Challenger Program

The YMCA Challenger program is for children and young adults with disabilities. Volunteer buddies are matched with athletes (or small group of athletes) for a season, and they assist, prompt, support, model, encourage and praise them as the participate. Each sport/activity typically meets one hour a week for 6 weeks- so, 6 hours of commitment and fun. We understand that there are conflicts, vacations, sickness, etc. that might occur, and we do work with your schedules; we just try to keep the pair as consistent as possible so they can really get to know each other, gain trust, and form a friendship. It is a great thing for both the athlete and buddy. We offer 7 sports sessions throughout the year in 3-4 geographic locations around the metro- all on a different day/evening.