Family Activities — Page 4 — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

Morris Hospital YMCA Set to Host Fitness ‘Dance-a-Thon’ Luau

August 18, 2025

The Morris Hospital YMCA is hosting a dance party and you are invited! Led by our fantastic instructors, Crystal, Jes, and Dina, this high-energy 75-minute “Dance-a-Thon” will challenge participants to complete Pound Fitness, Hip Hop Fit, and SHiNE Dance Fitness classes back-to-back-to-back!

As a special treat, the gym will be decked out with tropical decorations and all participants arriving in luau-themed attire will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win fun prizes!

Date: Friday, October 10
Time: 7-8:15 p.m.
Location: Morris Hospital YMCA Gymnasium

Open to ages 13 and Up

Cost:
$5 for Facility Members
$10 for Community Members

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Village of Shorewood YMCA Invites Community to Participate in Outdoor Fitness Classes

August 6, 2025

As we prepare to open the new Village of Shorewood YMCA in 2026, the Y is excited to invite the community to participate in a series of FREE group exercise classes this fall! These outdoor classes will be wonderful opportunities to stay active, interact with peers, and see what Y fitness classes are all about! All classes will be held at Cene’s Four Seasons Park in Shorewood. See below for more details.

Family Fitness Bootcamp
Date: Monday, August 25
Time: 6-7 p.m.

Improve your health and enjoy time with your family! This fun fitness workout consists of sports drills, light weights, agility, fun games, and interval training.

Yoga (Ages 18 and up)
Date: Thursday, September 4
Time: 9-10 a.m.

This class uses movement and breathing exercises to work out your body and mind. Class begins with a simple warm up followed by stretching and relaxation.

Zumba Party (Ages 18 and up)
Date: Friday, September 12
Time: 6-7 p.m.

Zumba fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program! Get your groove on!

Bootcamp (Ages 18 and up)
Date: Tuesday, September 16
Time: 7-8 a.m.

Bootcamp offers a mix of strength and cardio drills in circuits and intervals to put your body to the test. Exercises can be adjusted to skill and experience level.

PLEASE NOTE: A YMCA membership is not required, but participants will need to fill out a participation waiver form prior to attending a class. You can complete the waiver form by clicking below.

PARTICIPATION WAIVER

Location:
Cene’s Four Seasons Park
25520 W. Seil Road
Shorewood, IL 60404

If you have any questions about these classes, please contact Health and Wellness Director Alissa Koenig at [email protected] or (815) 744-3939, ext. 335.

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Family Fun Starts at the Y: Meet Matt, Stacey, Luke and Nathan Baker

July 30, 2025

At the Y, we take pride in creating welcoming spaces by offering programs and services that have a positive impact on families. Families like Morris Hospital YMCA members Stacey and Matt Baker and their sons Luke (age 7) and Nathan (age 5).

The Baker Family’s YMCA experience first began when Luke played t-ball at the Y. It soon expanded to the Y’s before and after school Kid Zone program, eventually leading to Facility Membership at the Y’s original location in downtown Morris.

“I joined to be able to get out of the house and stay active. Now we all probably come in three or four times a week in the summer. The facility here is top notch,” Stacey said.

Matt said the entire family has been amazed by the expanded offerings at the new location, which opened last December.

“I think it’s noteworthy how often we end up with both family cars here because we’ve arrived at separate times doing different things. There’s something here for all of us,” Matt said. “The wellness center is probably what both Stacey and I use most, but what really stuck out was the gymnasium. Having access to the two-lane track is a big deal. And the new Y has been really good for the boys. There’s so much space and new resources they get to use in the Activity Center and Kids Corner.”

Stacey said the youth spaces help build a sense of community for kids.

“Luke and Nathan get to be around kids that they know. We’ll see families from school or from sports teams here all the time. And there’s a lot of crossover with staff, so counselors from Kid Zone will greet the boys by name when they come into the Activity Center. They make every kid feel so welcome, which in turns makes us want to bring them back,” she said.

