Holiday Parade: Under Construction

Holiday Parade: Under Construction
By Brandon Smith
Asst. Dir. Marketing & Membership

On Saturday, November 17th, 2012, The Chambersburg Memorial YMCA participated in the Chambersburg Borough’s 43rd Annual Holiday Parade.  With surprising success, the Y won third place as Best Float. The vision for participating in the competition came to fruition about 10 days before the actual event. Several volunteers (pictured below) began work immediately. Youth Director Matt Kump's idea converted a simple school bus into an exquisite holiday train: The Polar Express.

Volunteers who helped build the float (from L to R): Adam Lynch, Matt Kump,
Chris Misner, Linda Ehrhart, and Brandon Smith

Thanks to Mr. Craig Nitterhouse, the Y was able to store the train-to-be in one of Mr. Nitterhouse's warehouses to avoid weather damage. Once moved, a half-dozen trips ensued to Lowe’s for creating a budget bus-train.

On day one of construction, the Y volunteers sought the counsel of Terry Ellis and Dave Manges, the Y's facilities gurus. With their help, they engineered a rib-like frame to act as a brace set overtop the bus, securing it length-wise with more boards and underneath the bus with rope.

Days two and three consisted of cutting a 2000 square-foot plastic sheet to fit over the top and stapling it to the frame. Volunteers Linda Erhart, Adam Lynch, Alexis Dubbs, and Chris Misner spent most of the day cutting out the windows and taping the sheeting to the underbelly of the float, as well as finalizing some of the painting that needed done for black cardboard.

On Thursday, two days before the parade, they completed the front of the bus by painting and taping up the grill (a.k.a “the cow plow”), hung bells and secured a heavy-duty flashlight to the top to act as our headlight. As this occurred, others trimmed up the frame and hung railing to give a 3D effect.

Friday the 16th, the group hung lights and other decorations. In the small 10-day time frame, a black “trash bag” bus turned into a train: The Y Express, more specifically. However, Friday's product paled in comparison to its appearance the night of the parade.

In the words of our Executive Director Dave Matthews, “I was sitting on Washington Street and saw this giant black...thing turn the corner. It was breathtaking. When it faced me, it looked like a giant Darth Vader helmet was coming at me!” he said with enthusiasm.

“However, as it passed by, you saw the lights and the children hanging out the windows singing Christmas carols, Matt [Kump] leaning out the front with his costume and moustache, and then it all made sense - everything came together. It was incredible!”

PT Employment Opportunity

EMPLOYMENT

Part-time Teachers and Substitute Teachers - The Ark Child Development Center
The Chambersburg Memorial YMCA is looking for qualified lead, assistant, and substitute teachers for its new child development center, The Ark. Successful candidates must have degrees and/or experience in early childhood education or a related field. We’re looking for dedicated and creative teaching professionals. Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience and related degrees/certifications.

The ideal candidates will have demonstrated the ability to establish effective relationships with parents and children, maintain high teaching standards, and believe that the care they provide is invaluable. In this extremely rewarding position, teachers will assume ultimate responsibility for creating and maintaining a nurturing and stimulating environment for the families we serve. These positions require excellent leadership, organization, and communication, as well as the ability to provide exceptional customer service. Teachers are required to utilize classroom technology and incorporate Christian values into the curriculum.

The Ark Child Development Center uses an educationally-based curriculum and various scholastic resources. Successful candidates must obtain all 3 clearances (Child Abuse, Criminal Background and FBI), two written references, and a current physical with TB test. Contact Melanie Cook at mcook@chbgy.org or 717-263-8508 or 717-446-0533 for more information or to submit an application and resume.

Unique Y program encourages strong core values

The YMCA staff strives to create a safe and engaging atmosphere for the children in their care at our Before & After School Fun Club program sites. At one location in particular, two staff members have demonstrated their energy and creative drive by implementing unique activities for the children.

At Scotland Elementary, Lauren Leon (pictured on right) and Allison Mione lead activities such as cooking events, like making chocolate pretzel clusters or “dirt” pudding, and other distinctive games involving trust activities and team challenges.

In one such program (similar to the television series Fear Factor), teams of elementary students participated in various challenges: “Guess that Food” while blindfolded, blow as many bubbles as possible with one piece of gum in a certain time frame, and see how long they could hold an ice cube in their closed fist. The children hardly stopped laughing for the entire duration as they competed.

The fun and games were used for multiple purposes, one of which was highlighting the core values of the YMCA: respect, caring, honesty and responsibility. Lauren and Allison remind children the core values as they play every day. If teams get too competitive or speak rudely to one another, respect is reinforced to keep the peace.

At the beginning of the school year, Lauren (pictured on left) developed a behavior incentive program for the Scotland site based on rewarding kids when they demonstrate the core values. The children receive cards with their value that they demonstrated. Each card is worth a certain amount of points they can trade in for prizes.

After every gym game, the staff has the teams line up and give each other high fives, encouraging peers with “Good game,” or “Great teamwork!” These incentives and practices keep kids excited to behave, and rewards them for being a role model of the core values.

Creative activities and teaching the importance of the core values are just two of many aspects of the Before & After School Fun Club program. That set the YMCA apart as a leader for child care in the community.

