Mental health is increasingly recognized as a critical focus worldwide, impacting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Supporting mental health is complex, requiring innovative approaches tailored to diverse needs. The YMCA has long been a trailblazer in this space, offering programs that support mental wellbeing at every stage of life.
At Fledge, we’re passionate about early mental health education, equipping young children with tools to thrive emotionally and mentally. Based in Calgary, Fledge combines digital and in-person services to provide research-backed resources for caregivers and educators.
This summer, we were thrilled to partner with the YMCA on a pilot program in their Esports Summer Camps. Through this initiative, Fledge played a vital role in helping campers develop self-regulation, explore social skills, and take meaningful breaks. The activities, designed to integrate mindfulness, movement, and emotional awareness, gave participants tools they could easily connect with in a way that made sense to them.
The digital, gamified nature of Fledge was particularly impactful, aligning seamlessly with the esports environment and creating an engaging avenue for campers to build emotional literacy. The campers not only practiced self-regulation but also learned to navigate social interactions within their peer groups, fostering connection and teamwork in a meaningful context.
"Incredible resource and a great addition to the esports camps, especially the activities that combine mindfulness and movement."
— YMCA Camp Counselor
Fledge offers approaches designed to meet the needs of all learners. Our digital platform serves as a "co-pilot" for parents and educators, providing tools to support children’s growth and development. Meanwhile, our in-person programming and professional development sessions equip organizations like the YMCA with strategies to nurture mental and emotional skills in children.
“During our YMCA Esports Summer Day Camps we had to find different ways to take breaks throughout the day, this was important in promoting mindfulness, nutrition, physical and mental wellness, as well as digital literacy. We had the opportunity to use Fledge Health for part of these breaks, and it proved to be helpful in taking mindful breaks in-between our skill building sessions. How Fledge was represented digitally was particularly helpful for the Esports team as we are already actively within the digital space, and having activities in a more “gamified” way also was an easy in for campers to connect with the material.”
— Kurt Robertson, (He/Him/His)
Esports Supervisor, Shane Homes at Rocky Ridge YMCA
In addition to the summer pilot, the YMCA hosted a collaborative discussion, bringing together Calgary organizations to explore ways to better serve families through shared knowledge and resources.
The YMCA continues to be a pillar of leadership in our community, and we are proud to partner with them to create meaningful mental health tools and resources. Together, we’re empowering individuals and families with the skills to build resilience and thrive.
Stay tuned as we continue to expand our offerings—and don’t miss out on pre-sale opportunities to bring Fledge’s innovative tools to your own community!
For more information, visit www.fledge.health or contact us at hello@fledge.health.
We look forward to continuing to share mental health tools, skills and strategies with you in the coming months!