SPANISH FORT — The YMCA expanded their services by opening a new branch in Spanish Fort on Friday.

The new branch is located at the Blakeley Square Shopping Center at 6729 Spanish Fort Blvd., with the intent of making its services more accessible to residents on the Eastern Shore. Among other features, the branch includes a full fitness center along with offering group fitness classes and their YMCA child watch. In a statement, the YMCA of South Alabama said they are committed to actively participating in the Spanish Fort community through local initiatives and partnerships "for a better us."

"With a commitment to our YMCA core values and mission statement, we hope to expand our presence on the Alabama Eastern Shore in Spanish Fort, thus furthering our dedicated initiatives to serve more youth, families and older adults within our two Alabama counties of service," CEO Gwen Sommer said in the statement.

With the addition of a new branch, YMCA of South Alabama announced that Spanish Fort will be one of the sites in Baldwin County to offer its new summer day camp program this year providing local children with "a summer of adventure, learning and personal growth." Programs run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for seven to 12 weeks during the summer, depending on site, with the YMCA offering day camp scholarships due to its nonprofit nature.

"YMCA summer day camps provide a safe and engaging environment where children can build confidence, develop character and stay active. With a variety of programs tailored to different interests, campers may learn independence, gain self-esteem, and embrace the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, and responsibility," Sommer said.

The program runs from May through August Those interested can visit www.ysal.org to learn more and register.