New Family Membership Benefit Coming in May
The Kroc Center is proud to offer the new Cultural Membership Exchange program to our family membership holders! During the months of May and September, Kroc Center family memberships and Grand Rapids Children’s Museum Pals memberships may be used interchangeably for FREE admission to both facilities!
If you have a family membership at the Kroc Center, visit the welcome desk in April or May to pick up Cultural Membership Exchange pass, which will allow up to 2 adults and 4 children to visit the Children’s Museum for FREE, as many times as you like during May and September, 2013.
If you’re a GRCM Pals member, bring your membership card to the Kroc Center to enjoy full use of the Kroc Center’s pool, fitness area, gym, game room, climbing wall and more – all for FREE in May and September for up to 2 adults and 4 children! For more information, please call 616.588.7200.
Kroc Center’s Top 13 Things to Do with Your Family in 2013
There are plenty of ways to stay active and engaged with your family in the new year. Here are The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s top 13 things to do with your family in 2013:
1. Participate in the Dash Down Division 5K Run/Walk and the new, FREE miniDASH for kids, both on February 23.
2. Let loose in the gym during Family Rec Time, every Tuesday night from 5:30–7 PM.
3. Bring your little one to Toddler Tuesdays at the Kroc Center, every Tuesday through May 28 from 9 AM-Noon.
4. Rent one of the Kroc Center’s community garden plots this spring and start a garden with your family. Call 616-588-7200 ext. 2010 for details.
5. Enroll in our Family Fun Art class or stop by for drop-in art. Check the drop-in recreation guide for details.
6. Experience one of our FREE Family Nights, held on the last Friday of the month (September–May) at 6 PM. Check out our events page for upcoming dates.
7. Join us for our multicultural, bilingual family worship service at Kroc Church every Sunday at 10 AM.
8. Take a class with your youngster, like Parent & Tot Swim, Parent & Tot Art or Music & Me.
9. Create special memories at Daddy Daughter Date Night on February 9 or Mother Son Date Night on March 9.
10. Learn Spanish as a family! See the latest program guide for class times.
11. Challenge your family to climb our rock wall. We have several routes of varying difficulty for beginners to experienced climbers.
12. Do your teens need to burn off some energy? Ages 12 & up are welcome at our Zumba parties! Stop by the Fitness Desk for upcoming dates.
13. It may be cold outside, but it’s always warm in our aquatic center. Splash around during open swim and try our 28-foot waterslide! Daily open swim times are listed in our drop-in recreation guide.
Chris Chelios & Griffins Ring Bells for The Salvation Army
On Tuesday, December 18 from 2-5 PM, Red Wings legend Chris Chelios and several Griffins players and coaches will take turns ringing bells for The Salvation Army at the Kentwood Family Fare at 6127 Kalamazoo Ave SE. With two kettles on site, each hour will feature a friendly competition to see who can raise the most money. Griffins mascot Griff will also make an appearance during the event.
From 2-3 PM, Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill and Detroit Red Wings advisor to hockey operations and three-time Stanley Cup champion Chris Chelios will ring, as well as Griffins assistant coach and two-time Stanley Cup champion Jim Paek and Griffins analytics and advance scouting coach Spiros Anastas.
From 3-4 PM, Griffins forward Landon Ferraro will ring vs. defenseman Brian Lashoff, and from 4-5 PM, forward Mitch Callahan will ring vs. goalie Tom McCollum.
Join us for this fun, friendly competition and meet some of your favorite professional hockey players while you’re at it!
Check out our Friday fitness tips on Facebook
Start your journey to health! Every Friday, our fitness experts post a “Friday Fitness Tip” on Facebook. These quick and simple suggestions can be implemented into your workout routines to help you reach your wellness goals. Pair them with personal training sessions with our certified trainers for a well-rounded path to losing weight, being more fit, eating healthier and feeling great.
Just like us on Facebook to see a new fitness tips every week!
‘Toddler Tuesdays’ are now EVERY Tuesday!
The Kroc Center now offers a special drop-in playtime just for parents and toddlers every Tuesday from 9 am to noon. Parents and their little ones are invited to ‘Toddler Tuesdays’ to enjoy the toddler-friendly water features and pint-sized slide in the pool, and run, tumble and play in the gym.
Children are welcome to bring their own clean ride-on toys, and additional scooters and balls will be available for play.
Toddler Tuesdays are FREE for members! Non-members: One FREE parent admission per paid $5 child admission.
Final Toddler Tuesday before summer break is May 28. Toddler Tuesdays will return on September 10. For more information, view our Toddler Tuesday flyer.
September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. In 2008, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
An active lifestyle can boost children’s moods, increase energy and ward off illness. Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases.
