JOY IN JANUARY!

Local Inspirational Speaker Helps People Find Joy in Day-to-Day Life

BERNARDSVILLE — Inspirational speaker Andrea Mastrobattista begins 2010 on a high note with a workshop called “Experiencing Joy” at the Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge on Monday, January 11, 2010, 7:00-8:30PM.

After the joy of the holidays, January is often a time when we feel down. But, holidays or not, and no matter what is happening in your life, you can experience joy at any time. Come to this workshop to find out how!

Additional upcoming workshops include:

Monday, February 8, 2010 – Eliminating Negative Self-Talk

Monday, March 8, 2010 – Being the Real You

Admission for each workshop is $30 for members and $35 for potential members.

For more information about this workshop, visit www.somersethillsymca.org, and click on the “Registration & Account Management” link, or call Andrea Mastrobattista at (908)766-6050.

Three local teens earn distinction in academics and athletics.

[Basking Ridge, NJ--] Three local teens, all of whom swim for the Somerset Hills YMCA Swim Team, have recently been named to the 2009 USA Swimming Scholastic All American Team for achieving success in both the classroom and the swimming pool. Stephen Raynes, Marissa Immormino and Janelle Zee earned this much coveted award that recognizes high achieving high school academic and athletic students.



The 2009 Scholastic All-America Team includes 26 girls and 15 boys from New Jersey with a 3.5 grade point average. With a grade point average of 4.0, and a very competitive time standard in an individual event, Stephen, Marissa and Janelle were given special recognition and were also awarded a special pin.



Moreover, when many teens focus on catching up on sleep, these teens spend many Saturday afternoons volunteering at Saturdays in Motion, a recreational program for children with autism and their families, held at the Somerset Hills YMCA. Peter Barry, Head Coach of the Somerset Hills YMCA, comments, ‘The commitment required when you belong to a swim team can be enormous and it is often a challenge for some of these kids to balance their athletic life with their academics. Marissa, Janelle and Stephen are unbelievable role models for others in their ability to keep equilibrium in their lives and to be such dedicated volunteers to help those less fortunate than themselves. We are all so proud of them here at the Somerset Hills YMCA.’

Sleepaway Camp Now Offered to Somerset Hills YMCA members!

Exciting New Partnership Offers Summer Sleepaway Camp To Children in the Community.

The Somerset Hills YMCA and Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA are delighted to announce a new partnership to offer quality sleepaway camp as well as group and family outdoor recreation programs to members of the Somerset Hills YMCA and to the community at large.

To complement the extensive range of excellent and diverse day camps already offered each year at the Somerset Hills YMCA, one and two week sleepaway camp sessions will be offered this summer to children in grades 3 – 7, and to youth in grades 8 – 11. Specialty interest groups and family getaways will also be available throughout the year.

Located just 75 minutes away from the Somerset Hills community, the camp sits on over 1,000 forested acres surrounding a private 42-acre lake, providing an unspoiled natural environment to explore and enjoy. Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA has provided magical camp experiences for thousands of children from the US and beyond since 1948, offering activities such as canoeing, kayaking, rowing and swimming in its pristine lake. Many cabins are modern and feature in-cabin bathrooms while others ring the shores of the lake with bathrooms conveniently located nearby. All cabin groups are 8-12 campers with 2 – 3 cabin counsellors.

Zane Moore, COO of the Somerset Hills YMCA, comments, “This is an exciting next step in the services that we are able to offer our community. Membership at the Somerset Hills YMCA will now take on even greater value and will provide families with unparalleled opportunities. Camp Speers-Eljabar is just over one hour away, literally a hidden gem on our doorstep. Anyone who has ever experienced a YMCA sleepaway camp knows firsthand that it can be a life changing experience that allows you independence and adventure in an extremely safe environment. We are proud to partner with such a reputable facility.”

In addition to sleepaway camp and other getaway experiences, Camp Speers-Eljabar is offering free Sunday Fundays for members of our community to get to know the camp and to benefit from a wide selection of season-appropriate activities. The camp will open its doors each Sunday from January 11th until June 6th, to all members of the Somerset Hills YMCA, along with their family and friends, from 10am until 3pm. Visitors can enjoy snow tubing, cross country skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, and arts and crafts. All equipment will be provided free of charge. Visitors are asked to bring their own lunch and snacks.

For more information on Sunday Fundays, please visit http://www.somersethillsymca.org/ or email campers@campspeersymca.org. For more information about summer sleepaway camp, please visit http://www.campspeersymca.org/.