Roy Pitz takes the 2012 Fall Ultimate Frisbee Championship

On the cool morning of Saturday, November 17th, the Chambersburg YMCA held their Adult Ultimate Frisbee League championship match. Captained by Roy Shearer, Roy Pitz dominated the game with a solid 13 to 5 victory over The Animals.

The 2012 Fall league started in September and consisted of four teams: The Heat Cats, Shaken not Stirred, The Animals, and Roy Pitz. During the season, every team played each other twice. They were then ranked for playoffs and played in a double elimination championship round.

Ultimate is an intense, high-energy sport with flexibility for all skill levels. Whether you’re an experienced player or just learning, join a team for the spring league. The Chambersburg YMCA's ultimate frisbee spring league will start in May of 2013.

For more information, contact Chris Misner at 717-263-8508 or cmisner@chbgy.org. For pictures of the game, visit our FaceBook page.

Back Row: Brandon Soper, Calvin Shearer, Angi Pierce, Zach Hitchens, Scott Misal, CJ Kozarski, Ernie Zeh, Ted Skaarup, Nate Richards, John Finucane, Denver Martin Front Row: Maegan Ferry, Lindsay Lyons, Michael Parrot, Ryan Richards, Amber Gift, Khoi Hang, Maria Martin, Holly Shearer

Volleyball League Update

Here's the latest as of this past week! Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Men’s League	W	L
The Cottage	18	6
EJ's Grill	16	8
Frazer Construction	22	2
JF Enterprises	15	9
Kathy's Deli	4	20
Net Tenders	0	24
Randstad	6	18
Shawn Ocker	15	9

Co-Ed B League	W	L
Big Red Machine	4	20
Ellsworth Electric	12	9
Earthnet Energy	9	15
Friends	16	8
Let it Rip	3	21
Madeira Chiropratic	16	8
PC Systems Help	11	13
Priority 1 Ministries	13	11
Royal Flush	17	7
Smith's BBQ Chicken	15	9
Sports Inn	22	2
Teknical Knockout	3	18

Co-Ed A League	W	L
Criders Water Service	13	14
Kenmar Motel	12	3
Martin's Potato Rolls	11	7
New Life Painting	4	20
Beverage City	12	15
Vicki Ritchey	14	7

Volleyball League Update

Here are your scores as of October 29th, 2012:

	W	L
Criders Water Service	11	10
Kenmar Motel	9	3
Martin's Potato Rolls	8	7
New Life Painting	4	14
Beverage City	8	13
Vicki Ritchey	11	4

Have a GREAT weekend!!

Chris Misner
Director of Youth and Recreational Activities
Chambersburg Memorial YMCA
570 E. McKinley Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201
717-263-8508
cmisner@chbgy.org

MTeC 2012 Adventure Race

On Sunday, October 28, 2012, 112 racers and over 40 volunteers enjoyed a day of quality competition and fellowship in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Michaux State Forest at the Chambersburg YMCA’s 10^th annual Michaux Team Challenge (MTeC) race.  For the first time in the history of the race, teams competed in a linear race design, beginning at Pine Grove Furnace State Park and finishing at Caledonia State Park.

Teams had to work together during multiple segments of trekking, biking, paddling and various team challenges.  Cedar Ridge Adventures provided challenges that included maneuvering up the Long Pine Dam Spillway, climbing over a ten foot cargo net and crawling through a concrete culvert at the old Birch Run Dam.  Teams also had to take digital pictures to prove that their team reached the peak of Pole Steeple and Sunset Rocks.  They also found and photographed landmarks at historical Camp Michaux.

Twenty-eight teams competed in four divisions:  15 men’s teams, eight co-ed teams, two women’s teams and three teen teams.  The 2012 MTeC Men’s division champions were the “Zebracakes”, and the team consisted of Justin Meyers, Robert High, Jeremy Becker and Anthony Becker.  The Co-ed Division proved to be extremely competitive with the first and second place teams coming in with only eleven seconds between them. Coming out on top in the Co-ed division was “Spring Rise Landscaping”, led by Captain Ralph Pisle, with teammates Jamie Boward, Sarah Boward and Matt Elgin. 

The Women’s division champions were team “Smile 4 Miles”, comprised of Norma Blank, Ashlyn Blank, Christine Day and Elaine Meyers.  The 2012 Teen Division winner was “Feuersturm Team” from Mercersburg Academy. Captain Matthew Caretti, led the teens James Rifori (16), Oliver Zoller (17) and Chris Frite (17) through the adventure course in an actual time of 6:21:34.

Complete MTeC results are available on our website at www.chbgy.org

A final thank you to the 40+ volunteers, Y staff and the MTeC Event sponsors: The Green Village Family Restaurant, Madeira Chiropractic, Family Cycling Center, Spring Rise, Volvo, Chambersburg Hospital, Todd Sponseller, Del Martin Inc., Physical Therapy Associates, Butcher Shoppe, Strickler Insurance Agency, Cedar Ridge Adventures, Baer’s Sign Service, Sunset Metal and River and Trail Outfitters.

Additionally, the MTeC committee would like to thank the local Michaux State Forest officials and staff, Caledonia State Park, Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the local PA Fish & Boat Commission, Borough of Chambersburg, Penn DOT and the Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club for their support of this local event.

For additional pictures of this event, visit us on FaceBook.