For many working families, finding a place where children are safe, active, and engaged in meaningful activities can be one of the biggest challenges throughout the school year and summer months. At the Don Sjogren Community YMCA, the After School Program and Summer Camp provide more than dependable child care—they create a place where kids discover new interests, build friendships, stay active, and make memories that last long after the day is over. Whether it’s experimenting during science week, learning to swim, or simply finding a place to belong, the YMCA is helping children grow while giving parents peace of mind.
Peace of Mind
As many Holdrege families balance busy work schedules and limited child care options, the YMCA has become a dependable partner in helping children stay safe, active, and engaged all day long.
Micki Fisher, the Youth & Family Director at the Don Sjogren Community YMCA, points out this struggle in the community. “Holdrege struggles to have enough daycare spots for younger kids,” Micki shares. To help meet that need, the YMCA After School Program and Summer Camp provide dependable care for school-aged children throughout the school year and summer months. For working moms Samantha Minnick and Kim Beckman, the YMCA has become a trusted partner in caring for their children.
Samantha and her husband are both physical therapists within the Holdrege community, and multiple of their children have participated in both YMCA Summer Camp and the After School Program. Although their two older children have aged out of the programs, their 7-year-old son, Tyson, is still an active participant. “Both of these programs have given us a safe place for Tyson to go after school and in the summer,” Samantha comments. “It gives us comfort knowing that he is so well taken care of and having so much fun!”
For Kim, a nurse at Family Medical Specialties, the YMCA programs are the perfect option for her six-year-old son Baron. Referring to how impactful the YMCA programs have been for her family, Kim says, “It’s been a huge help. I don’t have many options for child care for my work hours, so having this has helped me tremendously.” For the parents, the programs offer dependable care. For the children, they become a place filled with adventure.
Learning Through Play
Whether it’s a themed week of Summer Camp or an afternoon at the After School Program, every day at the YMCA is filled with activities designed to keep children learning, moving, and having fun. From games and crafts to STEM projects, swimming, and snacks, each day offers something new to discover.
For Tyson, the experiments and STEM activities are a highlight of program days. Thinking back to science week of camp, Tyson says, “I loved learning about static electricity and moving a pop can with a balloon that I rubbed on my head.” The excitement of these fun-filled days doesn’t end at camp. Samantha recalls, “He is in such a great mood after the days that he goes to camp. I love that his brain is stimulated and he has had a lot of play time instead of being in front of a screen all day.” Those moments of excitement don’t just create fun afternoons—they build confidence and inspire children long after they leave the YMCA for the day.
Every Friday during the After School Program, children take to the pool to learn life-saving skills, build confidence, and celebrate passing their swim test. For Baron, his favorite parts of the YMCA programs are in the pool. “My favorite part is going swimming,” he shares. When asked what he’s learned at the Y, Baron shares that learning to swim is what he’s most proud of.
A Place To Belong
While exciting activities and new experiences bring children through the YMCA’s doors, the lasting impact reaches much deeper. Beyond crafts, games, and swim lessons, the YMCA strives to create a place where every child feels welcomed and encouraged to grow. Micki hopes every child leaves with “fun experiences, new friends, memories, and accomplishments such as passing their swim tests so they can swim the deep pool.”
Thinking back to a particularly meaningful Summer Camp, Micki remembers the family of Leah and Gavin Raymond. After the sudden loss of their mother, Leah and Gavin moved to Holdrege to live with their father, leaving behind the familiar routines, friends, and the community they had known. They attended Summer Camp at the YMCA shortly after arriving, where they found more than just a place to spend the day. Micki shares, “They made new friends and had support from the staff during that difficult time in their lives.” Over the next several years, Summer Camp and After School program became part of their new routine, providing consistency, friendship, and encouragement during an incredibly difficult season. Eventually, Leah returned to the program as a Junior Counselor at Summer Camp—a full-circle moment that reflects the lasting impact the YMCA can have on a child’s life.
Every day at the YMCA looks a little different. Some children discover a love for science, others conquer the deep end of the pool, and others simply find a place where they feel welcomed and encouraged. Through every themed activity, after-school snack, game, and friendship, the Don Sjogren Community YMCA is helping children grow into confident, capable young people while giving families the support they need. Because sometimes the greatest impact isn’t found in one big moment—it’s built one afternoon, one friendship, and one child at a time.