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The Sioux Falls Family YMCA has been in Sioux Falls since 1886 and has taken an active role in our community since that time.   The YMCA has achieved recognition and has earned a reputation as one of the leading youth-serving organizations in our community.   Our programs and services have continued to grow and change as we meet the needs of an ever-growing and changing Sioux Falls.

 
 

DID YOU KNOW?

The Sioux Falls Family YMCA touches the lives of over 24,000 people with over 11,500 of those being area youth involved in our Basketball, Middle School After School, and our Day Camp programs.  In our efforts to build strong kids, strong families, & strong communities, we develop programming that promotes the kind of values that are the keystones of a strong, safe and stable community.

The YMCA assists people in learning the skills and attitudes that will enrich their lives, help them grow, develop, and realize their fullest potential.  The emphasis is on developing the whole person, as embodied in our symbol, the triangle, which signifies the union of the mind, body, and spirit.

Together, the nation's more than 2,500 YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. Y's are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes.
YMCAs' strength is in the people they bring together.


Get your life touch by the Y, and touch the lives of others! 
Sign up for a membership today!

GENERAL OVERVIEW

HISTORY

YMCA programs continue to evolve to address growing community needs.  Programs are based on the YMCA triangle of a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.  Youth programs are designed to teach values like caring, respect, responsibility, fairness, trustworthiness, and citizenship.   

A summary of the number of people reached on an annual basis and some of the programs offered are to follow.

Youth & Families Impacted:

Total number of people served in a given year is over 24,000.  

Programs:

 Youth

  • Character Counts! – Hometown Heroes of Character
  • Y Basketball Clubs – Girls and Boys Grades 2 through 12 (6,900)
  • Tri-State Boys’ & Girls’ Basketball Tournament (5,000+ students) (800+ volunteers)
  • Leif Ericson/Tepeetonka/Explorers/Little Vikes Day Camps (2,800)
  • Camp Scholarship Program (289)
  • Summer Basketball Camp (526)
  • Volleyball Camp (170)
  • Girls Volleyball League (112 teams)
  • Elementary school overnights & winter parties (2,150 students)
  • Middle school overnights (740 students)
  • Swim lessons (900)
  • Lifeguard and Instructor Certificates earned
  • Middle School Afterschool Programs (600/day)
  • Afterschool busing for 4th & 5th grade boys and girls (560/week)
  • Kid Yoga
  • Martial Arts (80)
  • Aerobic fitness classes (1,679)
  • Athletic training program
  • Racquetball, handball & squash instruction
  • Group Cycling

Families

  • Parent-Child Program (50 families)
  • Family Fun Programs (1,900)
  • Child Watch (12,316)
  • Yoga classes (60/week)
  • Family Swim

Adults

  • Racquetball Tournament (186)
  • Adult Volleyball Tournament (140)
  • Adult Basketball League (200)
  • Pick Up Basketball League (180/day)
  • Martial Arts (72)
  • Adult Aquatics programs
  • Racquetball, handball & squash instruction
  • Annual Corporate Cup (8,700)
  • Swim lessons
  • Aerobic fitness classes (1,500)
  • Athletic training program
  • Nautilus Conditioning Program (2,300)
  • Group Cycling

Seniors

  • Senior Yoga
  • Water Aerobics
  • Arthritis Water Aerobics Class
  • Healthy Bones Step Class
  • Silver Sneaker

Geographical Area Served:

The Sioux Falls Family YMCA serves families in Sioux Falls and nearby surrounding communities including; Tea, Brandon, Harrisburg, Hartford, Dell Rapids, and Lennox.

 

·         1851-YMCA established in the USA by retired sea captain,Thomas Sullivan, in Boston.

·         1886-YMCA organized in Sioux Falls; T. M. Blowfield was named secretary but the association became inactive in the 1890’s.

·         1891-Basketball invented by James Naismith at the YMCA training school to keep Y directors fit and limber during the winter months.

·         1895-Volleyball invented at the YMCA by instructor William Morgan.

·         1909-YMCA of Spokane sponsored the first observance of Father’s Day, an idea of Sonora Louise Smart.

·         1919-Sioux Falls YMCA reorganized and began a drive for a modern facility by new volunteer leadership including W.H.T. Foster. 

·         1919-Sioux Falls began youth camping at Covell Lake. Camp Tepeetonka or “Big Tent” established the following year at Lake Madison.

·         1919-YMCA youth basketball leagues established through Sioux Falls churches.  Games were held in the old city auditorium until the Y opened.

·         1922-Opened downtown facility at 11th and Minnesota Avenue.

·         1930-First Tri-State Basketball Tournament held for youth.

·         1950-Chicago Y volunteer Joe Sobek invents racquetball when he couldn’t find a squash partner.

·         1966-YMCA Camp Leif Ericson began, Harold Ersland first chair.

·         1967-Anderson Memorial Youth Addition opened including the Egger and Batcheller Gym.

·         1972-Women’s Activities established with full membership status in 1976.

·         1974-Tri-Gray Y program began.

·         1977- Family activities (Family Afternoon) offered on Sunday.

·         1977-Phase III remodeling program was completed.  The program added two handball courts, one new gym, two exercise rooms, one all-purpose room, two new locker rooms, a new basket room, a new chapel; it also enlarged the Men’s Fitness Center and provided miscellaneous improvements in building and equipment.

·         1984-Project 2000 Chamber Approved Capital Campaign was initiated, with over $1.9 million raised.

·         1986-Max L. Rysdon Pool dedicated as part of Project 2000 that included new Women’s locker room, Nautilus center, and free weight area.

·         1992-Little Vikes day camp began (camp for 4 and 5 year-olds).

·         1993-Establishment of Leif Ericson Endowment Fund by Don and Cara Lee Davis.

·         1993-First Girls’ Tri-State Basketball Tournament.

·         1994-Looking Up capital campaign conducted, raising over $210,000.

·         1994-The Y Rookies basketball program began for boys and girls in Grades 2 & 3.

·         1996-Dan and Arlene Kirby established the YMCA Endowment Fund at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

·         1997-Scherschligt Family Play Space opens, catering to families and youth, in addition to Foster Conditioning Center dedication.

·         1998-Middle School after school program established to meet the needs of youth and working parents from 3:30 to 6:00 pm.  Reports an almost 50% reduction in police reports in youth ages 11-14 during the hours of program operation.  Over 600 students per day are involved in this program.

·         2001-In January, Tamara U. Baker became the first woman to chair the YMCA Board of Directors.

·         2002-Embarked on the first ever Chamber of Commerce Appeals Campaign for endowment.  The YMCA was one of 18 organizations working together to raise a total of $6 million, to be matched with another $2 million by the Kresge Foundation.

·         2003-Capital Campaign for the west side facility was underway, with a goal of $5,000,000.

·         2004-The Men’s Fitness center was completely renovated.

·         2004-Boys’ Tri-State Tournament celebrated 75 years.

·         2004-The Ivan H. Howes YMCA Camp Scholarship Endowment Fund was established at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, by Mike & Bunny Howes.

·         2005-Sioux Falls Family YMCA reached an endowment goal of $300,000 and was granted a match of $100,000 from the Kresge Foundation.

·         2005-K-1st basketball program began - “Hoopsters”.

·         2006-Family Wellness opens on the west side. This was a joint venture between the Sioux Falls Family YMCA and Sanford Health.


 







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