On Saturday, May 4, the YMCA of Coastal Georgia held its annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families.

Staff said new families that attended engaged in various activities together, whether in the YMCA’s indoor pool, at the dunk tank or lawn games near the day camp area.

The Y gave out information about its summer camp programs, swim lessons, and the Y’s swim meet schedule. Moms and dads new to Y programs were informed about childcare services, so they know their children are being taken care of during morning and evening hours while they start or maintain a fitness regimen.

Life guards trained Saturday, as they do daily, and swim testing was conducted to assess children’s skill levels so they could be placed in the appropriate swim classes, like beginner, intermediate or advanced.

Doni Brezenski, Fitness and Armed Services Director, heads the aquatics program at the local Y. She explained children must show they have learned certain skills to earn a “green band.” A green band allows youngsters to swim in the deep end of the pool, Brezenski said. Skills include swimming 25 meters using freestyle, they must stay horizontal with their face in the water, show breath control and tread water for one minute unassisted.

The annual event allows the Y to “open the doors to the community,” Brezenski said.

For more information, visit ymcaofcoastalga.org or call 912-354-5480.