Albany Area YMCA busy heading into new year

ALBANY — The Albany Area YMCA has a collection of events taking place into the first of the year, including an open house and ongoing holiday camps.

A New Year’s Day open house is planned at the central and Lee County branches from 1-4 p.m. Attendees can take advantage of the main branch’s open house with a health fair, including a fitness analysis from certified personal trainers, sample fit classes Zumba Line Dance and H.I.I.T. Strong, tours, music, a raffle with giveaways and refreshments.

The first 100 guests or new members will receive a free T-shirt. The Lee branch will also be open to the public and award free T-shirts to the first 10 in the doors and to the first five who join. At both locations, joining fees will be waived for the day, and all the open house festivities that day are free.

Meanwhile, a Y holiday camp is scheduled until Jan. 3 for Dougherty and Lee County students who are out of school for the holidays. Kids can take part in activities, crafts and sports, and enjoy breakfast, lunch and a snack from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The Y.E.S. Inclusive Holiday Camp, for the Y Easter Seals program, also offers a camp during the break for children with special needs at the Easter Seals Southern Georgia facility at 1906 Palmyra Road. The camp is conducted from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays until Jan. 3.

Children do not have to be in Easter Seals to take advantage.

Registration is also ongoing for active learning opportunities with YMCA Active Afterschool and YMCA Inclusive Afterschool for children with special needs. Officials said children can access homework help, sports, crafts, character education, friends and fun, with snack and dinner included.

Pick-up from area schools meeting minimum requirements is also available. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Members of the YMCA get access to more than 70 group exercise classes, pool access, KidZone, basketball, volleyball, racquetball and tennis courts, weight room, cardio room and outdoor track, all included with membership. Facility members also receive special offers and lower pricing on child care and programs like youth sports, soccer and swim lessons.

For more information on YMCA activities, call (229) 436-0531 or visit www.albanyareaymca.org. The central branch, located at 1701 Gillionville Road, and the Lee branch, at 316 Robert B. Lee Drive in Leesburg, are both closed Sunday, Monday and Dec. 31.