The Salvation Army Kroc Center offers programs designed to help keep kids active and healthy, including team sports, dance and tumbling, swim lessons, and classes like Fitness for Kids, Climbing for Kids and Zumba for Kids. Programs designed specifically for children’s abilities and needs allow them to be active in a fun, encouraging atmosphere.
“The goal of the Kroc Center is to provide programs and services that encourage positive, life-changing experiences for both children and adults,” said Major Marc Johnson, senior officer for The Salvation Army Kroc Center. “Because childhood obesity is such a growing problem in our country, we are focused on offering classes that allow children to get active and be fit in a positive environment.”
The Kroc Center offers many health and wellness activities for all ages, including cardiovascular machines, strength training machines, rowing machines, free weights, an indoor track, aerobics classes, water fitness and more. Indoor recreation activities include basketball, judo, volleyball, badminton, special “toddler tumbling” times for youngsters and their parents, rock climbing and swimming. The Kroc Center is a great place for the whole family to stay fit!
For more information about programs offered at the Kroc Center, check out our latest Program Guide.
Annual Maintenance Week
In an effort to keep the Kroc Center in tip-top shape for our members and guests, the building will be closed for annual maintenance from Tuesday, September 4 – Sunday, September 9. During the shut-down, we will:
- Refinish the gym floor
- Drain, clean and repair the pool
- Repair flooring in many areas of the building
- Deep clean the fitness center equipment
- Patch and paint walls
Members can still get their fitness fix with FREE classes in our outdoor amphitheater. Join us for Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Kick, Boot Camp, Total Body Fit and PiYo (pilates + yoga). Check the August drop-in rec schedule for a full listing of class times and details.
Hot Kroc Summer Fun
WXMI FOX 17′s Emily Richett visited the Kroc Center to discuss our FREE upcoming Hot Kroc Summer activities, starting with RJ’s Birthday Party this Saturday, June 29 at 6:30 pm. We had a blast in the pool, playground, fishing pond, and rock climbing wall. Check out the photos on Facebook and be sure to watch the videos online. Thanks, Emily!
Summer Hours Start June 1
Starting Friday, June 1, we will be moving to our seasonal summer hours. The Salvation Army Kroc Center will be open from 5:30 am – 8 pm on Fridays and 7 am – 7 pm on Saturdays. This schedule will be in effect from Friday, June 1 through Saturday, September 1, 2012. The Kroc Center will continue to be open Monday – Thursday from 5:30 am – 9 pm, and Sunday from 9 am – 5 pm. The outdoor campus will remain open daily until 9 pm.
Memorial Day Hours
The Kroc Center will be open from 8 am – 5 pm on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28. There will be no program classes or drop-in classes on this day.
Our climbing wall and game room will open at noon, with modified open swim from 9 am – noon, and open swim from noon – 4:30 pm.
New Lap Swim Hours for May!
Thanks again to your feedback, we’ve adjusted our lap swim hours to better serve the busy schedules of our members. Starting in the month of May, the aquatic center will be open for lap swim an hour earlier on Saturdays – from 7:30 until 9 am. Get your morning started in the pool, then join us at 10 am in the outdoor amphitheater for our FREE outdoor drop-in fitness series – new this summer!
We continually strive to improve your experience at the Kroc Center and we appreciate your comments – keep them coming! The comment box is located at the Welcome Desk near the member check-in area.
You Asked, We Answered!
Thanks to our members’ feedback, we have installed new shower heads in the locker rooms. Give them a try and let us know what you think. We continually strive to improve your experience at the Kroc Center and we appreciate your comments – keep them coming! The comment box is located at the Welcome Desk near the member check-in area.
Winter Wellness Prevents Winter Blues
Winter weather can create poor habits for youth and adult health. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, obese children are more likely to have asthma, depression, diabetes, and other serious and costly health problems. The Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center is encouraging families, especially youth to stick to their resolutions and stay active in 2012.
During the winter months a focus on health is even more essential due to colder temperatures and less sun light which keep people from venturing outside to get exercise that is needed. Without a wellness routine for both children and adults, many find themselves making poor food choices, having less energy, and possible depression.
A healthy active winter lifestyle boosts moods, increases energy, wards off illness and improves joint and ligament function. It is important to note, active muscle burns 70 calories per day versus a non-active muscle. Additionally, drinking water and getting plenty of sleep are important pieces of a healthy lifestyle. People don’t think about drinking water in the winter because it is cold out.
Having an accountability partner, connecting with fitness staff, camaraderie of other members is important to maintaining motivation to keep fitness goals in line.
