Family Activities — Page 14 — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

November Member Appreciation: Bring Your Friends and Family To the Y

November 17, 2021

In appreciation of our fantastic members, the YMCA encourages you to invite your friends and family to join you at the Y during Thanksgiving week. This is the perfect opportunity for you to share the Y experience with the special people in your life.

Here’s how it works:

-Guests, ages 18 and over, must present a valid photo I.D.

-All guests must have a signed facility usage waiver on file. This step can be completed online by opening a Daily Visitor Membership below or in-person when checking in at Membership Desk.

C.W Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

We also encourage members to review our health and safety guidelines before bringing guests to the Y.

Branch Contact Information

C.W. Avery Family YMCA: (815) 267-8600

Galowich Family YMCA: (815) 744-3939

Morris Community YMCA: (815) 513-8080

SHARE THIS:

Celebrate Halloween at the YMCA

October 1, 2021

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

Galowich Family YMCA Trunk-or-Treat

Friday, October 22
6-8 p.m.

Bring your family to this spook-tacular event! Decorated cars will fill our parking lot and children can go from trunk to trunk to collect candy and play games. This provides a fun and safe environment for everyone to enjoy. Don’t forget to come dressed in your Halloween costume!

Cost: Free and open to the community.

If you are interested in volunteering or hosting a Trunk-or-Treat vehicle, contact the Y at (815) 744-3939.

Morris Community YMCA Trunk-or-Treat

Saturday, October 23
10-11:30 a.m.

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

It’s Halloween time and we’re having a bash! Wear your best costume and do a little Monster Dash! Come trunk or treat from the numerous trunks provided by local businesses.

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

C.W. Avery Family YMCA Halloween Spooktacular

Thursday, October 28
6-8 p.m.

Join the C.W. Avery Family YMCA for a night of Halloween fun! We will have exciting activities for the whole family including a trunk-or-treat, haystack rides, and an outdoor haunted scene with photo opportunities! Come dressed in your spookiest costume!

Cost: Free and open to the community

All those interested in hosting a trunk can contact the Y at (815) 267-8600.

SHARE THIS:

2021 Morris Community YMCA Coloring Contest

September 2, 2021

Calling all Y Kids! To celebrate this very fun time of year in Grundy County, the Morris Community YMCA is holding a special Coloring Contest! Open to kids, ages 4-12, this is the perfect opportunity to let your artistic talents shine.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Download the official entry form below.

Coloring Contest Form

2. Grab your crayons, markers or colored pencils and color away!

3. Drop it off at the Membership Desk of the Morris Community YMCA or give it to your Kid Zone counselor.

4. All entries must be submitted by 8 p.m. on Friday, September 17. Contest is open to children ages 4-12. One winner will be selected in each of the following age groups:

Ages 4-5
Ages 6-7
Ages 8-9
Ages 10-12

PLEASE NOTE: One entry per child, but multiple children per household are allowed. Submitted artwork becomes the property of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. Official Entry Form must be signed by a parent or guardian, 18 years or older.

Good luck!

SHARE THIS:

Register for the 2021 YMCA Mini Triathlon & Kids Triathlon

July 6, 2021

Each summer, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA hosts a Mini Triathlon and Kids Triathlon. Open to YMCA members and area residents, ages 6 and up, this exciting event promises to be a morning of fun for your entire family.

The 2021 Mini-Tri and Kids Triathlon events will be held on Sunday, September 12.

Please note: Participants, 11 and under, must be supervised by someone over the age of 18 that is not participating in the Mini Tri. Participants are required to bring their own bicycle and helmet. The bike and run portions are held on a closed course around Wallin Oaks and Ira Jones. Road bikes larger than 23” are not allowed on the course. Participants with bikes not allowed on the course may use the stationary bikes.

Cost

Early Bird (by August 25): $35 for Facility Members, $50 for Community Members

After August 25: $40 for Facility Members, $55 for Community Members

Pre-registration is required. All participants registered by Wednesday, August 25 will receive a complimentary t-shirt.

Mini Triathlon (Ages 12 and Up)

Start Time: 8 a.m.

200-yard swim
7-mile bike ride (on stationary bicycles)
Two-mile run

Kids Triathlon (Ages 6-11)

Estimated Start Time: 9 a.m.

