Find Your Fun at the Y this Winter
With a new year on the horizon comes some new programs here at the Keene Family YMCA. We offer dozens of classes and programs for all ages with a little something for everyone. Here is what you can look forward to in the upcoming winter program session at the Y.
Program Registration
We want to make sure that everyone can find the time to enjoy our facilities and programs at a pace that works for them. The Y offers 4- and 8-week sessions of our programs to provide you with the type of experience you’re looking for.
Our 4-week classes, called Experiences (EXP), enable you to try something new without fully committing to an 8-week session. This way trying something new won’t take up too much of your valuable time but also gives you the opportunity to give a new program a try.
Our 8-week classes, called Progressive (PRO) classes, are progressive in nature, building on the skills learned in the class before. These are great for people who know they enjoy a certain activity and want to expand on their skills.
Our instructors are highly qualified and passionate about helping you develop your skills or step into a new activity. Beginner classes are always offered, so giving a new class a shot is always an option. If the whole family wants to try different programs, become a Family Member and bring the whole family to the Y!
Registration for the Winter Sessions open Dec. 18 for Family Members, Dec. 20 for Members, and Dec. 27 for Guests, so mark your calendars to grab a spot in the class you’ve had your eye on!
Programs to Watch
Here at the Y, we always do our best to make sure that there’s a program or class for everyone to enjoy.
Ninja
A new addition to the Y has been the Ninja room. Over the summer, we turned one of our spaces into a Ninja gym, equipped with everything you need to climb, jump, and parkour your way to your skill goals. We offer programs like Home School Ninja for grades K-8, Open Ninja (ages 5+) for some drop-in action, and Ninja 101 offered in different age groups to help build kids’ self-esteem and sense of accomplishment one obstacle at a time.
Adult Wellness
In this coming Winter Session, the Y is offering a Pop-up Women’s Self Defense Clinic for ages 13 and up. The program is designed to introduce self-defense skills while improving awareness and confidence by learning techniques and practicing in a safe and encouraging environment. This program will give you the tools you need to defend yourself. Come dressed to move because classes start in January! The clinic runs on varying days, so make sure to check out the Winter Program Guide for more information.
Pickleball Clinics
Another Pop-up clinic to keep your eye on is the Pickleball Clinic for ages 13+ starting in January. This beginner focused clinic is a learn-to-play series of classes that will help you build your skills on the court. Beginner Level 1 will introduce new players to the rules and basic skills needed to play pickleball. Beginner Level 2 is for players who have already taken Learn to Play Pickleball, or the Level 1 course, and are looking to further develop their game. Level 3 is focused on advancing the techniques, strategies, and fundamentals that players learned in the first two levels. Pickleball is growing in popularity and these clinics will help anyone curious about the sport get on the court and play with friends.
Arts & Humanities
Our Arts and Humanities programs are fun for the whole family, and although we offer those types of programs at all levels, doing programs as a family can be fun too! Our Family Arts Exploration program allows families with kids ages 2-5 to use all of their senses while engaging in a variety of art and science projects. January’s exploration theme is Self-Discovery Through Art, and February’s theme is STEAM. This 30-minute class is once per week with all the materials included, and the best part is that our Family Members can register for this program free of charge!
If you want to dust off your dancing shoes, come try our Ballroom Dancing and Ballet programs here at the Y! We have beginner and intermediate Ballroom Dancing classes for individuals and couples to hit the dance floor and learn classic dances like the Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Swing and Cha-Cha. Intermediate classes will work on sharpening your moves in the Cha-Cha, Foxtrot, and Tango. The Y also offers a Beginner Ballet class for ages 18+, teaching the foundational movements and positions of ballet. This class gives you a full body workout while you learn about the elegance and strength of ballet.
Dodgeball!
In January, the Y is hosting an Adult Dodgeball Night, ages 18+. Teams must consist of 8 players and there must be at least 2 female players from each team on the court, so gather up your friends and register your team today!
Climbing
If you’ve ever been in the main lobby the Keene Family YMCA, you’ve seen our awesome climbing wall in the lobby, and it’s not there for decoration! We offer courses for climbers of any skill and experience level. We recently teamed up with the Keene State College Outing Club to bring you a series of climbing classes to learn a slew of skills from experienced climber and Outing Club President, Zach Christie. Classes will run every other Thursday from January 18th to April 18th. The 90-minute classes are for climbers age 16+ and no previous climbing experience is necessary.
Another climbing wall highlight is our new Parent & Me Climbing program. This Experience offers a chance for you and your child, age 5+, to experience climbing as a team and learning the ropes (pun-intended) together. You’ll learn how to properly equip yourself and your child, and your talented instructors will take care of the rest. No belaying experience is required, because a team of two instructors will be there to guide you up the wall at the same time on parallel routes of your choice. What a perfect way to bond in a unique way with your child!
Indoor Triathlon
Mark your calendars because the Keene Family YMCA is hosting its first annual indoor triathlon! Anybody ages 13+ can sign up for our triathlon. It will consist of a 10-minute swim in the pool with every athlete getting their own person to count their laps, followed by a 30-minute bike using our spin bikes in the cycle room, and finished off with a 20-minute run on a treadmill with a level 1 incline for everybody. The triathlon will send athletes in waves every 30-minutes so there will be space for everyone to do their best. Each event will track the distances covered by each athlete, which will be combined to determine the top winners, but everyone will get a medal for participating.
This winter, the Y is looking forward to showing our community the many new programs we have to offer this session. Make sure to check out our Winter Program Guide to see what’s lined up for the next few months here at the Keene Family YMCA!
Registration opens Dec. 18 for Family Members, Dec. 20 for Members, and Dec. 27 for Guests. We’re excited to see you soon!