Nary a face was glued to a cell phone screen at the annual Healthy Kids Day event at the Gleason Family YMCA Saturday afternoon.

Instead, the children who attended -- ranging anywhere from one-year-olds on their parents’ hips, to preteens -- wandered the booths set up on the YMCA basketball court to learn about healthy eating and physical activities.

Healthy Kids Day, a national YMCA annual event, not only focuses on the health and wellness of America’s youth, but also gives them a chance to learn about the YMCA and activities in their community, according to Debbie Fringuelli, the Gleason Family YMCA’s new executive director.

Several physical activities were offered to the children, including a bouncy castle, an Israeli dodgeball game called Ga-ga, climbing, and Zumba.

Madison Neru, 9, who climbs after school on Thursdays, said she really likes rock climbing.

“I couldn’t make it up number four, but I kept trying,” said Madison, referring to a trail up the climbing wall. “On Friday, I finally made it up number four.”

Xavier Hendricks, 10, Lawrence Hendricks, Jr., 11, and Stephen Arne, 12, said they were enjoying the day.

“It’s really fun, because there’s free food and stuff,” Stephen said. “And there was a dodgeball thing, sort of. I came in second once.”

“Yeah, and free pancakes,” Lawrence chimed in.

The three agreed in unison on their favorite physical activity: “The bouncy castle.”

It is important that the children have a good time, said Fringuelli, not only because it helps them learn about wellness, but also because it allows their families to learn about the YMCA.

“We really wanted to show everything that the Y can do for them, and provide healthy opportunities for them,” Fringuelli said. “Having this event here really shows them and showcases all the things that go on here.”

Fringuelli said she does not know how long the annual event has been running, but knows it has happened longer than her 17 years with the YMCA organization.

Fringuelli estimated about 100 people had shown up to the event, and more were trickling in and out. She also said the facility tracks the number of people who arrive, in order to follow up with them, if they are interested in membership. She said this is especially important for those interested in financial assistance memberships, which are memberships based on a sliding scale fee adjusted for an individual’s or family’s specific financial information.

Within the first hour and a half of the Healthy Kids Day event, Fringuelli said, the center had received 15 new requests for membership.

“There’s a great need for the communities that we serve,” Fringuelli said. “I can’t get over the number of folks we serve.”