YMCA peddling family values

Sunday was a beautiful day for a bicycle ride along the Upper Newport Back Bay. Hundreds of Newport-Mesa fathers, sons and daughters seemed to think so, as they took a six-mile expedition through the Back Bay for an annual Central Orange Coast YMCA family event.

Riders were off by 11 a.m. after a quick tune-up in the parking lot on University Drive. Most returned by noon to enjoy snow cones, popcorn and hamburgers provided by Carl’s Jr.

Both the YMCA boys’ Mighty Corona Nation Y-Guides and the girls’ Naranja Nation Y-Princesses rode for the event. Although the father-and-son tribes have participated for years, this was the first ride for the Y-Princesses, led by Chief of Chiefs David Wolf.

Wolf was excited to spend the day with his three daughters Taylor, 11, Madison, 10, and Samantha, 6. “I hope they do this forever, it helps a lot of folks in the community out there,” Wolf said. “It’s a real testament to how dads make the commitment [to their kids].”

Central Orange Coast YMCA’s family program is geared more toward children ages 5 to 9, but everyone was welcomed to join in the fun, Program Director Kenny Brook said.

The program, which celebrated its 80th year in 2006, was based on “Native American themes of storytelling and appreciation for nature, but is mostly a relationship-building program between fathers and their children,” Brook said.

Mighty Corona Nation Y-Guides Chief of Chiefs Willie Rosoff agreed.

“This is family building YMCA style,” Rosoff said. “What we see here today is a community activity, family unit building and tons of fun, and the Y allows us to do that.”

Rosoff brought his 6-year-old son Mattie along for the ride. “Every dad is involved here,” Brook said. “We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.”