- Try the YMCA’s Swim Selector Tool
As we continue to celebrate National Water Safety Month, and with our Summer 1 programming session just around the corner, the Y is excited to remind members of our Swim Lesson Selector tool. Available online, this tool is a must-try for parents who are interested in enrolling their children in YMCA swim lessons.
By answering short “yes-or-no” questions—and in some cases, by watching a short video—the Swim Lesson Selector can help you quickly identify which swim stage is right for your child.
- Everyone Belongs at the Y: Summer Membership Opportunities Available
At the Y, we exist to strengthen community. With a mission centered on balance, the Y brings families closer together, encourages good health and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. As a result, millions of people, just like you, are receiving the support they need to engage in healthy and active lifestyles.BEAT THE HEAT AND SPEND A FANTASTIC SUMMER AT THE Y!
PURCHASE A SUMMER MEMBERSHIP AND ENJOY:
Access to Three Branches
Your membership gives you unlimited use of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s three YMCA locations, including:- Three indoor pools and our family aquatic center
- Three wellness centers, all equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment.
Quality Programming
In addition to our free group exercise classes, the Y offers year-round swimming lessons and personal training, among a slew of other options. View our summer program guides by clicking here.Summer memberships expire after 90 days or on August 31, 2026, whichever comes first.
Summer Membership Rates
Type Description C.W. Avery Family YMCA Village of Shorewood YMCA Morris Hospital YMCA Family Plus 3 Adults & Their Dependents $440 $405 $375 Family 2 Adults & Their Dependents $350 $325 $300 One Adult Family 1 Adult & Their Dependents $315 $290 $270 Two Adult 2 Adults in Same Household $305 $280 $260 Adult Age 26 and older $225 $205 $185 Young Adult Ages 19-25 $160 $145 $135 Youth Ages 0-18 $135 $120 $110 - SMILES ALL AROUND: Make a Donation to the 2026 Send a Kid to Camp Campaign Today
Summertime at the YMCA is truly a magical season – and one of the most powerful times to see our mission in action throughout our community. Each year, children from across Will and Grundy Counties come to the Y to build confidence, try new activities, form lasting friendships, and discover their full potential.This year is especially meaningful as the Greater Joliet Area YMCA proudly celebrates 100 years of service to our community. For a century, the Y has been a place where kids and families grow stronger in spirit, mind, and body. From generation to generation, summer at the Y has created lifelong memories and life-changing experiences.
At the Y, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive at summer day camp, but we can’t do it alone. Last summer, more than half of the children who attended YMCA camp did so with the support of our financial assistance program – made possible by the generosity of donors like you. To ensure that the Y’s mission will continue to thrive and help those kids in our community who need it most, we need your support once again.
As we begin our second century of strengthening the community, your investment in local children and families – your friends and neighbors – makes an immediate and lasting impact. We invite you to make a charitable contribution to the YMCA’s 2026 Send a Kid to Camp Campaign. Your gift, in any amount, will help to ensure that every child has the opportunity to benefit from an engaging and impactful summer camp experience at the Y.
Donate today by visiting your local YMCA branch or making a charitable gift online.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all gifts to the Greater Joliet Area YMCA are tax-deductible.
- National Water Safety Month 2026: Six Tips to Help Kids Stay Safe
May is National Water Safety Month. When the weather starts to heat up, the pools, lakes, oceans, rivers and other bodies of water start calling! While swimming can be a very enjoyable activity this summer, it is important to remind all parents and caregivers of the importance of water safety. That is why the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is sharing these six tips on how children can stay safe in and around the water.Tip # 1: Ask first, splash later
Teaching your children to be water smart is the first step in water safety – be sure they understand the importance of asking permission before going in or near the water.
Tip # 2: Find your water watcher, or become one!
When children are swimming, make sure they are actively supervised at all times. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty, or where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions.
Tip # 3: Buddy up or dry out.
The Buddy System isn’t just for field trips; it’s for every swimming session! No one should swim alone. So be sure to:
-Pick a buddy
-Check in on each other
-Stay SafeTip #4: Suit up like a pro
Safety never goes out of style. Inexperienced or non-swimmers should always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while in or around the water. Regular swimmers should also ensure to wear a proper swimsuit and sunscreen.
Tip #5: Don’t hold your breath
Breath-holding contests? Yeah, let’s not. They might seem like harmless fun, but breath-holding games in the water can be seriously dangerous, even for strong swimmers.
Holding your breath too long can lead to shallow water blackout, a silent and sudden emergency that can happen without warning.
Tip #6: Know what to do (before you need to)
Emergencies don’t wait. Learn how to recognize signs of distress, call for help, and respond calmly. Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling – use a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety.
As America’s most trusted swim lesson instructor, the Y is the perfect place to ensure your child’s safety by enrolling them in swim lessons. Just like teaching your children to look both ways before they cross the street, having them participate in formal water safety lessons teaches them an important life skill. Learn more about our swim lesson curriculum and schedules here, use our swim lesson selector tool to get started, or register online today!
- Celebrate the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Centennial with Decades Week Group Fitness Classes
The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, marking a century of service, leadership, and impact.To help commemorate this historic milestone, the health and wellness teams from all Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches are encouraging members to participate in special ‘Decades Week’ group fitness classes throughout the year.
The celebration continues next week with ‘Disco Fitness’ of the 70’s! See below for details.
Morris Hospital YMCA and Village of Shorewood YMCA
Members are encouraged to wear their 70’s themed attire in any class between May 4-10.C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Members are encouraged to wear their 70’s themed attire in the following classes:WERQ
Tuesday, May 6
7 p.m.Zumba
Thursday, May 7
5:30 p.m.WERQ
Wednesday, May 7
7 p.m.Additionally, the following classes will feature music from the era:
Pilates
Monday, May 4
8:30 a.m.Cycle
Tuesday, May 5
9:15 a.m.WERQ
Tuesday, May 6
7 p.m.Cycle
Saturday, May 9
9:15 a.m.
Founded in 1926, the YMCA is one of the area’s leading nonprofit organizations, strengthening our community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To learn more about our Centennial Celebration, click here.
C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris
