Blog — Page 129 — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

YMCA Seeking Volunteers to Join its Learning Mentor Team

September 2, 2020

As our community continues to navigate through these difficult times, the YMCA is committed to supporting local students and their families during the upcoming school year.

The YMCA is currently looking for volunteers, ages 17 and up, who would be interested in volunteering as virtual Learning Mentors (LM) this school year. LMs will assist local students in grades K-8 with Language Arts and Math school work at least one day a week. All mentoring sessions will be completed via Zoom.

All volunteers must complete a background and reference check. Zoom sessions will be recorded, and a parent must be present.

To get started or to learn more, please submit a volunteer application online or contact:

Dori Fugate
Volunteer and Community Engagement Director
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 210

Submit a Volunteer Application Today!

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YMCA Members Invited to Participate in the Y’s September Check-In Challenge

September 1, 2020

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA would like to thank our members staying with us and playing a key role in keeping our Y community safe and healthy. We are excited to extend another fun opportunity to members during the month of September.

All YMCA members are invited to participate in our September Check-In Challenge. Anyone who checks into the YMCA 8 or more times between September 1-30 will be entered to win a YMCA thermal tote packed with our favorite Y swag, including a sweatshirt, water bottle, umbrella, and more.

Stop by and see us!

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Set to Offer New P.E. Class for Kids

August 27, 2020

To support students and their families during the 2020-2021 school year, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA will be running a P.E. Class this fall for kids in grades 1-6 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. This high-energy class will feature a different school-based P.E. activity each week and provide students with an opportunity to stay active while participating in remote learning.

Fall 1 Class Dates

Classes held during Fall 1 will run as drop-in classes so students can try out YMCA P.E. before registering for the Fall 2 and Fall 3 sessions. To ensure a spot in the class, please register 24 hours in advance of the class date.

Special Introductory Pricing
Facility Members: $10 per class
Community Members: $20 per class

September 10-October 1

Grades 1-3
Wednesdays
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Grades 4-6
Thursdays
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Fall 2 Class Dates

October 5-November 5

Grades 1-3
Wednesdays
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Grades 4-6
Thursdays
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Fee:
Facility Members: $55 per session
Community Members: $110 per class

Fall 3 Class Dates

November 9-December 17

Grades 1-3
Wednesdays
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Grades 4-6
Thursdays
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Fee:
Facility Members: $55 per session
Community Members: $110 per class

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Registration Underway for YMCA Fall Into Fitness Bingo Challenge

August 26, 2020

Are you looking for a fun way to stay fit, try new exercises and earn a chance to win prizes this fall? Sign up for the Y’s Fall Into Fitness Bingo Challenge! This free fitness challenge runs from Monday, September 28 through Sunday, November 1 and will give you the opportunity to win prizes by completing your fitness ‘BINGO’. Here’s how it works:

This challenge is free! Registration is underway!
Stop by the Y’s membership desk to pick up a Bingo card or download a card below:Fall Into Fitness Bingo Card
Complete a Bingo line by completing 5 activities on the card, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The more lines you complete, the more chances to win!
At the end of the week, turn in your Bingo card to the membership desk with your completed line(s).
Every week, you will get a raffle ticket for each Bingo line you submit.
There will be three weekly raffle winners from that week’s submitted Bingo cards.
Every week, pick up a new Bingo card for new chances to win!

If you have additional questions, please speak to a member of the health and wellness team at your local branch.

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Ignite Your Passion: Lennell Pierce Sr.’s Story

August 25, 2020

At the Y, members are always encouraged to follow their passions and maintain healthy lifestyles. For Smith Family YMCA member Lennell Pierce Sr., that passion has been basketball.

“I always had the drive to come here. As a child you come just to have fun and play. As you get older, you start realizing how important it is for your health,” Pierce said.

Pierce, who recently turned 58, is a native of Joliet and a two-time gold medalist in basketball at the Illinois Senior Olympics.

“I’m a self motivator. I’ll get up early in the morning. Sometimes I’ll play with my cousins when we get off of work. It’s all about the love of the game,” he said.

Pierce’s Y experience began while playing pickup basketball as a teenager. As the years went on, he brought all four of his children (Tiana, LeAaron, Lennell Jr. and Jarvis) to the Y to play basketball, and now he continues to practice and workout whenever he gets the chance.

“I choose the Y because it’s a family oriented atmosphere. My kids all grew up playing here,” he said. “When you come here you meet people from all walks of life and everyone is friendly.”

Pierce said he was offered a spot to play competitively for the J-Town Ballers by a friend four years ago. Since then, state titles have given him the opportunity to compete in the national finals in 2017 and again in 2019.

“I’ve gotten to meet people from all over the country, and to be blessed with that is just awesome,” Pierce said.

And whether it’s through a friendly conversation, or providing a tip to some younger players in the gym, Pierce said he still enjoys the simple everyday interactions at the Y.

“I’m a people person and when I come to the Y, I’m always guaranteed to be able to talk to people. It’s a blessing. It’s all about kindness and I love doing it,” he said.

The Y would like to thank Lennell for being a loyal Y member and congratulates him on his accomplishments.

The Y is more than just a place to work out; more than a place where families can spend time together; more than a place to learn to swim; more than a place for kids to play sports; and more than a place for seniors to stay young at heart. The Y is all those things and more. The Y is a place where you belong! If you would like to sign up for a YMCA membership, click here.

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NASCAR Foundation Provides $9,250 Grant to C.W. Avery Family YMCA Summer Camp Program

August 22, 2020

YMCA Summer Day Camp provides kids with opportunities to have fun while building a healthy spirit, mind and body. Kids have the opportunity to find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and memories. These experiences would not be possible without the support of our generous charitable partners.

That is why the C.W. Avery Family YMCA would like to thank the NASCAR Foundation for a $9,250 grant through its Speediatrics Grant Program which helped to support the promotion of healthy lifestyles for kids in summer camp this year.

Camp activities included a three week step counter challenge, with campers receiving special pedometer watches from NASCAR to help track their progress each day. NASCAR also provided racing themed programming for campers featuring an activity booklet, healthy snacks and interactive videos.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA Youth and Family Director Shannon Stawikowski said the resources fit perfectly with the Y’s efforts to keep kids healthy and active.

“By engaging in fun games and activities during the day at camp, kids learned that physical activity is fun and exciting and that a healthy lifestyle can make them stronger, help them to have more energy, and feel their best,” Stawikowski said.

Activities culminated in a Speediatrics Fun Day Festival that allowed kids to participate in fun outdoor games and challenges. Stawikowski said campers enjoyed the festival and that Speediatrics programming was an amazing addition to the Y’s summer day camp program in Plainfield.

“It kept the kids excited to come back to camp each day in anticipation of what we had planned for them next,” she said. “Everyone who helped plan the program went above and beyond to make it as easy as possible for YMCA staff to facilitate the step challenge and daily activities. We truly appreciate all of the work that went into providing this great program at our Y.”

Through its commitment to youth development, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA nurtures the potential of every child through its summer day camp and Kid Zone PLUS before and after school programs. Parents can learn more about Kid Zone PLUS for the 2020-21 school year by clicking here. To pledge your support for these programs through a charitable gift to the Mission Strong Fund, click here.

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