Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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My Y Rewards Special November Earnings Event

MY Y REWARDS SPECIAL NOVEMBER EARNINGS EVENT

Get ready to burn off those Halloween candy calories with a special bonus for My Y Rewards program participants!

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facility Members, ages 16 and up, enrolled in the My Y Rewards program will receive 100 bonus points if they attend eight group fitness classes in the month of November .

Learn how to enroll by clicking below.

ENROLL TODAY

Upon enrolling in the My Y Rewards Program, you’ll also earn points each time you check-in, take a class, or refer a friend to the Y. In fact, you’ll earn your first 50 points for simply enrolling in the program. You can then redeem your points for fun Y swag and program and membership credits.

If you should have any questions or any feedback on the My Y Rewards Program, please be sure to stop by the Membership Desk during your next visit or email [email protected].

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Registration Underway for Junior Wolves Summer Youth Softball Program

The YMCA’s Junior Wolves program is excited to offer a new youth softball program this summer. This program is designed for girls, ages 6-8, who are looking to strengthen their game!

Athletes will practice key skills, including catching, throwing, hitting, and base running. Whether your child is brand new to the sport or working to develop their fundamentals, this program is the perfect way for kids to have fun and learn the values of teamwork and sportsmanship!

Participants may attend programming at both of the following locations:

Dates:
May 26-27
June 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, and 29
July 1

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

Program will run from 5-7 p.m. each week and include 60 minutes of practice and 60 minutes of gameplay. All participants must bring a glove and are encouraged to bring a helmet, face mask, cleats, and a bat.

Cost: $25, includes a t-shirt

REGISTER TODAY

If you have any questions, please contact Sports Director Zach Jarosz at [email protected] or by phone at (815) 782- 0813.

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Helping Kids Stay Safe in the Digital Space: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Leads Five Days of Action

In today’s connected world, kids are spending more time in the digital space than ever – learning, playing, and communicating. With that comes the need for vigilance and awareness. 

That’s why Greater Joliet Area YMCA is taking part in the Five Days of Action®, a national movement to protect children from abuse and promote safety in all spaces where kids live, learn, and play. This year’s theme focuses on digital safety, empowering families with tools to help children navigate technology responsibly and safely. 

In 2026, the Y has partnered with Praesidium, National Center for Exploited and Missing Children (NCMEC), Lauren’s Kids, and National Children’s Alliance to offer additional resources for parents and caregivers. You’ll find all the partner resources below. To join the movement or sign the pledge, visit fivedaysofaction.org. 

Recognizing Red Flags 

Certain behaviors can signal risk for child sexual abuse and understanding them helps you act early to keep kids safe. The infographic below shows what to watch for—whether the behavior may be low, moderate, or high risk—and these behaviors, or grooming, can show up both in person and online situations.

Recognizing Red Flags

Visit nationalchildrensalliance.org/the-real-red-flags-of-grooming for more information on red flag behaviors from National Children’s Alliance. 

Staying on Top of Digital Trends 

From apps to gaming, staying on top of digital trends can be overwhelming. NCMEC offers free resources to help trusted adults understand online risks—including sextortion and the growing use of generative AI—and talk with kids about staying safe. Check out the tip sheets below and be sure to explore the other NCMEC resources.

Generative AI Safety (English) 

Sextortion Safety (English) 

Sextortion Safety (Español)

Monitoring Digital Use 

Did you know 1 in 5 children who use a digital device will be sexually solicited online? Technology changes fast, and kids are targeted on the apps, games, and sites they love. Having a Cyber P.L.A.N., monitoring device use, and teaching online safety rules can help keep your child safe. Lauren’s Kids has provided the following resources by age group to help you learn how to set boundaries, teach good cyber habits, and protect your family online. 2026 Five Days of Action® Toolkit Page 8 

Kindergarten-Grade 2

Grades 3-5

Middle School

High School 

Spanish-Language Cyber P.L.A.N. Resources for Families

We take our commitment to child protection seriously and we hope you do too.

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YMCA Member Appreciation: Visit the Y and You Could Win a Special Centennial Prize

We’re celebrating the 100th day of the year with something special for our members! When you check in at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location on Friday, April 10, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $100 credit to our YMCA Centennial Store!*

One winner per branch. Some restrictions apply.

Stop by and see us!

*The YMCA Centennial Store features an exclusive collection of limited-edition YMCA merchandise, available in both adult and youth sizes. With apparel and accessories for the whole family, everyone can take part in the celebration all year long as we honor the Y’s long-standing commitment to strengthening our community and inspiring healthy living for all.

