In April, representatives from McGaw YMCA’s MetaMedia presented their work at two prominent educational conferences.  EVANSTON, IL. – Representatives from MetaMedia recently presented their work at two prominent educational conferences in April. MetaMedia, McGaw YMCA’s digital media center and maker space for middle school youth, provides year-round STEAM programing with hands-on projects that give youth the opportunity to explore, create, and innovate. At the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative studies in education, MetaMedia presented alongside Northwestern University (NU) during a session on co-designing educational justice in Chicago and Evanston. The MetaMedia team shared their innovative approach to co-designing summer programming through their partnership with Northwestern. The partnership began three years ago when MetaMedia received a grant from Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) to contribute to research on makerspace programs. The result of their collaboration was the MetaMedia Summer Experience […]

On Saturday, April 29, McGaw YMCA welcomed members of the community with an afternoon of fun-filled family activities.  The McGaw YMCA hosted its Healthy Kids & Families Community Day in April to encourage a healthy start to the summer season. Families from Evanston and nearby areas explored the YMCA for free and enjoyed a variety of family-friendly activities, including Group Fitness demo classes, learn-to-play pickleball clinics, Family Fun Gym Time, and more. The focus for the April 29 Community Day was to encourage healthy kids, healthy families, and a healthy start to the summer season. The Sebring-Lewis Center was filled with energetic kids enjoying Family Fun Gym Time. The Group Exercise and Skydeck Studios offered demonstrations and workshops for a variety of classes, including Hip-Hop Dance fitness and Yoga for Anxiety and Stress. The 4-lane pool was open for family swim time and trial swim classes for kids ages 3-13.