The Ambrose Academy is a family martial arts center that offers classes for men, women, and children. It's the only school in Michigan that teaches Wing Chun Do, a self-defense method that has a direct lineage to Bruce Lee.

The school also teaches public safety programs such as an anti-abduction program, conflict avoidance, and personal protection. Through entertaining skits and role-playing, the academy's Stranger Smart program teaches kids tools for dealing with strangers.

The Ambrose Academy offers an introduction package that includes a private or semi-private lesson plus three regularly scheduled classes and a uniform for a cost of $29.95 for adults and $24.95 for children.

The Ambrose Academy is a family martial arts center that offers classes for men, women, and children. It's the only school in Michigan that teaches Wing Chun Do, a self-defense method that has a direct lineage to Bruce Lee.

The school also teaches public safety programs such as an anti-abduction program, conflict avoidance, and personal protection. Through entertaining skits and role-playing, the academy's Stranger Smart program teaches kids tools for dealing with strangers.

The Ambrose Academy offers an introduction package that includes a private or semi-private lesson plus three regularly scheduled classes and a uniform for a cost of $29.95 for adults and $24.95 for children.

The Beverly Hills Club offers a wide variety of programs for families. The club has an indoor pool, tennis courts, fitness room, and a children's section with a play structure, moonwalk, video games, and more.

Kids' classes are offered in aerobics, baseball, basketball, dance, football, martial arts, swimming, tennis, and yoga. Parent/tot classes are also available.

A latchkey program offers the chance for supervised afterschool fun. Day camps give kids a great place to hang out during the summer and on vacation days.

Both members and nonmembers may hold a party at the BHC.

Hours are seasonal:

Labor Day to Memorial Day: Mon-Thu 5:30am-11pm; Fri 5:30am-10pm; Sat 6:30am-9:30pm; Sun 7am-8:30pm.


Memorial Day to Labor Day: Mon-Fri 5:30am-11pm; Fri 5:30am-11pm; Sat 6:30am-8pm; Sun 7am-7pm

Just opened in December 2005, the downtown Detroit Boll Family YMCA is remarkable.

Not only does it have the typical Y amenities, this shiny new facility houses a large theater, a 38-foot climbing wall, running track, massage therapy, a day care center, and a separate locker room for families and those with special needs.

You'll find classes in dance, spinning, martial arts, aerobics, aquatics, rowing, and too many more to list. Any current YMCA membership can be upgraded to include the Boll facility.

Some unique (for Ys) programs are offered as well, such as those in web design, photography, ceramics, and African dance.

Rent the center for birthday parties or other events. Contact the center directly for details and membership prices.

The Carls Family YMCA offers a variety of services to members of the community. Opened in 2002, this is a state-of-the-art facility located in the heart of downtown Milford. There is an indoor pool, fitness center, and gymnasium. This branch of the Y also has a childcare program.

Classes are offered in aerobics, aquatics, basketball, gymnastics, martial arts, pilates, and yoga. There are numerous opportunities for homeschoolers and also the preschool set, including parent/tot classes.

There are several birthday party packages at this Y, including a standard party package, a gym party, and a pool party.

The Downriver Family YMCA in Southgate offers a variety of services to members of the community. There is a pool, fitness center, and gymnasium with climbing wall. This branch of the Y also has a childcare program.

Classes are offered in such areas as art, drama, aerobics, aquatics, basketball, dance, gymnastics, martial arts, and the Spanish language.

The Downriver Family YMCA in Southgate offers a variety of services to members of the community. There is a pool, fitness center, and gymnasium with climbing wall. This branch of the Y also has a childcare program.

Classes are offered in such areas as art, drama, aerobics, aquatics, basketball, dance, gymnastics, martial arts, and the Spanish language.

Housed at the Franklin Athletic Club, the Franklin Kids Club is a fitness center and licensed day care with a preschool program.

Two large gyms with moonwalks, a rope swing, slides, and colorful mats will keep your children plenty busy. For the older kids, there's foosball, air hockey, Nintendo, basketball, and floor hockey. Open gym times are available six days of the week.

Classes are offered in gymnastics, karate, arts and crafts, and more. Special programs include prenatal "Fit for Moms" and post-natal "Mommy and Baby Bootcamp" classes.

Day camps are offered on school vacation days and weekends, and there is also a latchkey program. The licensed pre-school accepts kids 2 1/2 to 5 years old (they must be toilet trained).

Parties: Franklin Kids Club offers two fitness-focused parties that come with a coach, a party host, invitations, and paper products. The Weesports party, for ages 1-4, runs 90 minutes and costs $215; and the Kidsports party, for ages 5-10, runs two hours and costs $265. For an additional $110, you'll get pizza, cake, party bags, and beverages. All prices are based on 15 kids.

Other neat party ideas include the club's Mess Makers (art-based), Mad Science (science-based), and Gym and Swim birthday parties. Check online for details.

Franklin Kids Club has some great programs for scouts and youth groups, too, including fitness challenges and sleepovers.

Housed at the Franklin Athletic Club, the Franklin Kids Club is a fitness center and licensed day care with a preschool program.

Two large gyms with moonwalks, a rope swing, slides, and colorful mats will keep your children plenty busy. For the older kids, there's foosball, air hockey, Nintendo, basketball, and floor hockey. Open gym times are available six days of the week.

