Last Updated: Monday, July 23, 2007 1:27 PM CDT
Behind the scenes at the YMCA
by Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff - mskubal@rhinelanderdailynews.com
Chances are if you have school age children involved in programs at the YMCA of the Northwoods, they've met Diane Zarembka. If you've had kids in the Children's Learning Center over the past twenty years, they know Diane.
Zarembka started with the Children's Learning Center (CLC) when it was still part of St. Mary's and run out of the old hospital. She was employed through St. Mary's until a year ago when she joined the staff at the YMCA. She is now the Associate Child Care Director.
Zarembka and Angie Zastrow are the co-directors of the CLC, which works with children from 6 weeks of age to 12 years. They are also responsible for the Counselor In Training program (CIT). This program trains young people to work with counselors, get things set up and do a planned activity approved by counselors. They have a chance to become counselors, a paid position, when they reach 18 years of age. Ages 12 and up are often difficult years and the program is designed to make the these teens feel more like a counselor, with more responsibility.
Zarembka works with pre-school age children, her specialty, but she is responsible for the camp programs for ages 5-12. These are day programs. The kids go on field trips. They've visited Northern Lights Playhouse, Wildwood Animal Adventures and the art on the Raven trail. They have weekly themes, do cookouts and ice skating in the winter.
Most of the kids in the camp program have working parents, but some are visitors to the area. Kids from out of town sometimes enroll for a week or two while visiting with grandparents. Zarembka also oversees programs over winter and spring break and school days off.
In the fall, the YMCA will take over the after school programs at Crescent, Pelican and Central schools as well as run the St. Germain and Eagle River programs. And the Y will be starting a 4-K wraparound program for children 3 years old and up with parents who work all day.
Zarembka has a degree in early childhood education from Lakeland College. She has been married to her husband Mark for twenty years and has a daughter, Ali, who attends Rhinelander High School. And they have a lab named Gauge. They live near Moens Lake where her parents, Nancy and Leo Stutz, have run Conro's Resort for 36 years.
“My Mom ran the resort during summers while my Dad commuted from Milwaukee,” said Zarembka. “Mark and I help run the resort, my Mom died four years ago.”
Zarembka has her reasons for working for the YMCA. “I love children,” said Zarembka. “I like working here because of the impact you can have on a child's life. I enjoy being around the families, being a good role model.”
Zarembka and her family enjoy the lake and water sports. Her daughter already volunteers at the YMCA. Working with children seems to run in the family.
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Actors in the YMCA Day Camp work through a play with lead counselor Beth O’Hare. In a second scene, actors show that hands are needed to talk, especially on stage.
(Michael Skubal - Daily News)
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