Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Celebrate Easter at the YMCA

Easter is just around the corner and the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is here to help you and your family get in the holiday spirit! Full details about fun and exciting Easter events can be found below or by contacting your local branch.

Joliet Community YMCA

Eggapalooza
Date: Saturday, March 14
Time: 1-3 p.m.

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

Hop on over for a fun-filled day the whole family will enjoy! The day will feature egg hunts for all ages, games, crafts, music and sweet treats. Capture special memories with the Easter Bunny and enjoy a day of laughter, connections and springtime joy with family and friends.

Cost: Free and open to the community.

REGISTER TODAY

If you have questions about this event, please contact:

Keyanna Montgomery
Youth and Family Director
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 362

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Bunny’s Splash Bash
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

Location:
15120 Wallin Dr.
Plainfield, IL 60544

Hop into our fun Family Night! The Family Pool will be open for all ages to jump in. Families can come and enjoy fun water games and more. Make sure to bring your bathing suit, towel, and your Easter Basket for a fun floating egg hunt.

PLEASE NOTE: Space is limited and registration is required. Families are encouraged to review YMCA pool policies prior to registering.

Cost: Free and open to the community

REGISTER TODAY

Glow and Go Egg Hunt
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 7-8 p.m.

Location:
15120 Wallin Dr.
Plainfield, IL 60544

Join us for a fun-filled evening egg hunt – a night-time adventure for all ages! Please bring your flashlight and Easter basket.

PLEASE NOTE: Space is limited and registration is required.

Cost: Free and open to the community

REGISTER TODAY

If you have any questions about these events, please contact:

Alysia Kottke
Youth and Family Manager
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 212

Morris Hospital YMCA

Hop Into Easter
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.

Location:
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450

Come on out and join the Morris Hospital YMCA for a fun, Easter themed morning with other Y families! Activities will include an Easter egg hunt, pictures with the Easter Bunny, crafts and games. PLEASE NOTE: Easter Egg Hunt will begin promptly at 10:15 a.m.

Cost: Free and open to the community.

REGISTER TODAY

Jordan Overton
Youth and Family Director
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 513

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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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Celebrate American Heart Month at the YMCA

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is proud to join our healthcare partners at Endeavor Health and Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers in celebrating American Heart Month with a special day of activities on Friday, February 6!

WEAR RED RAFFLE

Members who help raise awareness for heart health by wearing red to the Y will be entered into a raffle for awesome Y swag!

HEART HEALTHY SNACKS

Stop by the Membership Desk of your local Y branch for free food giveaways!

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Galowich Family YMCA
9-10:30 a.m.

Morris Hospital YMCA
9-10:30 a.m.

HEART MONTH COLORING ACTIVITIES

Kids will have the opportunity to show off their creativity and raise awareness about the importance of heart health by downloading a special coloring sheet below or picking up a coloring sheet at the Membership Desk.

COLORING SHEET

Stop by and see us!

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Your Voice Matters: Village of Shorewood YMCA Program Surveys

As we prepare for the grand opening of the new Village of Shorewood YMCA in spring 2026, we are excited to learn more about the types of programs and classes Y members and the community would like to see offered in the new facility.

We have designed a series of four short electronic surveys, which are designed to gather feedback in the areas of Health and Wellness, Youth Development, Adult, and Aquatics programming. Your answers, combined with those of others, will help the Y plan for future programming and initiatives in the new Village of Shorewood YMCA.

Surveys will be available online January 13-31.

Health and Wellness Programs Survey

Youth Programs Survey

Adult Programs Survey

Aquatics Programs Survey

Thank you in advance for sharing your feedback!

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Morris Hospital YMCA Offering NEW START Health and Wellness Classes this Winter

Are you ready to jumpstart your health and wellness mindset? The Morris Hospital YMCA’s NEW START class is for you! This class will guide you through evidence-based principles of optimal well-being, helping you build a sustainable foundation for a healthier and happier you.

Led by Morris Hospital YMCA group fitness instructor Maureen Keegan, NEW START features 2 health and wellness sessions lasting 60 minutes each. Sessions will combine interactive lectures, Q&A activities, and goal-setting exercises to dive into eight foundational pillars of health:

Nutrition: Learn the power of whole foods, plant-based eating, and how to fuel your body for maximum vitality and disease prevention.

Exercise: Discover the benefits of effective, enjoyable ways to move your body, enhance mood, boost metabolism, and improve cardiovascular health, regardless of your current fitness level.

Water: Understand the essential role of hydration, how much you truly need, and the best ways to incorporate water throughout your day.

Sunlight: Explore the benefits of sun exposure for Vitamin D, mood regulation, and circadian rhythm balance.

Temperance (Balance): Uncover the art of moderation in all things, from diet to work habits, and learn to find true balance in a busy world.

Air: Learn why deep breathing and spending time in nature’s clean air are vital for detoxification and mental clarity.

Rest: Master the science of restorative sleep and relaxation, discovering techniques to improve sleep quality and manage stress effectively.

Trust (Faith/Spirituality): Explore the profound connection between your spirituality (a trust in a larger purpose or power) and your physical health, cultivating hope and emotional resilience.

Participants can register for one of two sections:

January 9 and January 16
9-10 a.m.
REGISTER TODAY

February 2 and February 9
5:30-6:30 p.m.
REGISTER TODAY
Cost: $15 for Facility Members, $30 for Community Members
About the Instructor: Maureen Keegan has nearly 20 years of experience working in health and wellness and has been teaching group and specialty fitness classes at the Morris Hospital YMCA for the past year. Her enthusiasm is boundless and her favorite thing about working at the Y is helping members learn about a wide range of health topics.
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Skills That Last a Lifetime: Private, Semi-Private, and Adaptive Swim Lessons Available During Winter Break

Due to popular demand, the Y will be offering private, semi-private, and adaptive swim lessons over Winter Break! Each swim lesson package includes three 30-minute lessons. All three lessons must be used during the same week over Winter Break. Participants can register on a per week basis. See below for more information about lessons available at your local Y branch.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Week 1: December 15-21
Week 2: December 22-28
Week 3: December 29-January 4

Cost (Per Week)

Private Swim Lessons: $98 for Facility Members/$196 for Community Members
Semi-Private Swim Lessons: $60 for Facility Members/$120 for Community Members
Adaptive Swim Lessons: $64 for Facility Members/$128 for Community Members

PRIVATE/SEMI-PRIVATE/ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS REQUEST FORM

Morris Hospital YMCA

Week 1: December 15-21
Week 2: December 22-28
Week 3: December 29-January 4

Cost (Per Week)

Private Swim Lessons: $98 for Facility Members/$196 for Community Members
Semi-Private Swim Lessons: $60 for Facility Members/$120 for Community Members
Adaptive Swim Lessons: $64 for Facility Members/$128 for Community Members

PRIVATE/SEMI-PRIVATE/ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS REQUEST FORM

Galowich Family YMCA

Week 1: December 16-19
Week 2: December 23, 26-27
Week 3: December 30, January 2-3

Cost (Per Week)

Private Swim Lessons: $78.75 for Facility Members/$157.50 for Community Members
Semi-Private Swim Lessons: $47 for Facility Members/$94.50 for Community Members
Adaptive Swim Lessons: $56.25 for Facility Members/$112.50 for Community Members

PRIVATE/SEMI-PRIVATE/ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS REQUEST FORM

Spots are limited, so don’t delay. Register your child today!

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United Way