Ages 6-7

25-yard swim
One-mile bike ride
Half-mile run

Ages 8-11

75-yard swim
Two-mile bike ride
One-mile run

SHARE THIS:

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Invites Families to Celebrate Healthy Kids Week

April 29, 2021

Next week the Greater Joliet Area YMCA invites Y families to participate in our Healthy Kids Week! Our youth and family team has put together a great week of activities that promote health and wellness for children of all ages. Learn more below:

Tuesday, May 4

Outdoor Family Zumba (Ages 10 and up)
Location: C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Time: 7-7:45 p.m.

Join fitness instructor Stacy for this fitness class which fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic workout. Registration is required and can be done through the YMCA On the Go app. Non-members must call the Y ahead of time to reserve a space.

Wednesday, May 5

Science Time: Fun With Spiders!
Facebook Live (Also available on replay)
Time: 7 p.m.

A learning mind is a healthy mind, so join Galowich Family YMCA Youth and Family Director Stephen Franklin for a fun demonstration featuring an eight-legged friend!

Thursday, May 6

Family TikTok Dance Challenge
Facebook Live (Also available on replay)
Time: 7 p.m.

Join C.W. Avery Family YMCA Health, Wellness and Dance Director Kristen Derengowski and her great group of Thrive Dancers for some tips on new and fun dance moves!

Friday, May 7

Virtual Family Cooking Night
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

Bring your family together for a tutorial on how to cook a fruit dessert while getting to know other Y families! Registration is required. Registered families will receive a Zoom link to participate 24 hours prior to the start of the event.

Saturday, May 8

Outdoor Family Gladiator Dodgeball
Location: C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Time: 10 a.m.-Noon

Stay active with some friendly dodgeball competition! Space is limited and registration is required.

SHARE THIS:

Celebrate Easter at the YMCA

March 16, 2021

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.

YMCA Easter Egg Hunts

Smith Family YMCA
Saturday, March 20
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Location:
1350 S. Briggs St.
Joliet, IL 60433

The Smith Family YMCA invites you to take part in a special Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 20. Parents/Guardians are invited to go online to register their child/children for one of three egg hunt sessions on March 20:

11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., or Noon

Each session will be split into three groups of 50 participants and children will need to bring their own bag/bucket to collect items. Children in attendance will also be able to take a picture with the Easter Bunny.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is free and open to the community. Space is limited and registration is required. Masks will be required. In the event of inclement weather, there will be no make-up date.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Saturday, March 27
1-2:30 p.m.

Location:
15120 Wallin Dr.
Plainfield, IL 60544

Bring your Easter baskets and join us for an outdoor Easter Egg Hunt! Parents can register their child/children for one of three available time slots:

1 p.m, 1:30 p.m., or 2 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is open to Facility Members only. Space is limited and registration is required. Masks will be required.

Hop Into Easter Drive-Thru Events

(All Drive-Thru Events are free and open to the community)

Morris Community YMCA
Saturday, March 27
10-11:30 a.m.

This event is hosted in partnership with Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers. The Easter Bunny and his most-trusted helpers will be handing out goody bags featuring candy and a take-home craft, while supplies last. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for one of our golden tickets, which will be hidden inside a handful of goody bags. Golden tickets can be redeemed for prizes at the Morris Community YMCA March 29-April 2.

Drive-Thru Directions: Cars will enter the YMCA parking lot from Jefferson Street and exit onto Wauponsee Street.

Galowich Family YMCA
Saturday, March 27
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The Easter Bunny will be handing out goody bags, while supplies last. Kids will also be able to greet the Easter Bunny from inside their vehicle.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Saturday, March 27
2:30-4 p.m.

Kids will be able to wave to the Easter Bunny and pick up a bag of Easter goodies, while supplies last!

Drive-Thru Directions: From Wallin Drive, cars will be directed to take a right on Ottawa Street and loop around Ira Jones Middle School. When exiting, cars will be directed back onto Ottawa Street and head east to Van Dyke Road.

Community Easter Egg Hunts

(Free and open to the community)

Morris Community YMCA
March 19-27
The Morris Community YMCA is teaming up with the Morris Retail Association to host an Easter Egg Hunt in downtown Morris. Residents of all ages are invited to join in on the fun to find colorful Easter Eggs, which will be hidden at 11 locations throughout the downtown. Learn more here.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
March 22-April 3
YMCA members and local residents are invited to visit a number of area businesses to find hidden Easter Eggs. Be sure to turn in your completed Easter Egg Hunt Card at the YMCA to be entered into a raffle to win exciting prizes. Learn more here.

SHARE THIS: