YMCA Healthy Kids Day gives families ideas for an active summer break

By Ian Swaby
| 9:05 a.m. April 19, 2026

Elizabeth Hall of Cypress Pillar Healing Arts teaches Liam Lopez, 6.

Sarasota
Neighbors

With summer approaching, there are decisions for kids and parents to make about how to stay active.

However, Pamela Peters, membership coordinator at the Sarasota City YMCA, said the organization hoped to offer kids the bigger picture with Healthy Kids Day on April 18.

Held at multiple YMCA branches, including the Palmer Ranch YMCA, the event at the city branch featured activities including table tennis, baseball and martial arts. It also included the chance to connect with non-athletic resources, such as Sarasota County libraries.

Jack Snyder, a Major League Baseball player with the Tampa Bay Rays, said the event was a chance to teach kids the game he loves to play. He attended with the Bradenton organization The Sports Farm, where he is a trainer.

He added that the event offered the chance "to show them we're not meant to do just one thing."

"Experience everything. Find something that you're passionate about and and have a good time. That's what it's about," he said.

Seoyul Poma, 2, sits in the drivers' seat of a fire truck.

Maria Jennings and Genelyn Rorer perform perform the Philippine folk dance Pandanggo sa Ilaw (Dance of Lights).

Elizabeth Hall of Cypress Pillar Healing Arts teaches Ian Lopez, 10.

Brad Morrison and his son Declan Morrison, 3, practice baseball with The Sports Farm.

A game of hopscotch is drawn on the ground for kids.

Maria Jennings and Lynne Cook lead the way in a performance of the Philippine folk dance Pandanggo sa Ilaw (Dance of Lights).

Ava Alonso, 11, hits a ball with The Sports Farm.

Major League Baseball player Jack Snyder of the Tampa Bay Rays watches as Dominic Parker, 7, hits a ball.

Music Compound student Gianna Krick, 8, sings for attendees.

Mi-Seon Poma, 4, plays table tennis with an instructor from Palms Table Tennis.

Lindsey Schroeder, community engagement manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters, staffed a table for the organization, which provides one-to-one mentoring relationships for young people.

Major League Baseball player Jack Snyder of the Tampa Bay Rays plays table tennis.

Giada Cavaterra and her son Nate Barfield, 3, participate in an activity by League of Women Voters featuring ranked choice voting for a set of treats.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.