Virtual YMCA | YMCA of Hamilton Burlington Brantford

The Virtual YMCA brings the benefits of the YMCA to inner-city or low income schools where any fee is a significant barrier to participation for the majority of children.

The YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington initiated its first Virtual YMCA program in one north Hamilton School in the fall of 2001. In the Fall of 2002 the YMCA opened its second site at Dr. Davey Elementary School and then in Fall 2004 the third location opened at Queen Victoria School.

As of 2008, the Virtual YMCA operates in schools throughout Hamilton's inner city and for the first time in Burlington.

Who attends the Virtual YMCA?

Children participating are recruited from grades 1 - 5 for a total of 40 children. Participants attend the program three days per week.

What is the Virtual YMCA?

Program elements create an environment that supports academic and social development and encourage children to feel relaxed, ready to learn and eager to attend including:

A safe and secure environment in which children spend after school hours
Well-trained and supportive staff who are knowledgeable in healthy child development
Open door policy - participation will be free of charge
Access to a nutritious snack
Access to a variety of books
Activities suitable for the children's level of development and interest
Curriculum focuses on building children's literacy skills through fun and interactive activities that motivate children to read, write, and communicate
Integration of literacy into programs that centre on the arts, health and recreation, values and academic enhancement

Virtual YMCA includes programming in the following areas:

academic support (homework help, reading)
recreation
4 core values: caring, honesty, respect, responsibility
literacy (reading, writing, thinking and speaking)
Program structure and content reflects the YMCA's focus on Spirit (values), Mind (academic support) and Body (recreation).

How is the program evaluated?

The Virtual YMCA program is evaluated using a variety of methods. Registration forms are completed and attendance monitored. Program success is measured by student attendance, improvements in reading and math scores, as well as social competencies, changes in student's attitudes toward reading, parent, principal and staff satisfaction with the program and compliance with Virtual YMCA standards.

For more information contact:

Christina Martin
General Manager, Outreach
905-317-4901

christina_martin@ymca.ca