The Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road, offers the following programs. For information, call (219) 762-9622 or visit the Web site at www.ymcaofportage.org.

BOWL-A-THON

The Portage Township YMCA will sponsor its 19th Annual Bowl-A-Thon March 30 at Camelot Bowling Center, 5201 E. U.S. 6. The Bowl-A-Thon is one of the YMCA's two major fundraising efforts, and all proceeds are used to support low-income children in YMCA programs. Information packets and fundraising forms for the bowling event to support the youth scholarship program are available at the YMCA. All bowlers receive a complimentary, bowl-a-thon T-shirt provided by Centier Bank. Bowling proficiency is not necessary. The event includes prizes.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT

The Portage Township YMCA will host "Tropical Fun @ The Y" from 6 to 8 p.m. April 18 at the Portage High School West pool, 6400 E. U.S. 6. The family game night will feature water games, prizes and raffles. The games are designed for children 2 to 12 years old. Participants should bring a swim suit, towels, life jacket (if needed) and a lock for the locker room. The cost is $2 per child or $5 per family of three or more. All proceeds will benefit the YMCA's aquatics program. A YMCA membership is not required to participate.

POOL TIME

The Portage Township YMCA will hold a free Family Swim Night from 5 to 8:45 p.m. April 2 at the Portage High School West pool, 6400 E. U.S. 6. Free family swims are the first Wednesday of every month. The YMCA also offers water exercise, progressive swim lessons (new session will be from April 2 to May 7), lap swims and open swims at the pool. A YMCA membership is not required. Participants should bring a lock if planning to leave items in the locker room.

COED VOLLEYBALL

The Portage Township YMCA is offering a coed volleyball league for participants 14 years and older that will meet at 7 p.m. Mondays, April 14 to May 19 at the YMCA. Teams will be organized to play six-on-six. Register until April 4 at the YMCA. The cost for Primary Plus members is $25, $35 for Primary members and $70 for others.

INDOOR SOCCER

Register by March 25 for an indoor soccer league offered by the Portage Township YMCA for children 5 to 12 years old. There will be three age groups: 5 to 6 years old, 7 to 9 years old and 10 to 12 years old. The program will run from March 31 through May 2 at the YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road. The cost for YMCA Primary Plus members is $20, $29 for YMCA Primary members and $58 for others.

MEMBER ADVANTAGE

The Portage Township YMCA is offering a new Member Advantage Program. For Primary Plus members, most YMCA programs will be offered at a 30 percent savings (the Member Advantage price). Preschool and the Child Care & Development Center participants will receive a 10 percent savings. Through the end of March, members who have a Primary/Program membership can upgrade to the Primary Plus membership, and the joiner fee will be waived. The YMCA's membership office is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

As the Portage Township YMCA begins its new youth and adult basketball programs and prepares for its first soccer season, many volunteer opportunities are becoming available. Residents interested in volunteering as referees, coaches, scorekeepers or in other capacities are encouraged to contact Ryan Penrod at the YMCA. Volunteer applications for the sports programs are available at the YMCA.

GYMNASTICS

The Portage Township YMCA offers a gymnastics program for all levels. Sessions run monthly. Parent & Tot Gymnastics will meet from 12:40 to 1:15 p.m. Wednesdays or from 10:45 to 11:20 a.m. Thursdays at the YMCA. The cost is $15 per month for YMCA members and $30 for nonmembers. Preschool Scooters will meet from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays or from 11:40 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. Thursdays at the YMCA. The cost is $15 per month for YMCA members and $30 for nonmembers. Beginner classes will meet from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Willowcreek Middle School, 5962 Central Ave. The cost is $40 per month for YMCA members and $80 for nonmembers. Intermediate classes will meet from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Willowcreek Middle School. The cost will be $40 per month for YMCA members and $80 for nonmembers. Pre-Team and Level 3 classes will meet from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Portage High School East, 6450 E. U.S. 6. The cost

will be $50 per month for YMCA members. Level 4 and higher gymnasts will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Thursdays at Portage High School East. The cost will be $60 per month for YMCA members. YMCA membership is required for team classes. To register for gymnastics programs, sign up at the Portage Township YMCA.

