As a sports pediatrician, I know that the YMCA promotes play, physical activity, and healthy habits from an early age. Together, we can advance the health and wellness of kids and families across the region.
Keith J. Loud, MD, MScDartmouth Health Children’s, New Hampshire’s only pediatric health system, will sponsor the Granite YMCA, the Keene Family YMCA, and the YMCA of Greater Nashua’s annual Healthy Kids Day, a free and family-friendly event.
Healthy Kids Day is a national initiative focused on improving the health and well-being of kids and families. Celebrated each spring, YMCAs across the country are hosting community-facing events that teach healthy habits, encourage active play and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity.
“This partnership makes so much sense because we know that our children thrive when they feel good both physically and mentally,” explained Michele Sheppard, CEO of the Granite YMCA. “The Granite Y and Dartmouth Health Children’s are looking forward to engaging communities across southern New Hampshire as we encourage family-friendly activities and healthy habits to inspire positive physical and mental health of children,” Sheppard added.
“As the Granite State’s comprehensive pediatric healthcare system, Dartmouth Health Children's is dedicated to helping all children live their healthiest, happiest lives,” said Keith J. Loud, MD, MSc, physician-in-chief of Dartmouth Health Children’s “As a sports pediatrician, I know that the YMCA promotes play, physical activity, and healthy habits from an early age. Together, we can advance the health and wellness of kids and families across the region.”
The Granite YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day events will take place as follows:
YMCA of Downtown Manchester
Saturday, April 13 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
30 Mechanic St., Manchester, NH
YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown
Sunday, April 21 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
116 Goffstown Back Road, Goffstown, NH
YMCA of the Seacoast
Saturday, April 27 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
550 Peverly Hill Road, Portsmouth, NH
YMCA of Greater Londonderry
Saturday, May 4 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
206 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, NH
YMCA of Concord
Friday, May 10 from 5:15 – 7:30 pm
15 North State St., Concord, NH
YMCA of Strafford County’s Camp Coney Pine
Saturday, May 18 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
63 Lowell St., Rochester, NH
Keene Family YMCA
Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
200 Summit Road, Keene, NH
YMCA of Greater Nashua
Healthy Kids Week from May 20 – 25
For more information about Healthy Kids Day, contact Tori White at twhite@graniteymca.org or visit graniteymca.org/hkd.
About Dartmouth Health Children's
Dartmouth Health Children's is the only comprehensive pediatric healthcare system in the region. Fully integrated in Dartmouth Health and anchored for more than 30 years by Children's Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD)—in Lebanon, NH—Dartmouth Health Children's promotes health, advances knowledge, and delivers the best patient and family-centered care for infants, children, and adolescents across New Hampshire and Vermont. Dartmouth Health Children's conducts groundbreaking research and educates the next generations of health professionals as the primary pediatric partner of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Highly skilled and collaborative child health professionals provide care in multiple settings across the region. Outpatient specialty visits and same-day surgery services are available at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD) and Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester. Primary care appointments in general pediatrics are available at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics in Bedford, Concord, Lebanon, Manchester and Nashua, NH and Bennington, VT; as well as at Dartmouth Health members: Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Cheshire Medical Center, New London Hospital and Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center.