Hopewell Valley YMCA

For Youth Development
For Healthy Living
For Social Development

Welcome to the Hopewell Valley YMCA

Mission Statement: The Hopewell Valley YMCA is a charitable organization dedicated to building a healthy spirit, mind, and body through programs which promote good health, strong families, youth leadership, and community development.  YMCA's are open to men, women, and children of all ages, abilities, races, and religions.

The Hopewell Valley YMCA is proud to serve Hopewell, Hopewell Valley, Pennington, and Titusville in New Jersey. We are a "Y without walls" meaning we operated in many different rented locations through out the area. Our main administrative offices are located at 62 South Main Street in Pennington, NJ. Our administrative staff is based here, and we accept program registrations at this location.

NEWS FROM THE Y

Register now for The Race to Remember

Join us on Saturday, May 19th for The Race to Remember, our annual 5K through the scenic streets of Historic Pennington and the student 1 Mile Fun Run.  Learn more by clicking on the image below. We hope to see you and your family there!


Camp Reign 2012

It is never to early to register.  Reserve your spot today.  Camp Open House, January 31, March 27, May 29, 2012 at Toll Gate Grammar from 6:30-8:30pm.




Healthy Tips for Healthy Families


Healthy Kids Day, the nation's largest health day for children, is a community-based effort to improve the overall health of children by encouraging healthy habits and inspiring a lifetime love of physical activity.  The truth, however, is that everyone, young and old, should make an effort to improve and maintain their health. 

For many of us, life can be busy and stressful.  While not an entirely bad thing, a busy schedule can cause us to lose sight of the importance of staying healthy. Fortunately, there are relatively easy ways to improve ones health by making small changes to our daily routines.  The following are a number of simple and effective ways to live a healthier life.

1. Use water as a substitute for sugary drinks

Many of us rely on soda and sugar filled drinks to quench our thirst, but the truth is that these beverages provide a great deal of calories with very little real nutritional value.  Have water, 100 percent juice or low fat milk the next time you find yourself getting thirsty.  By making the switch to these healthier alternatives, you will not only be better hydrated but your energy levels will be less sporadic and you won't find yourself getting tired at peculiar times during the day.  You'll be amazed by how much better you feel by making this change!


2. Read the label

You might be surprised how small a serving size of potato chips really is. Many of us underestimate the levels of saturated fat and sodium we consume because we don't read the labels on our favorite snacks.  Rather than eating your favorite snack right out of the bag, consider pouring a serving size into a bowl and making the effort not to go back for seconds.  This practice will allow you to become more conscious of how much you are eating and reduce the risk of snacking too heavily.


3. Get an hour of play a day

This tends to be easier for kids to do than adults, but there is no reason why everyone can't live a more active lifestyle.  For adults, this might mean choosing a parking spot that is farther away or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.  Instead of simply letting the dog out, why not grab the leash and go for walk?  Not only is it better for you, but your dog will appreciate the exercise too.


4. Carve out some time each week to spend with your family

Spending regular quality time together can improve the whole families health, and it can strengthen important bonds.  Make the extra effort to eat dinner as a family or if the weather is nice, make a trip to one of the many wooded trails in the area and hike together. 


5. Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep a night

Nothing beats a good nights sleep.  Sleep is known to improve the immune system, promote an active metabolism and help with learning and other brain functions.  Sleep can also play a role in heart disease prevention.  Being more active during the day can also allow your body to get a deeper more restful sleep at night.





The Y is committed to providing programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We make every effort to ensure that no one is turned away due to inability to pay. Click to read more about our financial assistance.