[June 13, 2008]  Sink or swim! YMCA swimming lessons begin Monday at the Lincoln Elks Club. Another series starts June 30. Lessons are offered in both the mornings and evenings. YMCA-trained instructors will teach progressive lessons for children ages 6 months to 12 years old. Lessons are filling up quickly, so register your child soon to reserve their spot.

The YMCA's Summer Field Trip Blast program is offering single-day field trips for kids in first through fifth grade. Nate Bossingham, program director, will take the children to various fun-filled destinations. The next available trips for the three age groups are:

• July 1, third and fourth grade -- Children's Museum, Decatur

• July 3, fourth and fifth grade -- Splashdown, East Peoria

• July 15, first and second grade -- Fon du Lac Farm Park, East Peoria

Registrations for these field trips should be in one week prior to each trip.

Are you ready for some football? Registration for the YMCA's Chad Burnham Flag Football League began on June 9. This program is for children age 4 through second grade. Teams will be divided into two age groups: 4-year-olds and kindergarteners, and first- and second-graders. Each team practices once a week and plays games on Saturday mornings. The YMCA will accept registrations until July 7. The fee increases $10 after July 7. Don't miss out on this awesome experience.

Lincoln Area YMCA will host a Recycled Art Camp for children entering first through sixth grade. Sessions will be July 14-18, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., at the YMCA Activity Center, 719 Wyatt Ave. YMCA art instructor Lisa Madigan will share information with the children about recycling, and they'll make art projects from recycled material. Projects include aluminum can characters, mosaics from junk mail and wall reliefs from recycled picture frames. The cost is $50 per child for 2008 Y members and $60 per child for nonmembers. The registration deadline is July 7, and the fee increases $10 after that. Call the YMCA for more information. The YMCA art program is sponsored by Eaton Corp.

The YMCA is offering a Golf Clinic at the Lincoln Elks Club for children kindergarten through eighth grade. Jacob Horton, the YMCA golf instructor, will teach two sessions: June 23-27 and Aug. 4-7. Participants will be divided into two groups: kindergarten-4th grade and fifth-eighth grade. Horton will work with each of the children to improve upon their stance, swing and much more. Spaces are limited, so register your child today.

Be careful what you throw away! Lisa Madigan will host an Atlanta Art Camp the week of July 21-25 for children in first to sixth grade. The registration deadline is July 14. Camp sessions will run from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Atlanta Park. The theme for this camp is "One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure." Students will learn about recycling and be encouraged to use their imagination to turn "trash" into whimsical works of art. These camps will be great fun for everyone involved, so register your child today! Registrations are available at these locations: Atlanta National Bank, Atlanta Library, Mount Hope Funks Grove Library and the Atlanta Country Market.

Gift certificates are now available in any denomination at the YMCA office for the YMCA program of your choice. These make great birthday gifts for any child!

For more details on YMCA programs and events, contact the Lincoln Area YMCA at 735-3915; 604 Broadway St., Suite 1; or visit www.lincolnymca.org.

[Text from file received from Lincoln Area YMCA]