kids. At Y camps, kids create new memories and friendships, explore new things, and gain independence all while trying new, fun activities!

1. Comprehensive Summer Day Camps & Playground Programs

Summer Day Camps run from 8 AM – 4 PM with optional Wrap-Around & Extended Care to accommodate working parents. Day Camp is offered at all five YMCA of Reading & Berks County locations: Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley. Campers enjoy weekly field trips, take part in specialty days, and have access to the YMCA pool once per week. These activities offer an exciting mix of adventure and learning, helping children make life-long memories.

Additionally, Playground Programs run from 9 AM – 1 PM, which is perfect for younger children or those with shorter schedules. The Y manages Summer Playground Programs in multiple locations throughout the county.

2.Exciting Days & Engaging Field Trips

Amazing field trips are one of the standout hallmarks of YMCA Summer Camp! They keep the summer packed with unique, educational experiences kids look forward to, such as:

  • Laser Tag for thrilling competitive fun
  • Top Golf for those looking to try a new sport
  • A day at the Reading Fightins’ for baseball game experience
  • Outdoor adventures that encourage exploration and physical activity
  • Nutrition and cooking opportunities that teach healthy habits in a fun, hands-on way

Each day, Y camps offer a wide variety of activities, sports, crafts and more to give children opportunities to explore new interests and develop new skills. Specialty days, such as themed events and project-based activities, keep the days fun.

3.Safe, Supportive Environment

The YMCA provides a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where children can grow and thrive. All programs are supervised by qualified, trained staff who are dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of every child.

 

4.Affordable Options with Open Door Scholarships

Because affordability can be a concern for many families, the YMCA of Reading & Berks County offers Open Door Scholarships. It ensures children from all backgrounds have access to quality enrichment programs regardless of a family’s financial situation.

5.Prevent Summer Learning Loss

The YMCA offers a wide variety of summer programming for enrichment, preventing summer learning loss. By keeping children mentally stimulated through problem-solving, team-building, and creative challenges, YMCA camps help maintain academic readiness.

6.Promoting Personal Growth and Social Skills

YMCA summer programs are about more than just fun—they help children develop essential social and life skills. By working in teams, engaging in new activities, and meeting new friends, kids gain confidence, improve communication, and learn the values of teamwork and responsibility. These experiences play a key role in fostering a sense of community and belonging.

7.A Summer of Fun, Friendship, and Learning

The YMCA’s summer programs provide a well-rounded experience that combines fun, physical activity, learning, and personal development. Kids leave the programs with cherished memories, new skills, and lasting friendships, making the YMCA a top choice for parents looking to enrich their children’s summer.

Enroll Your Child to Level Up this Summer’s Fun

This summer, let your child experience a summer like no other—full of adventure, new friends, and exciting opportunities. Early registrations are encouraged to secure a spot in these popular Y Summer Camp & Playground programs. For more information about the offerings at the Reading, Mifflin, Adamstown, Sinking Spring, and Tri Valley YMCAs, visit www.YMCArbc.org/summer-day-camp  or call your local branch today.