PRESCHOOL

The Portage Township YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Road, is accepting registrations for the 2008-09 preschool program. All classes will meet in the newly remodeled and secured, preschool wing of the YMCA building. The nine-month program serves children who are one or two years away from starting kindergarten. The child must be able to use the restroom independently, and a YMCA membership is required.

Class size is limited to 16 children in the two-day-a-week classes and 18 children in the class that meets three days each week. Since space is limited, prompt registration is encouraged. The twice-weekly classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The child must be 3 years old on or before Aug. 1. The thrice-weekly classes meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The child must be 4 years old on or before Aug. 1. A nonrefundable registration fee of $20 is required. The fee for the twice-weekly class is $40.50 for Primary Plus members and $45 per month for Primary members. The fee for the thrice-weekly class is $63 per month for Primary Plus members and $70 per month for Primary members. A Primary YMCA membership costs $64 per year. The cost of a Primary Plus membership varies according to age and number of household members.

HOMESCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Portage Township YMCA is offering homeschooled youngsters a chance to exercise, play and compete against other children their own ages in a physical education program just for them. April's activity will be indoor soccer at 1 p.m. Thursdays. The class will last one hour. The youngsters will be grouped by ages: 5 to 7 years, 8 to 10 years and 11 to 13 years. The cost is $8 per child or $24 per family of three or more children for YMCA members. The fee for nonmembers is $16 per child or $48 per family of three or more children. Registration is required monthly, with the registration fee paid at the beginning of each monthly session. May's activity will be volleyball.

FAMILY FITNESS

The Portage Township YMCA is hosting a Family Fitness Night program from 6 to 8 p..m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday at Aylesworth Elementary School, 5910 Central Ave. Enter D door. The program also is offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays at the Portage High School field house, 6450 E. U.S. 6. Also enter D door. This program is part of a grant awarded to the Portage Township YMCA and the Portage Township Schools to address the childhood obesity epidemic in the community. The program is free and open to all Portage families. Activities include basketball and soccer as well as age-appropriate activities for the children. There also is a walking program with free pedometers for the adults.

KARATE

The Portage Township YMCA and Fighting Arts Dojo Family Karate offer a karate program on Tuesday and Thursday at the YMCA. Youth classes meet from 7 to 8 p.m. for participants 7 to 14 years old. Classes for ages 14 years and older are from 8 to 9 p.m. Monthly fees are $55 for YMCA members and $75 for others. If one or more of the program participants in a household has a Primary Plus Membership, a household of two pays $100, and a household of three pays $125. The classes are taught by instructors Brian Hill, Dan Huk and Don Pavy. Shuri-Ryu and Ryu-Kyu Kempo are the primary styles they teach. New students are welcome, and their first class is free.

YOGA

Kate Schlobohm leads yoga classes at 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in the upstairs classroom at the Portage Township YMCA. In these classes, participants will use yoga combined with other techniques to stretch and strengthen muscles and relieve stress. Sessions will begin with gentle yoga stretches to loosen the muscles and increase flexibility and then yoga postures to strengthen the body. Participants will learn breathing techniques and stress-relief activities. Sessions end with guided meditation and progressive relaxation. Participants should bring a yoga mat, towel and blanket. The monthly fee is $25 for Primary Plus members, $30 for Primary members and $50 for others. The single-class fee is $10.

VOICE

The Portage Township YMCA youth-led VOICE group meets at 5:30 p.m. every other Wednesday at the YMCA. The group is led by YMCA teens 12 to 17 years old who advocate against tobacco use, particularly among teens. The group organizes and participates in activities and events to promote tobacco-free teens in Indiana.

TAI CHI

Terry Hagler teaches the tai chi class that meets Mondays and Wednesdays at the Portage Township YMCA. Beginners meet from 7:30 to 8 a.m., followed by an hour of advanced tai chi from 8 to 9 a.m. Beginners are encouraged to stay for the advanced class. The cost is $20 per month for Primary Plus members, $30 per month for Primary members and $40 per month for others. Participants should wear comfortable clothes and flat-soled shoes. The class uses the Wu teaching method of tai chi and will teach relaxation, balance, flexibility, muscle strength and concentration.