Regular visits to the Y have also opened the door to new activities.

“The session-based programs allow them to explore and do a lot of different things. They are always asking ‘Mom, can I try that?’ Luke did a cooking class this winter which is something he had never gotten an opportunity to do,” she said.

And new opportunities aren’t limited to youth programs. Stacey said she has enjoyed the expanded group fitness class options.

“I started doing a cycling class in the last few months which I had never done before,” she said. “There is always a variety of ages and abilities and everyone is welcomed. It doesn’t feel exclusive or that you can’t be the new person in the room. The instructors are always there to help you. You start to see familiar faces and it gives you accountability. It’s a fun community.”

We would like to thank the Baker family for their support of the Y!

If you are interested in joining the Y community, now is the perfect time! Our Summer Membership Sale is underway and continues through August 11. Learn more here. And don’t forget, registration for fall programming is underway for Facility Members! View our program guides to learn more or register online by clicking here.

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YMCA Launches Innovative Programming Initiative in Joliet

July 22, 2025

New Joliet Community YMCA Will Bring Vital Programs to the Heart of the Community

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to announce the creation of the Joliet Community YMCA (JCY), an innovative initiative that will bring vital YMCA youth development, sports, and family programming to neighborhood locations throughout the greater Joliet community.

With offices located on the main campus of Joliet Junior College (JJC), the Joliet Community YMCA will partner with area churches, local school districts, and other likeminded community organizations to provide year-round programs for Joliet residents of all ages. This new initiative reaffirms the YMCA’s ongoing commitment to equity, access, and innovation in serving the community.

“As we prepare to celebrate the YMCA’s 100th anniversary in 2026, we have the opportunity to reimagine the ways we deliver programs to the community,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair. “By offering programs in neighborhood locations, like schools and churches, we hope to make them more accessible for more people in our community.”

Operating as a mobile, community-based extension of the Y’s mission, the Joliet Community YMCA will offer a wide range of programs at locations throughout the greater Joliet community, including:

Before and After School Kid Zone Program: The Y’s Kid Zone program serves students from 12 Joliet District 86 elementary schools, 10 onsite, providing much-needed before and after school care for families. The JCY Kid Zone program also serves students in Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C, Rockdale School District 84, and Laraway Community Consolidated School District 70C.

Teen REACH: The Y’s Teen REACH program, which provides free after school care for students in grades 6-8, will be offered onsite at Joliet District 86’s four junior high schools. Teen REACH summer camp is currently offered at JJC and the Salvation Army Community Center.

Teen Achievers: The Y’s Teen Achievers program provides local high school students with access to career and empowerment workshops, college tours, and networking opportunities.

Youth Sports Programs: Through an innovative partnership, which was announced earlier this winter, the Y and JJC will work together to host year-round sports programming on the college’s main campus. These programs will include youth sports leagues, camps, clinics, and classes, offered as part of the YMCA Junior Wolves program, which provides kids with the opportunity to train with JJC athletes and coaches and YMCA staff.

Youth Enrichment Programs: Beginning this fall, the Joliet Community YMCA will offer a variety of youth enrichment programs, including dance, martial arts, cooking, and STEM classes at JJC, the Salvation Army Community Center, and Messiah Lutheran Church of Joliet.

Family Nights and Special Events: This fall, the Joliet Community YMCA will host free family nights and holiday events at locations throughout Joliet.

“We are very excited to write the next chapter of the Y’s storied history in the Joliet community. We want to meet families where they are. By working collaboratively with our community partners, we can create welcoming spaces where everyone belongs and everyone has the opportunity to grow and thrive at the YMCA,” added Leclair.

Registration for Joliet Community YMCA fall programming will begin on Saturday, July 26. Kid Zone and Teen REACH registration for the 2025-2026 school year is underway. Financial assistance through the Y’s scholarship program is available.

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Joliet Junior College

Messiah Lutheran Church

Salvation Army Joliet Corps Community Center

EVERYONE IS WELCOME