YMCA OF MEWSA RECEIVES YOUNG EXPLORERS GRANT

The YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge & South Amboy has received notification of a grant award in the amount of $7,500 through the PNC Foundation’s Grow Up Great program to support the costs of their Young Explorers Program at the Y’s Avenel Learning Center located in Avenel, New Jersey.  The Program is geared towards their early learners aged 3-5 and will give the children the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills in all STEM-related areas through weekly activities,  outdoor “field trip” exploration, science projects and experimentation.  The program will nurture the children’s innate tendencies towards exploration, sensory stimulation and STEM learning through the great outdoors.  The program will connect outdoor nature projects with STEM learning to foster the children’s natural curiosity and exploration of the world.  During such time as weather prohibits being outdoors, students will continue their lesson plans indoors.  By providing both indoor and outdoor programming environments, the children will have opportunities to set goals and acquire new knowledge and skills through purposeful play.  The majority of the participants in this program will be from low- and moderate-income families.

For more information on this program, please contact Deanna Smith, Child Care Director, Avenel Learning Center, at deanna.smith@ymcaofmewsa.org or at 732-636-1100.