Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris

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YMCA March Personal Training Sale

We invite you to take the next step in your fitness journey by taking advantage of our March Personal Training Sale. From March 1-31 when you purchase four personal training sessions, you will get one free!*

*Offer valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location through March 31, 2026. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Visit your local branch for more details.

You can find information about personal trainers at your local Y branch below.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Galowich Family YMCA
Morris Hospital YMCA

REGISTER ONLINE

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Galowich Family YMCA
Morris Hospital YMCA

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2026 YMCA Gala Silent Auction Bidding Now Open

The 2026 YMCA Gala will be held on Saturday at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Even if you won’t be attending this year’s event, you can still support the YMCA by bidding on items in our Silent Auction.

Bidding is Now OPEN!

To explore this year’s Silent Auction and begin placing your bids, please visit our by clicking below.

1. To register, please click the ‘My Account’ button in the upper right corner, and add your e-mail address and payment information.

2. After completing the registration process, you will receive an email that provides you with a link to our Mobile Bidding site.

3. Upon visiting our Mobile Bidding site, you will be able to begin bidding on items in our highly anticipated Silent Auction.

YMCA GALA HEADQUARTERS

As a reminder, winning bidders who are not in attendance may pick up auction items at their local YMCA branch the week of March 2. Please Note: At this time, we are unable to ship items to winning bidders.

If you are attending this year’s Gala, you should have already received a message with a registration link. For more information, please contact Volunteer and Special Events Director Dori Fugate at [email protected].

Thank you for supporting the YMCA Gala.

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Sun, Fun, and Friendship: Registration for Summer Day Camp Opens on March 14

At the Y, we provide safe, affordable, and fun summer day camps for youth and teens in grades K-8. Kids have the opportunity to explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and unforgettable memories. Registration opens at 8 a.m. on March 14 for YMCA Facility Members and at 8 a.m. on March 21 for Community Members.

Daily activities include:

-Teambuilding
-Arts and Crafts
-Outdoor Exploration
-STEAM Activities
-Reading Time
-And so much more!

REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE!
Register for summer day camp by March 30, and pay a $0 registration fee, a savings of $50!

Learn more about YMCA Summer Day Camp programs available in your area by clicking below.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA (Serving Plainfield and the surrounding communities)

C.W. Avery Family YMCA (Serving Valley View School District 365U)

Joliet Community YMCA (Serving children in Grades K-5 in Joliet and the surrounding communities)

Joliet Community YMCA – Teen REACH (Serving children in Grades 6-8 in Joliet and the surrounding communities)

Morris Hospital YMCA (Serving Morris and the surrounding communities)

Village of Shorewood YMCA (Serving Shorewood and the surrounding communities)

In addition to summer day camp, the YMCA offers a variety of sports, preschool, and specialty camps each summer.

EARLY BIRD SALE

Save $5 when you register for a summer sports, preschool, or specialty camp between March 14-30. Use promo code: CAMP5OFF when registering online. Valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location. Some restrictions may apply.

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Announces Spring College Tour

Each year, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA helps students broaden their understanding of possible options for their post-secondary education by organizing tours to colleges and universities throughout the Midwest. These events guide students as they set and achieve high educational, professional, and personal goals, serving as a stepping stone for them to discover their identities, embrace their passions, and become their best selves. 

And now, the Y is excited to announce the first tour of 2026!

Location: Western Illinois University
Date: Tuesday, March 31

Participants will depart from Joliet Junior College, located at 1215 Houbolt Road in Joliet, at 7 a.m. with scheduled return to the Y no later than 6 p.m. Finalized trip itineraries will be communicated the week prior to the tour.

Cost: $30 (includes lunch and transportation)

Registration is underway! College tours are open to the community and spots are limited, so don’t delay!

