MARYSVILLE — With her hair pulled back in a ponytail, Tallie Caldwell, 10, slowly pushed the bars of the chest press forward, as her older brother coached her through her first try on the new exercise equipment.

"Remember to breathe," Tim Caldwell, 21, of Arlington told Tallie, as she eased the bars back.

The two, plus youngest sister Layni, 8, tested out the new kid-sized pieces of strength-training equipment at the Marysville-North County YMCA Thursday.

The center celebrated its $1.1 million expansion with a grand opening Thursday afternoon.

The machines for kids age 8 to 16, plus two bikes and two rowing machines, are part of the additional offerings at the YMCA, which added 8,000 square feet to its facility.

The YMCA is the first local facility and possibly the first in the state to have exercise equipment for kids, said YMCA executive director Wendy Bart.

The machines, the new teen center, computers and other features of the remodel won praise from kids Thursday.

"It was a little hard, but I liked it," Tallie said. "I want to try a treadmill."

Tim Caldwell, who coaches middle school wrestling, said he plans to bring his team there to work out.

The equipment was due in December, but it was delayed because of the recent winter storm. It arrived Tuesday, just in time to be set up for the grand opening.

The YMCA, which serves residents of Marysville, Camano Island, Stanwood, Arlington, Darrington and Granite Falls, is used by more than 200 youths per day.

This month, the center will teach kids how to use the new exercise equipment, with the goal of attracting more families to exercise together.

"I think it’s good because kids can work out here without having to wait until they’re older," said Kaela MacLeod, 12, of Marysville, whose mother teaches aerobics at the YMCA.

More than 15 teens filled the new teen center Thursday, using the new computer room, doing their homework and eating pizza.

"It’s better than before. There’s more room," said Taylor Dodge, 13, of Marysville. "I like to hang out here with my friends."

Dodge said she wishes the computers in the technology area had Internet access. On Thursday, most kids using the computers were doing homework or playing solitaire.

"We get way more kids now," said Benji Travis, 19, the YMCA teen coordinator, adding that the new fitness studio is a popular spot for teens to breakdance.

The YMCA also expanded Tot Watch, where staff watch children while they’re parents exercise.

In addition, the center added a free weight exercise area and a new classroom for weekly parent-child craft classes and family cooking classes that focus on healthy eating.

To find out more about YMCA programs, call the center at 360-653-9622.

Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or

schiffner@heraldnet.com.