Y's Sneak Preview This Friday

The Melrose Y is holding a sneak preview of its fall programs this Friday, Aug. 27 from 6-8 p.m.—and the Y's Branch Director Diana Ganz guarantees that you'll see something you've never seen before.

"We have a ton of new classes—classes that this Y has never seen before and the community's probably never thought to look to us for," Ganz said. "Anything from science class, to a Little Chefs class, dance and sport classes ...

"To a Mini Rockstars class which is my favorite," she added as a smile spread across her face and a chuckle rose up.

Last month, the Y confirmed that it would no longer offer its after-school program this coming school year and, instead, focus on new programs for kids that aren't available elsewhere.

The Y's making good on that intention with its new slate of fall classes, which'll be introduced at this Friday's sneak preview that Ganz said is indicative of the types of inclusive programs the organization aims to offer.

"These family events that we're starting to do at the Y are intended to be feel-good events for families, to come in and have their kids do something constructive on a weekend, on a Friday night," she said. "It's something that adds value to membership here—for members, they're free—or to just get the community into the door."

At Friday night's event, stations will be set up in the Y's gymnasium and children can drop in and participate in demonstrations of the various enrichment classes the Y will offer in the coming months.

Teachers step forward for Y and Melrose children

One of those enrichment classes is the aforementioned Little Chefs class, which Ganz said is "not necessarily baking—no ovens required," but teaching children how to create healthy snacks for themselves, from Chex Mix to fruit salads.

The Alphabet Soup class is a credit to the Y's Administrative Assistant Laura Cavicchi, Ganz said, teaching children the alphabet through songs and other activities. Other new programs slated for the autumn months include the Little Picassos art class, the World of Animals class, and sports and athletic classes for older kids, such as teen spinning and youth workout clubs.

Ganz said she hopes to expand those types of enrichment classes even more, and is looking into piano lessons and sign language classes for children come this winter.

The Mini Rockstars, dance classes and Itsy Bitsy Broadway class, the latter of which Ganz called "really adorable," are thanks to a friend of Ganz's who will be leading those classes at the Y.

"At one point in her career, Disney wanted her to do some musical things for them,  and it just wasn't the right timing," she said. 

Teachers from outside the Melrose Y offering their acumen to Melrose children has been a hallmark of the summer months, Ganz said.

"Once this [fall] brochure came out, people started contacting me to offer classes here, which is—so—cool," she said, taking a breath between the last two words to emphasize her excitement. "That really means people are starting to look at the Y as kind of a different entity and as a place that would offer fun classes like that. I can't take the credit for the new ideas that we're offering, because a lot of people are coming to us and saying, 'Hey, I teach this—can you guys offer it?' And I'm up for anything."

Expansion of community and family events

In addition to the new programs this fall for children, the Melrose Y aims to offer more community and family events that everyone can participate in, such as the Spooky Sprint 5K road race scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30.

Ganz said the road race would start at 9 a.m., and immediately afterwards the Melrose Y would hold a Halloween bash.

"Halloween is my favorite holiday," Ganz started to say as enthusiastic laughter bubbled up and burst forth from her. "I just love it. At my previous Y, this was always the event that I did. We did candy in a haystack, ghost bowling, witch hat ring toss, a 'monster ball' dance party upstairs. We will have a ball with this."

Ganz said that family events like the Halloween road race and party are what distinguish the Y from other health and wellness or fitness facilities.

"These family events are why I love my job—because they're fun. For me to be able to say I get paid to organize a road race and a Halloween party"—she pauses to laugh again—"I mean, it's so fun! We're in the fun business and we want to start doing more of that."

Other family and community events planned for this fall include Flick-N-Float on Friday, Sept. 3, when kids get to float in the Y's pool and watch the movie "Finding Nemo" on a big screen—"with the lights on, so we're not floating around in the dark," Ganz adds—and a Magic Night with a magician on Friday, Sept. 24.

For parents, Ganz pointed out the Y's new Parents Night Out—essentially a babysitting night that costs $20 for the first child and $5 for each additional child, where parents can drop their children off at the Melrose Y where they'll get dinner, have the opportunity to go swimming in the Y's pool, or participate in some arts and crafts activities.

"I think that's pretty affordable; I know parents, for three hours for one kid, will pay upwards of $50 for a night," she said. "So, it's just aother way to add value to our membership."