Classes are offered in gymnastics, karate, arts and crafts, and more. Special programs include prenatal "Fit for Moms" and post-natal "Mommy and Baby Bootcamp" classes.

Day camps are offered on school vacation days and weekends, and there is also a latchkey program. The licensed pre-school accepts kids 2 1/2 to 5 years old (they must be toilet trained).

Parties: Franklin Kids Club offers two fitness-focused parties that come with a coach, a party host, invitations, and paper products. The Weesports party, for ages 1-4, runs 90 minutes and costs $215; and the Kidsports party, for ages 5-10, runs two hours and costs $265. For an additional $110, you'll get pizza, cake, party bags, and beverages. All prices are based on 15 kids.

Other neat party ideas include the club's Mess Makers (art-based), Mad Science (science-based), and Gym and Swim birthday parties. Check online for details.

Franklin Kids Club has some great programs for scouts and youth groups, too, including fitness challenges and sleepovers.

Ferndale's Kulick Community Center offers a wide variety of family and kids programs, including summer camps for preschoolers through age 12, and leagues in soccer, baseball, basketball, curling, flag football, golf, and tennis.

Options for children's classes are plentiful - there's cooking, arts and crafts, gymnastics, jutaijitsu, karate, kickboxing, swimming, plus a good variety of programs for infants and toddlers. Sign up for drop-in playtime, romp and stomp, plus creative movement, or tumbling (drop-in classes cost just $2/visit).

Call or check the website for details on class schedules and fees (they're quite inexpensive, even for nonresidents), and the information on the online registration site is updated daily.

Built in 1869 and donated to the city of Farmington in 1968, the Longacre House now serves as a community center and banquet facility.

Families can take classes in infant massage, kids' karate, baby ballet, piano, and more. Call the venue or visit its website for a full schedule of classes and special events.

Schoolcraft College Kids on Campus offers some terrific educational programs for children in first through ninth grades. Classes are offered during the fall and winter semesters, and summer camps are also an option.

The program includes such diverse topics as cartooning, ceramics, computers, cooking, karate, math, robots, science, and theater. There's a middle school prep course and detective class.

Prefer to take a class with your child? Sign up for "Ooey, Gooey Science" or "Parent/Tot Swimming."

This Detroit training center offers youth classes in baseball, cheerleading, football, karate, gymnastics, and track and field. Group rates are available. Call for current class schedule and prices.

Warren residents who have not yet checked out the community center, get over there! It's amazing. There's a large fitness area, gymnasium, and indoor pool with a huge aquatic play structure and winding slide.

The center has kids' karate lessons, soccer and basketball clinics, and youth baseball leagues.

There are limited hours for the pool and water slide; check the website or call for specifics. And know that at first glance, you might think the pool fee is excessive - but it's worth every penny. Nonresidents are welcome as well for a little higher fee.

Have your next party at the Warren Community Center. Party packages run $10/person ($5 for a nonswimming adult) with a $25 surcharge for nonresidents. The price includes a party room for one hour; unlimited swimming; and pop, chips, and table service. Gold pass members get a free 30-slice party tray when booking. Food packages are available at an additional cost. There is a 10-person minimum, not including adults.

Through its programs and services for women and children, the YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit works to eliminate racism and empower women. The organization addresses a variety of basic, immediate needs for safety, shelter, food, and clothing, as well as longer term needs for affordable housing.

The YWCA Downriver provides quality childcare programs through its outreach programs, including before and after school, and school break and summer camps.

Summer Camps: Summer Kiddie Camps are for those 2 1/2 to 5 years old, Summer Day Camps are geared toward those in grades 1-5, and Summer Junior Counselor Camps (which includes babysitter training and CPR courses) are great for those in grades 6-9. All are located at St. John United Church of Christ in Wyandotte and Huron High School in Huron Township.

School Break Care: Grosse Ile and Wyandotte parents can take advantage of the program's offering of child care during winter and spring breaks. Latchkey is also available.

Mom & Tot and Discovery Camp: The YWCA has teamed up with the Grosse Isle Recreation Department to provide two programs: Mom & Tot is for parents and preschoolers to learn through fun play and music; for elementary school kids, Discovery Camp, held at Centennial Farm, is a five-week summer program that focuses on the study of nature and the outdoors.

For Huron Township residents, YWCA recreation programs abound. Held at various places throughout the community, there are classes for kids (cheerleading, dance, horseback riding, and karate) and adults (ballroom dance, exercise and fitness, hunter safety, scrapbooking, self-defense, yoga, and more).

Contact the YWCA Downriver Outreach program for specific locations, membership information, and camp and class fees.

Through its programs and services for women and children, the YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit works to eliminate racism and empower women. The organization addresses a variety of basic, immediate needs for safety, shelter, food, and clothing, as well as longer term needs for affordable housing, quality child care, and preschool.

This branch of the YWCA offers a general fitness program, a tennis program for adults and youth, and a good number of classes for children, including basketball, dance, gymnastics, karate, and pre-teen jazz. Beginning music classes (piano, breass, woodwinds, and percussion) are also offered.

Membership: Family Membership is $110/year and includes one or both parents and children. Adult Membership is $60/year, Student Membership (for ages 18-21 and in school) is $35, and Youth Membership is $30/year.