All Locations — Page 4 — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

Celebrate Halloween at the YMCA

September 18, 2025

Prepare yourselves! This October, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA has a series of spooky, Halloween-themed activities planned for you and your family. Join us for ‘Spook-tacular’ fun!

Galowich Family YMCA

Boo Bash
Friday, October 17
6-8 p.m.

Join us for our spooktacular family-friendly events with activities, games, candy, and more! These events are free and open to the community.

To learn more, please contact Youth and Family Director Tracy Wrase at [email protected] or (815) 744-3939, ext. 315.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Halloween Spooktacular
Saturday, October 18
1-3 p.m.

Stop by the C.W. Avery Family YMCA for our exciting Halloween Spooktacular! We will have a Trunk-or-Treat as well as spooky activities, games, crafts, and more!

Cost: Free and open to the community

If you are interested in hosting a trunk, please contact Youth and Family Director James Wagner at [email protected] or (815) 267-8600, ext. 234.

Kids’ Night Out: Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree
Friday, October 24
6:30-9 p.m.

Join us for a variety of activities such as games, sports, movies, and arts & crafts. Be sure to wear your Halloween costumes! PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required at least 48 hours in advance.

Cost: $20 for Facility Members/$40 for Community Members

Morris Hospital YMCA

Halloween Spooktacular
Saturday, October 25
10-11:30 a.m.

Location:
Morris Grade School
2001 Dupont Ave
Morris, IL 60450

Join us for our exciting Halloween Spooktacular with trunks decorated by local businesses and Morris Hospital!

Cost: Free and open to the community

If you would like to host a trunk during this event, please contact Youth and Family Director Jordan Overton at [email protected] or (815) 513-8080, ext. 513.

Joliet Community YMCA

Monster Mash
Saturday, October 25
1-3 p.m.

Location:
Salvation Army Community Center
300 E 3rd Avenue
Joliet, IL 60433

To learn more, please contact Youth and Family Manager Keyanna Montgomery [email protected] or (815) 744-3939, ext. 362.

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Joilet Community YMCA Set to Offer College Planning Workshop This October

September 17, 2025

YMCA Teen Achievers workshops are free and open to the community, providing area students with important resources they can use to prepare for life after high school. Next month the workshop topic will be:

Finding Free Money for College
Date: Saturday, October 18
Time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Location:
Joliet Junior College Event Center
Room 2001
1215 Houbolt Road Joliet, IL 60431

This workshop will include tips for starting your college search, identifying possible red flags in your school choice, finding scholarships, and completing scholarship applications. All attendees will have access to an array of scholarship options and find answers to other commonly asked questions. This event is primarily for high school juniors and seniors, but freshmen and sophomores are welcome to attend. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to attend as well.

Facilitator: Kacey Helland, Teacher from the Plainfield South High School World Language Department

Kacey is a former YMCA Teen Achievers facilitator with more than a decade of teaching experience. She has earned degrees in Spanish, Secondary Education, and Educational Leadership, and is excited to help students on their educational journey.

To learn more about this event, please contact:

Darrell Collins
Teen REACH & Teen Achievers Director
Phone: (815) 782-0828
Email: [email protected]

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Belonging Begins With Us: Celebrate 2025 Welcoming Week at the YMCA

September 4, 2025

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA will be joining YMCAs across the country to celebrate Welcoming Week from September 12-21! Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA’s national partner Welcoming America, elevates the growing movement of communities that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country. This week-long celebration is an opportunity for neighbors – both immigrants and US-born residents – to get to know one another and celebrate what unites us as a community.

This week, when you visit your local Y branch, you’ll be able to participate in fun activities that will get you in to the spirit of Welcome Week.

EXPAND YOUR WORLD

Members will be invited to participate in fun and easy activities to expand their perspectives and make our community a more welcoming place for all. You can grab an activity card by visiting the Membership Desk.

BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER

Members will have the opportunity to pin their country of origin on a map located in the lobby. We are so excited to display a worldwide community throughout the week!

TRY NEW TASTES

Members can sample delicious foods from around the world during our cultural food extravaganzas. Enjoy fellowship with your neighbors, learn about different cultures, and play games with new and old friends. Plus, bring a friend and you can enter to win some fantastic raffle prizes including gift cards and Y swag! Branch specific dates can be found below.

GALOWICH FAMILY YMCA
749 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
Friday, September 12
10 a.m.-Noon

C.W. AVERY FAMILY YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544
Wednesday, September 17
10:30 a.m.-Noon

MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450
Thursday September 18
11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

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Stronger Together: Bring a Friend Fitness Class Opportunities

September 3, 2025

Grab a workout buddy and join us for special fitness classes at the Y! Facility members are invited to bring a guest for free. Fitness is always better together!

PLEASE NOTE: Guests must present a valid photo ID when checking in. Attendance in these classes will not count against a guest’s total pass usage for 2025.

Cardio Interval
You’ll alternate between cardio intervals and strength moves to achieve the maximum results, increased cardiovascular fitness and calorie burning.
Date: Friday, September 12
Time: 4:15-5 p.m.
Location: Morris Hospital YMCA

Bootcamp
A mix of strength and cardio drills, using circuits and intervals.
Date: Monday, September 15
Time: 9-9:45 a.m.
Location: Galowich Family YMCA

Cardio Mix
This class will feature 30 minutes of WERQ, 30 minutes of Butts and Guts, and 30 minutes of stretching
Date: Friday, September 26
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: C.W. Avery Family YMCA

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The Dream Starts Here: Illinois YMCA Statewide Football Skills Challenge Coming This Fall

September 2, 2025

As part of the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs dynamic collaboration with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), the Greater Joliet Area YMCA invites youth athletes to participate in the Illinois YMCAs Statewide Football Skills Challenge.

Event Details:

Boys and girls divisions are available for Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Participants will compete in passing, punting, kicking, and agility drills during a preliminary round, hosted by local YMCAs. The top scoring athlete from each division will then have their score entered into the statewide contest to be compared to winners at other event sites.

Cost: Free and open to the community.

Please Note: Registration is required.

Host Sites:

Joliet Junior College – Event Center
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431

Date: Wednesday, October 15
Time: Participants will compete sometime between 6-7:30 p.m. Upon completing registration, participants will be contacted to confirm their competition time slot.
REGISTER TODAY

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544

Date: Sunday, October 19
Time: Participants will compete sometime between 9 a.m.-Noon. Upon completing registration, participants will be contacted to confirm their competition time slot.
REGISTER TODAY

Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450

The top three statewide scores from the 5th and 6th grade divisions will advance to compete in the event finals during the IHSA Football State Championship Games in Normal on November 28, 2025.

The top three statewide scores from the 7th and 8th grade divisions will advance to compete in the event finals during the IHSA Football State Championship Games in Normal on November 29, 2025.

COMPETITION RULES and FAQs

To learn more, please contact:

Maria Freeh, C.W. Avery Family YMCA Sports Director
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 217

Zach Jarosz, Joliet Community YMCA Sports Manager
[email protected]
Phone: (815) 744-3939, ext. 317

Chris Interial, Morris Hospital YMCA Sports Director
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 514

*Under the statewide theme, “The Dream Starts Here,” this collaboration brings together the resources and expertise of YMCAs across Illinois, the IHSA, and the IESA to inspire a new generation of leaders and athletes by promoting participation in youth sports statewide. Additionally, the initiative encourages young people to consider jobs and volunteer opportunities at the Y where they can gain valuable skills and hands-on experience to pursue career pathways in sports-related fields like coaching, officiating, and sports administration.

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