REGISTER TODAY

To learn more, please contact: 

Darrell Collins, Teen Achievers and Teen REACH Director
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 361
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Register Today for 2026 JETS Swim Team Spring Clinics

The Joliet Y JETS swim team offers a range of practice groups, from beginner to advanced, based on age, skill, speed and commitment. To be placed on the beginning level of the team, swimmers must be able to swim freestyle for one length of the pool (25 yards) without stopping while demonstrating the ability to comfortably swim at the surface with arms reaching forward over the water, their face in the water, and taking breaths to the side. They must also swim 25 yards of backstroke without stopping, showing they are comfortable floating on their back while maintaining a rhythmic, supportive kick.

A member of both YMCA and USA Swimming, the JETS prepare for and participate in a variety of meets throughout the year, although competition is not mandatory. The team practices 3 to 6 days per week, depending on group placement, at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, Galowich Family YMCA, and Morris Hospital YMCA branches. Swimmers are encouraged to attend practices and work hard, however 100% attendance is not required.

If you’re interested in joining the JETS, please join us at one of our upcoming Swim Clinics. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the JETS and to meet our team and coaching staff. Throughout the week, coaches will be evaluating swimmers for team placement. A YMCA membership is not required to participate in the clinic. Registration is underway for Facility Members and opens on February 21 for Community Members!

Spring Swim Clinics

Cost: $25

Galowich Family YMCA
March 17-19 (Ages 6-17)
5-6 p.m.
REGISTER ONLINE

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
March 23-25
5-6 p.m. (Ages 6-10)
REGISTER ONLINE

6-7 p.m. (Ages 11-17)
REGISTER ONLINE

Morris Hospital YMCA
March 24-26 (Ages 6-17)
5-6 p.m.
REGISTER ONLINE

The JETS will also host a spring clinic at the future Village of Shorewood YMCA. More details coming soon.

To learn more about the JETS, please contact:

Dave Hedden
Director of Competitive Aquatics
(815) 267-8600, ext. 227
[email protected]

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Welcomes Community for 20th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On Wednesday, February 4, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA was proud to welcome the community to a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the facility’s 20th Anniversary.

The event began with opening remarks from Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce (PSACC) Executive Director Tasha Marsaglia, who invited C.W Avery Family YMCA Advisory Council Chairman Brian Minnis to give the afternoon’s invocation. Marsaglia then introduced Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair, who began by thanking everyone who has helped shape the Y’s story in Plainfield.

Leclair noted that, from the very beginning, the Y’s focus on bringing people together has found a generous embrace from our members, resulting in a vibrant community center where everyone is welcome.

She added that the C.W. Avery Family YMCA is now home to more than 17,000 members and program participants, and that the Y’s mission is brought to life through visionary staff leadership and invaluable volunteer and donor support. She also credited the strength of continued partnerships with local organizations like Endeavor Health, Plainfield School District 202, and Valley View CUSD 365U, for helping the Y thrive. 

Leclair then welcomed C.W. Avery Family YMCA Executive Director Erin Lightbody as the next speaker. Lightbody expressed gratitude for the day-to-day efforts of YMCA employees and volunteers and emphasized that the Y has a unique ability to help make the community stronger in a variety of ways. 

“I know I speak for our entire staff when I say how grateful we are for the opportunity to bring joy and play a small part in the Y stories that unfold throughout this building and in our programs every single day,” Lightbody said. 

Lightbody then introduced Lauren Betzwiser, granddaughter of Judy and the late Clyde Avery, who thanked the Y for honoring her family’s legacy and serving the community.

The Y then celebrated the support of the Village of Plainfield by inviting Mayor John Argoudelis to speak. Mayor Argoudelis, an advocate of the Y for many years, described the Y’s role in Plainfield’s continued growth, providing vital health, wellness, and youth development programs ensuring that residents have opportunities to thrive.  

The event concluded with members of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA Advisory Council, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors, and YMCA staff joining together to cut a ceremonial ribbon in celebration of this important milestone.

To learn more about the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, please visit our branch homepage by clicking here.

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