You hear it everytime you talk to the youth of Tyrone. The standard answer is there is nothing for them to do.
Starting today, The Daily Herald, will look at some of the things there are for the youth of Tyrone.
The Tyrone Area YMCA is the first place for the youth of Tyrone to look for something to do. Serving the Tyrone community for years, the YMCA was the place to be for many generations.
“We do our best to serve people of all ages,” said Wendi Cushion, Tyrone YMCA Programming Assistant. “Through our programming and youth activities, we offer many different things for the youth of our community.”
The Tyrone YMCA has activities for kids age three until they graduate high school. There is the YMCA Children’s Center, youth basketball leagues, dance, Martial Arts and gymnastics that are targeted for the youth of Tyrone.
“We look at doing what we can to better serve the youth of Tyrone and the surrounding area,” said Cushion. “If you are wanting to learn to play basketball, the place to come is the YMCA. We have great instructors who take the time and help the kids in our programs improve everytime they enter our facility. In our Girls basketball league, there was a team that hadn’t won a game. The first game they won, was against the team that made it to the Championship game. Those girls improved each time they stepped on the floor. Our leagues at the YMCA aren’t about winning and losing, they are about improving as a player and as a team.”
One thing the Tyrone Area YMCA does for the teenagers of the community is hold youth dances and splash hops.
“We have had over 300 people at our youth dances on occassion,” said Cushion. “They are staffed with security and adult volunteers. On Saturday, we had over 100 kids at the Bellwood pool for a splash hop. This is one place where kids can come on a Saturday night, have fun and the parents know they are in a safe enviornment.”
One thing that has been constant over the years has been the Martial Arts program at the YMCA.
“Master Gary Josefik is a fifth-degree black belt in Tang Soo-Do,” said Cushion. “He has been with our YMCA for 25 years. His program teaches the Martial Arts, discipline and respect. Self defense is also taught in Josefik’s class. If there is a program for kids who are bordering on the edge of becoming a troubled teen, sign them up for the Martial Arts program. Master Josefik will help steer them in the right direction.”
The list of things to do at the YMCA is always growing. To find out more, call 684-2740.
Editor’s Note: In our next installment of what there is to do in Tyrone, Daily Herald staff writer Kris Yaniello checks out the Venture Troop.