Every purchase made from the Centennial Anniversary Store is more than a celebration, it’s an investment in the Y’s mission. Proceeds from every purchase will support the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund, helping to ensure that no one is turned away from YMCA programs due to the inability to pay.

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Keeping You Informed: Final Day of Operations for Galowich Family YMCA Set for Friday, April 24

As we prepare to welcome the community to the new Village of Shorewood YMCA on Monday, April 27, the Galowich Family YMCA facility will be retired and close its doors at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 24.

In preparation for the transition to the Village of Shorewood YMCA, several amenities at the the Galowich Family YMCA will close in advance of the facility’s final day of operations on April 24.

INNOVATION CENTER
Closed beginning Friday, April 3

KIDS CORNER
Closed beginning Thursday, April 16

GYM
Closed beginning Thursday, April 16

UPDATED – LOCKER CLEAN OUT
Additionally, we ask that all members please remove their personal belongings from Galowich Family YMCA lockers by 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Beginning Thursday, April 21, lockers will be cleaned out, and any unclaimed items will be donated or discarded.

We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to welcoming the community to the new Village of Shorewood YMCA beginning on Monday, April 27!

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Teamwork Happens Here: Celebrating a Successful 2026 YBL Season

With the 2026 Youth Basketball League (YBL) season having drawn to a close, we’d like to send our sincere thanks to everyone who helped to make this winter such a memorable experience for young athletes in our community. With the support of our volunteer coaches, generous league sponsors, and community partners, we welcomed nearly 1,100 kids to basketball courts in Joliet, Plainfield, Morris, and Coal City this season.

At the Y, we know that our youth sports programs help to keep kids physically active. But, as we reflect on the past several months, we know that the impact YMCA programs can have on young athletes reaches way beyond what happens on the court during practices and games. In addition to staying active and healthy, kids who play sports develop higher self-esteem, perform better in school, and work better in groups. The YMCA’s YBL program teaches kids the fundamentals of the game of basketball while emphasizing the importance of learning to work together as a team. Most importantly, kids have a lot of fun!

YBL BY THE NUMBERS

1,089 – Athletes
108 – Teams
398 – Games Played
131 – Volunteer Coaches
More than 2,600 Volunteer Hours Served

We’d like to thank all of the athletes and their families, our volunteer coaches, and staff who participated in our YBL programs this year. We’d also like to thank our generous sponsors for helping to make this season possible: 

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Associated Orthodontists, LTD
Backroads Burger & Bar
Exxon Mobil Refinery
E-Z Auto Sales
Fighting Irish
Filotto Roofing
Floor Coverings Int’l
Greg’s Body Shop
Hamilton & Antonsen, Ltd.
Krown Lux
Martin Mechanical
Mike Pfaff – Edward Jones
Old National Bank
Plainfield Rotary
Raising Cane’s
Ron Tirapelli Ford
Sovereign
State Farm Agent Jackson Anderson
Stockton Wealth Management
Titan Construction
Turk Furniture
VNA Health Care

Joliet Community YMCA

Associated Orthodontists LTD
Contractors Association of Will & Grundy Counties
Exxon Mobil Refinery
Gifted Elite Academy
Hoopers 4 Life
Minor-Morris Funeral Home
MulticulturReal Communications, Inc.
Old National Bank
Pam Grant Sports Club
PeopleFirst Bank
Postnet Graphic Design & Printing
Ron Tirapelli Ford
State Farm Agent Jacks Anderson
State Farm – Howard Wright
Turk Furniture
Venas Vein Center
VNA Health Care

Morris Hospital YMCA

Advantage Realty – Steve Barr
Associated Orthodontists, LTD
Automotive Performance
Brandt Excavating, Inc.
Busey Bank
Contractors Association of Will & Grundy Counties
Country Farmhouse Cafe
Cross Town Realtors – Dana Hathorn
D. Construction, Inc
Dibble Enterprises
E-Z Auto Sales
Edward Jones
Elliott Electric
Feeney’s
Filotto Roofing
Findlay Real Estate Group
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Gene May Heating & Cooling
Honest Abe’s
L. Surges Custom Woodwork
Martin & Associates
Martin Mechanical
McCarthy Building Co.
Old National Bank
Pursuit Wealth Group
Raising Cane’s
Risen Renovations
Rolando’s Furniture & Appliances
Roth Jorstad Insurance
Sherwood Waffle Cafe
SkyHigh Coasters, LLC
State Farm – Mike Lucas
That Perennial Place
The Cove Nutrition
Turk Furniture
UC Davis – Callahan FH
Vital Signs Solutions, Inc
Zabel & Associates, PC
Zig’s Fairway Auto Repair.

We can’t wait to see everyone on the court next season!

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United Way