New Nir Family YMCA welcomes all to come together and celebrate its First Year Anniversary on Monday, December 30th
The newly constructed Nir Family YMCA serving Southeastern North Carolina experienced a successful first year, marked by an impressive growth in membership and expansion in programs and activities.
A New Y rekindles community unity
When the newly constructed Nir Family YMCA launched its grand opening in December of 2018, the community impact and appreciation for this facility was immediately felt and clearly visible among those present. More than 1,000 residents showed up to commemorate the facility’s grand opening and behold the highly-anticipated, brand new state-of-the-art Y facility.
While the Y’s freshly renovated, expanded facility, with its new high-tech features and updated amenities, was an exciting attraction for attendees, the real draw of the event was rekindling the sense of community, home and connection the Nir Family Y provided.
The community embraced the new Y with enthusiasm and open arms at the Y’s grand opening, according to Shannon Berg, Branch Director for the Nir Family YMCA.
She describes the community’s reaction as an immense outpouring of love with “tears, lots of hugs and handshakes.”
“This place has been a family for a lot of us and we’re happy to be home,” Berg said of the Nir Family YMCA’s grand unveiling of its new facility at 2710 Market Street.
Fast-forward a year later, and the Nir Family YMCA is once again opening its doors and welcoming all in the community to come and join the celebration for the facility’s upcoming one-year anniversary on Monday December 30th.
In honor of its first year, members and non-members alike are encouraged to come and enjoy all-day access to the new facility. on Monday, December 30th. The celebration will also feature a variety of programs, classes and activities for family to enjoy: from basketball to pickle-ball to dance and exercise classes.
The Nir Family YMCA is pulling out all the stops to celebrate its first birthday, which will feature a pool party amid its winter wonderland celebration. (Yes, the pool will be heated for those who are wondering about a pool party in December.)
The Y is also offering a $0 Joining Fee + Pick 2 Programs Special for anyone who joins the Y before January 15th. This membership promotion allows new members to sample some of the Y’s paid programs including small group personal training, masters swim, dance classes, rowing classes and more! Visit here for a detailed schedule of activities planned for the one year celebration.
A new look, a new Y to find your fit
Since its grand opening, the Nir Family YMCA experienced a successful year highlighted by a continued, impressive growth in its membership in addition to innovating and expanding the wellness programs offered by the Y. Within a week of opening its new doors, more than 500 new families joined the Nir Family YMCA.
The new Nir Family YMCA facility features two heated pools, a wing specially designed for child and teen programs, a teaching kitchen and other upgraded sports, recreational areas and equipment including a gymnasium, racquetball/handball courts, new SCIFIT cardio equipment and a new fleet of rowers.
Berg says the swimming pools and group exercise classes in the Y’s new studios have been a hit with its members. Parents are also enjoying the new Discovery Zone for children.
The entire second floor of the refurbished facility is dedicated to wellness. In addition, the new Y features a “Y-Zone that has heart rate monitors and new technology to take you to the next level,” says Berg.
The renovated Nir Family YMCA also enlarged its classroom studios, with an additional 1,200 square feet, to comfortably fit its members in the group exercise classes offered at the Y each week, including its popular Zumba-Latin inspired dance class and yoga classes.
On top of its renovated facility, track and field, exercise studios and other upgrades, the new Nir Family YMCA also initiated a number of new wellness and fitness programs.
Adaptive rowing classes, which are taught by a certified rowing instructor, are one of the new programs added to lengthy list of classes offered at the Nir Family YMCA.
With its expansive offering of programs, the Y provides plenty of options for kids, teens, adults, and seniors of all abilities to find a class or program which suites their interests at the Y to become healthier, happier and more connected to others in the community.
Below is a short yet comprehensive list of the activities and programs offered at the Y:
Health & Wellness: group exercise, personal training, senior programs, chronic disease prevention programs (Diabetes Prevention, Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, Moving for Better Balance, etc.) running programs, sports and recreation, aquatics, kids & family classes, dance classes, races & triathlons etc.
Sports: youth soccer, basketball, flag football, Cape Fear Aquatic Club swim team, senior basketball, senior games, Girls On The Run & STRIDE running programs, dance, fencing, table tennis, pickleball, racquetball, handball and more.
Aquatics: swim lessons, Masters Swim, water aerobics, lap swimming, family pool/splash pad, indoor pools, outdoor pools, etc.
Child Care: afterschool care, summer camp, holiday camps, preschool, drop-in childcare (available to members); and
Youth Enrichment Programs: Y Guides, leaders club, Girls On The Run & STRIDE programs, kids’ triathlon.
More information on all of these programs can be found here.
A new Y sparks new partnerships
Since reopening, the Nir Family YMCA has also forged new partnerships to expand and enhance the wellness programs offered to the community.
In August, the Nir Family YMCA partnered with the New Hanover Regional Medical Center to provide members and non-members access to physical therapy on site at the new Y facility. The on-site physical therapists offer sports rehabilitation, joint replacement rehabilitation, spine care and post-surgical rehabilitation.
“We’re excited to offer a new, convenient location to make it easier for patients to access care,” says Rebecca McGhee, NHRMC manager of outpatient therapy, of the new partnership with the Nir Family YMCA.
The partnership is another example of the Y’s expansion of wellness programs and provides a convenient and customized setting for physical therapy “whether clients are in pain or want to improve their mobility, our team will customize a care plan to help them their goals,” says McGhee.
The Nir Family YMCA hosted the Empowering Youth and Families Program (EYFP) this past spring, during which families from both Brunswick and New Hanover counties gathered at the facility over the course of ten weeks. The EYFP, which is recognized by the World Health Organization as the number one prevention program on substance abuse, is also proven to strengthen parent and youth communication skills, increase academic success and prevent violent behavior among teens.
This past fall the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina partnered with the Wilmington Hammerheads to provide extensive soccer training for children age 3 to 18, of all skills and abilities. “This partnership will put us into a position to provide the best recreational experience for youth soccer players in the areas we serve,” remarked Lee Spooner, Athletics Director for the Y’s of Southeastern North Carolina, on the newfound partnership.
We all need the Y: A place to belong (and celebrate this month!)
Although the Nir Family YMCA is a sparkling, brand new facility, it has become as a popular hub, where a cross section of generations and Y members, old and new, feel welcomed and find a plethora of activities to suit their interests. There is something for everyone at the Y, an organization which has historically played an integral role in bringing people together in its communities.
“Old members, new members, new organizations, and partnerships have all come together at the Nir Family YMCA. This facility has such a great welcoming community environment that so many kids, families and seniors love being a part of,” says Sarah Gibbs of the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina.
With its upcoming one-year anniversary on Monday, December 30th, new Nir Family YMCA hopes to welcome more community members to come check out the its vibrant community, its new home facility and try some of the many fun, beneficial activities offered by the Y. The anniversary celebration offers a free day at the Y for all – so local residents, who are not members, have nothing to lose by trying this Y and potentially much to gain.
The Nir Family YMCA hopes to see familiar faces from last year’s grand opening along with plenty of new faces at its one-year birthday so bring the gift of you, your friends and family.
Visit www.ymcasenc.org/oneyear for more information on the One Year Celebration on December 30th, 2019.
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