×

Minot Family YMCA, Hess partner for second year of Summer Unplugged

Kick-off event gets families outdoors for organized fun

Jill Schramm/MDN Clara Christianson assembles stackable blocks as her brother, Kirby, looks on during the Summer Unplugged event at the Minot Family YMCA Wednesday.

Minot-area children began to “unplug” for the summer as the Minot Family YMCA, in partnership with Hess Corp., kicked off its series of “The Y’s Summer Unplugged” events Wednesday.

Children and their families enjoyed a picnic and variety of outdoor games at the YMCA during the kick-off of the second summer of the free community program.

Colleen Weisberg, senior regulatory analyst with Hess, was among 11 company volunteers helping the YMCA on Wednesday. Weisberg was a leader in the effort by Hess last year to identify an area of the community where the company and its employees can give back.

Weisberg said she used to work at the YMCA and her children have been active in YMCA programs. She now volunteers there, so she thought of the YMCA when the Hess committee was looking for a way to get involved in the community. Her connections led to a collaboration that produced the type of family event last year that both the YMCA and Hess ruled a success.

“It was so well attended and so well received by the public that we were so pleased,” Weisberg said. “We are going to, hopefully, roll this out to other communities.”

Jill Schramm/MDN Kierra Bennett-Boedieker picks up a Summer Unplugged T-shirt from Hess volunteers at the event’s kick-off picnic at the Minot Family YMCA Wednesday.

Summer Unplugged offers a variety of free activities for youth to encourage them to get active and get outdoors.

“It’s just a way to get kids a way from the TV and devices and just be kids,” Weisberg said.

Based on last year’s kick-off turnout, Hess and the YMCA prepared for about 500 attendees this year and found people already lining up for the free T-shirts and the Homesteader Restaurant-catered meal before the official start at 11 a.m.

Tia Klein, Summer Unplugged coordinator at the YMCA, said planning the events begins in about February. Popular themes such as animals, music and tie-dye are back in the program this year, and various community groups again are contributing to provide activities, she said. But new activities also will be part of the organized fun.

“This wouldn’t be possible, for a second year without our area organizations and a local donation from Hess Corporation, so we are really grateful for their commitment to this program,” Klein said.

The unplugged events will continue every Wednesday except the week of July 4 until concluding on July 31. The themed events run from 1 to 3 p.m. at the YMCA.

“At Hess we work to identify and support those groups and programs that help strengthen the communities where our employees live, work and play – the Y’s Summer Unplugged program is a great fit,” said Brent Lohnes, general manager for Hess North Dakota, in a news release. “We are excited to be working with community organizations, which have as their mission improving the quality of life for local families.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today