C hristy Huff and her family have been members of the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City for 14 years and counting. As a busy mom and nurse, she enjoys all the services, programs and activities the Y has to offer. With so many options, there’s something for everyone. “We’ve had some really good experiences with the Y,” said Huff. “When we lived in Oklahoma City, we went to the Edward L. Gaylord Downtown and North Side locations, but now that we live in Edmond, we most often use the Mitch Park Y and sometimes the Rankin Y.” The membership perk of having access to 14 locations is a great benefit to Huff. “I have a few friends who are part of the Y and it doesn’t matter if a location is closer to me or closer to them, we can meet up, workout together and catch up,” said Huff. Over the years, her husband, Marcellus, has helped coach their older sons in YMCA youth sports. Now their youngest son, 6-year-old Carter, loves playing in the YMCA Thunder Basketball League, attending summer camp and going to Child Watch, a program offering free childcare for up to two hours while an adult member exercises. “Whenever I’m going to the gym, Carter asks to go,” said Huff. “He likes playing with the other kids and the staff seem to really enjoy him and he enjoys them.” In addition, her 18-year-old son, Cori, goes to the Y almost every day to play basketball recreationally with his friends, and her stepson, DJ, who’s also 18 but lives in San Antonio, is a member of his local Y. As a parent, Huff especially appreciates the organized structure and security measures the Y has in place, with parents required to show their ID when picking up their child, as well as the fun and positive opportunities available for children of all ages. “I like the summer day camp because the kids get exposure to healthy activities and have healthy interactions with other kids,” said Huff. “It’s nice to know they’re not just sitting around on electronics all day. They’re active, getting exercise and they get to go on field trips once a week. If they go to the zoo, for example, all the kids wear their YMCA camp t-shirts so they can easily see and stay with their group.” She also likes the flexibility in scheduling. Building Bonds and Staying Active The Huff family shares their favorite YMCA membership perks BY REBECCA FAST . PHOTOS BY FOTO ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY.
THE ENTIRE HUFF FAMILY HAS ENJOYED ENGAGING WITH THE Y’S YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS.
“You can sign up for the entire summer or pick specific weeks,” said Huff. “The weeks have different themes so you can choose the themes that most interest your child. Also, I go to work early so, if needed, I can drop off my son as early as 7 a.m. and pick him up anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. It’s nice knowing that for those of us who need to drop off early in the morning, we can then pick up a little earlier in the afternoon.” Along with enjoying day camp, Carter has had a wonderful experience playing in the YMCA Thunder Basketball League. He’s even had the opportunity to be a part of the Y’s promotional materials for the league, with his photo in the welcome packet and on a local billboard, an exciting role for any kid. “Carter really likes his coach, so we’ve requested him every year,” said Huff. “Season after season, he’s been playing with the same kids and now he’s built these friendships that he may have for a lifetime.” Huff says the coaches and staff are intentional when working with the kids to build confidence and encourage good sportsmanship. Once, during a game, a player from an opposing team fell, and instead of continuing to play, Carter stopped and helped him up, a moment showing that within competition, players can always choose to be helpful and respectful of each other.
16 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JULY-AUGUST 2024
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