YMCA offers fun, body-pumping day

WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Children clutching balloons and hot dogs hustled through the halls of the Waynesboro Area YMCA on Sunday as they moved from one activity to the next during the Y’s annual Fun Day.

“Fun Day is really a day for us to say ‘thanks’ to the community,” said Alan Smith, executive director of the Waynesboro Area YMCA.

For more than three decades, Fun Day has been an annual event designed to offer free activities to the public and showcase the Y’s offerings. Sunday’s schedule showed off the racquetball court, gymnastics and cheerleading programs, family yoga and Les Mills Body Pump classes.

The Les Mills Body Pump classes, which are new to the Y, involve repetitive movements with weights.

“It’s really based on weight-lifting principles,” Smith said.

Volunteers greeted visitors at the door to offer tours and more information about membership specials.

For Waynesboro residents Greg and Denise Henry, the event offered a chance to further consider joining the YMCA.

Their 3-year-old daughter, Sarah, started taking swimming lessons at the facility three weeks ago. She tried several games Sunday in the gymnasium.

“The people are really friendly,” Denise Henry said.

Volunteer Will Kauffman, of Waynesboro, helped prepare and serve hundreds of hot dogs for Fun Day. A longtime member of the Y and former board member, Kauffman said he feels it is important to support the organization.

“It’s a good place for the entire community to come together. There are dozens of activities for all ages,” he said.

Member Jamie Stevens already tried the Les Mills Body Pump classes. Her children are involved in several Y programs.

“I grew up here,” said Stevens, a Waynesboro resident. “I was involved in swim team when I was young, and we want to continue the tradition, I guess.”