“The goal of the Kroc Center is to provide programs and services that encourage positive, life-changing experiences for both children and adults,” said Major Marc Johnson, senior officer for The Salvation Army Kroc Center, “whether it’s a six- week program, drop-in fitness class, or a personal training session, the Kroc Center has all the tools to help our members reach their spiritual, mental and physical wellness goals in 2012.”
The Kroc Center offers many health and wellness activities that include cardiovascular machines, strength training machines, free weights, an indoor track, aerobic classes, personal training, rowing machines and more. The Kroc indoor recreation activities include basketball, judo, volleyball, badminton, family game room with video games and computers, toddler tumble time, and rock climbing, free Wi-Fi internet access.
Top Ten Reasons to Rent at The Kroc
Looking for the perfect venue for your next event? Whether you’re planning the wedding of your dreams, a corporate meeting or the birthday party your kids will talk about for years, the Kroc Center is the place you’ve been looking for!
- We’re a brand new, 105,000 square foot multi-use and state-of-the-art green facility — we meet the gold standard for LEED certification.
- We’re a hidden gem in the middle of the city! The Kroc Center sits on 20 beautiful acres, complete with an outdoor amphitheater with a fireplace, playground featuring the Table & Chairs sculpture from ArtPrize 2009, a fishing pond, soccer and softball fields, slip & slide, sledding hill and ice skating rink.
- Our indoor features include a 26’ indoor rock climbing wall, an aquatics center complete with a waterslide, lazy river and play area, a game room, large gymnasium, Worship and Performing Arts Center, state-of-the-art fitness area and spaces for educational events.
- We’re a one-stop shop: we offer event space, food services and unique activities all under one roof.
- Planning a wedding? At the Kroc, you can hold your ceremony and reception all at one gorgeous location.
- Throwing a birthday party? We do everything for you, all you have to do is show up!
- We are kid friendly and family focused.
- We’re also a great place for all ages – we have activities for both the young and young at heart.
- Our professional Special Events and Food Service staff is experienced and detail oriented, and can help you plan your perfect event.
- Doing the most good. When you use the Kroc Center, you’re helping to contribute to our many programs that focus on giving back to your community.
Ready to book your event or want to learn more about the Kroc Center? Visit the Rental section of our website for more information, call the Event Sales Manager at 616.588.7200 x2035.
Get Fit this Fall at the Kroc!
Need extra motivation at the gym? Feel as though you’re not getting as much out of your exercise routine as you should? Consider Personal Training at the Kroc Center! As more than just instructors, our certified personal trainers will help you develop and efficiently complete an exercise routine designed to meet your specific goals. Whether your goal is to lose a few pounds, tighten your abs, tone your arms, or get in shape for an upcoming event, the Kroc’s personal trainers can help get you there.
The Value of Personal Training
- A personal trainer can help you optimize each exercise. By customizing an exercise routine for your body, a personal trainer can help you achieve your individual fitness goals. Different ambitions require different workout routines and exercises. Designing and modifying routines as your goals are met and adjusted, the Kroc’s personal trainers offer the experience and knowledge to get you to where you want to be.Every individual is also unique in their genetics, history, and prior injuries. Considering these distinctive characteristics, a workout is designed to accomplish the best results in the most effective way. Balancing your body’s muscles, identifying weak areas and improving upon these, a personal trainer will help keep you from stagnating to improve your overall fitness.
- A personal trainer can help optimize your time. Utilizing proper form and technique not only reduces the likelihood of injury, but also optimizes the effects of every exercise. Correct form and a progressive increase in weight, repetitions, and stress (as determined by the personal trainer) will force your body to adapt to become stronger, have more endurance, be more physically fit, and eventually look and feel better. Our personal trainers will enforce correct form and a progressive increase in exercise intensity to achieve these results. Such results will manifest in a shorter amount of time when these two actions are followed.
- A personal trainer can help optimize your energy. Rather than spending time with the wrong fitness program, doing exercises with improper form, and/or not being consistent with an exercise routine, personal training corrects these common and ineffective methodologies to produce the results you want.
How it Works @ the Kroc
Step 1:
Complete a Personal Training Request Form that you can get from the Fitness Desk or Welcome Desk.
Step 2:
The Health and Wellness Director will contact the personal trainer that best meets your needs and goals.
Step 3:
A personal trainer will contact you within 48 hours to get your first appointment set up.
Step 4:
Your first appointment with a personal trainer will include filling out paper work and talking with your trainer about your goals. Please come prepared to work out.
Step 5:
Continue to meet with your personal trainer as determined between you and your trainer.
Ready to get started?
Give us a call at 616.588.7200, or stop in and talk to one of our Kroc Krew members!
