Hogan Family YMCA to celebrate Healthy Kids Day

MADISON – Good-natured fun in a carnival-like atmosphere will entertain and educate youngsters during Healthy Kids Day at Hogan Family YMCA in Madison.

Heart of the Valley YMCA is hosting the annual event in Madison on April 20 from 10 a.m. to noon. The day’s goal is to give a healthy start to a new season for local children.

Healthy Kids Day is free and open to the public. Hogan Family YMCA will set up entertainment activities and “will celebrate kids being kids,” Jennifer Dykes said. Dykes works as Director of Marketing and Communications for Heart of the Valley YMCA.

Visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids, healthy families and a healthy start to spring and summer.

Healthy Kids Day’s mission is to turn fun and play into lifelong memories. Featured amusements will include a petting zoo, inflatable play structures, local vendors, arts and crafts, games, fitness demos and face painting. Information on YMCA summer programs will be available at the event.

“It’s so important for kids to stay active over the summer, both physically and mentally,” Jeff Collen said. Collen is Interim CEO of Heart of the Valley YMCA. “At the YMCA, we believe in providing resources for families to create healthy habits, no matter the time of year. Healthy Kids Day is a fun, free community- wide event that encourages families to take advantage of all the great summer activities that the YMCA has to offer.”

For more information, visit ymcahuntsville.org/hkd.

Heart of the Valley YMCA is a leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening community for more than 114 years. They empower everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive.

By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the YMCA’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across our community. (ymcahuntsville.org)

Healthy Kids Day’s national sponsor is “Peanuts,” the comic strip and related intellectual property owned by Peanuts Worldwide. Charles Schulz first introduced the world to “Peanuts” in 1950. (peanuts.com)

Southeast Family YMCA in Huntsville also will observe Healthy Kids Day on April 20. The timing there will be 9 to 11 a.m.

The address of Heart of the Valley’s association office is 238 Business Park Blvd., Building 23B, Suite 101 in Madison. For more information, visit ymcahuntsville.org/hkd.