YMCASPBC - Y Adcenture Guides - YMCA South Palm Beach County

Community Drum Circles at the
DeVos-Blum Family YMCA
T S
he purpose of the drum
circles at the DeVos-Blum
Family YMCA is for community
members to connect with
each other on many levels -
and have lots of fun. The
event is offered the first and
third Tuesdays of each month
from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and is
open to the public at no cost.
All are welcome (you don’t
have to be a Y member),
regardless of musical experience.
by Russell Solomon, MT-BC
A community drum circle is a group recreational music making experience that
unites people regardless of their backgrounds, ethnicity, age, ability or prior experience.
Participants are engaged in playing a variety of percussion instruments. No
prior musical experience of any sort is required to enjoy
complete success. People interact on a basic human level in a light-hearted environment.
The facilitator provides structure and guides the group on its musical
journey, ultimately extending beyond music and leading to important insights into
group dynamics and increased wellness.
Drum circles are a lot of fun, but are a lot more, too. Numerous published
research studies outline the health benefits of Recreational Music-Making, such as
the positive biological effects of group drumming, reduction of stress, improvement
in mood, and strengthening the immune system. To learn more about these
studies, visit www.mind-body.org and click on “research”. For more information on
drumming, please visit www.drumexperience.org or www.remo.com, and click on
“HealthRhythms”. Bring your family, friends and neighbors and find out what
great benefits a drum circle might bring to you.
Lights On Afterschool
On Thursday, October 12, the YMCA
and Kids in New Directions (KIND) hosted
a "bus" tour of three after school sites
in Boca Raton as part of the national
Lights On Afterschool
initiative and the local Discover
Afterschool program. Educators, government
officials and community leaders
boarded the YMCA bus and toured
school and community-based after school
Russell Solomon leads community drum circle
From left: Vicki Pugh, Anne Faraone, Joanne
Dougherty, Heather Alfonso, Michelle Owens,
Nancy Holly, Beverly Beguesse, Rhonda Roters,
Monica Jara, Natalie Cwick, Susan Lowenthal
programs. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about the need for more
structured activities for children, when they are out of school.
According to the Florida Department of Education, only 17% of the State’s K-12
youth participate in afterschool programs. More than 29% of K-12 youth in selfcare
would be likely to participate in an afterschool program if one were available.
The Afterschool Alliance reports that children, who participate in high quality, constructive
afterschool programs, demonstrate increased school attendance and
improved performance on standardized tests. They also develop skills that help
them throughout their lives, including better work habits, successful peer relations,
conflict resolution and constructive choices about their personal behavior.
World Games Hopeful:
Exceptional Teenager Takes
Home the Gold and Silver
uvi Lamping, who
moved to Florida from
Finland to marry her
husband, Tim, 27 years
ago, has been home
schooling her son,
Matthew, since he was
in first grade. Fluent in
both Finnish and
English, her son
demonstrated an
extremely high aptitude
in certain areas, like
language, but seemed
to lag behind with other
developmental and
social skills. When his
Matthew Lamping, Special
Olympics swimming hopeful
speech was delayed and he began having trouble
holding a pencil, she questioned the doctors. They
attributed the speech issues to being bilingual in
English and Finnish and thought his developmental
delays were just part of his unique make-up.
Finally, when Matthew was 12 years old, doctors
discovered that he suffered from a rare hereditary
disease of the connective tissue called Ehlers-
Danlos Syndrome or EDS. Such a condition
results in fragile skin and unstable joints and prevents
Matthew from participating in any activities
that could result in falls, cuts or dislocated joints.
Then, less than a year later, doctors told Suvi and
Tim their son also was autistic. Shaken, but
determined to create a life for their son that was as
normal as possible, the Lampings enrolled
Matthew in swimming lessons at the DeVos-Blum
Family YMCA of Boynton Beach. Doctors told
them that swimming was the only safe sport
option for Matthew and would be beneficial
physical therapy.
A year and one half later, Matthew is now a
member of the Sea Dragons swim team at the Y,
as well as the Palm Beach Special Olympics team.
He recently placed first in 200 meter freestyle and
second in 100 meter butterfly at the Special
Olympics State Championships. His freestyle relay
team also placed second.
Several nights a week you’ll find Matthew
practicing at the YMCA pool and working toward
his ultimate goal of going to Special Olympics
National and World Games.
“We’re working hard to teach Matthew that there’s
no such thing as ‘I can’t,’” said Suvi. “The coaches
and people at the YMCA have been wonderful.
We’re so lucky to have found such a special place.”