Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Village of Shorewood YMCA Invites Community to Attend ‘Coffee with the YMCA’ Events

As we prepare to open the new Village of Shorewood YMCA in spring 2026, the Y is excited to invite the community to participate in our ‘Coffee with the YMCA’ events this fall! These meet and greets will be wonderful opportunities to learn more about the new facility, future programming, membership opportunities, and grand opening festivities.

Thursday, September 25*
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Shorewood-Troy Public Library
650 Deerwood Drive
Shorewood, IL 60404

*Complimentary child care services will be available onsite at this meeting.

Wednesday, October 8
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Minooka Village Hall
121 McEvilly Road
Minooka, IL 60447

To learn more about the new Village of Shorewood YMCA, please contact Executive Director Trisha Dust at [email protected] or (815) 744-3939, ext. 327.

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Feel Healthier, Be Stronger: Kathleen Bernard’s Y Story

At the Y, we know that having a strong support system can make a big difference when you are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For C.W. Avery Family YMCA member Kathleen Bernard, personal training sessions have proven to be a crucial way to kickstart her health and wellness journey. 

“Having a personal trainer is amazing because you are not by yourself and you are being guided through the whole process,” Kathleen said. “I’ve been working with Suzanne (Ventrice) since July. She’s supportive and not judgemental. And I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”

Kathleen said the YMCA’s resources and friendly and welcoming atmosphere have helped to change her outlook on exercise.

“It’s opened up a whole new world. Even though I’ve exercised in the past, I’ve never had this kind of experience where I’m walking in and I’m not afraid and I don’t feel judged,” she said. “Suzanne has shown me stuff that I was afraid to try and would never do by myself. Like weightlifting, who knew I was so strong?”

In addition to improved physical fitness, Kathleen said exercising has had a positive impact on her mental health. 

“My self esteem has improved and I feel so much better. I was feeling bad about myself, but I’ve been able to do things that I wasn’t able to do before. I’m 49 years old and I’m working out like when I was young,” she said.

Kathleen is now looking forward to expanding her Y experience to group fitness classes and exploring all the amenities the Y has to offer. 

“It’s so easy.  You don’t have to jump through any hoops. There are so many activities at your fingertips. You walk in, check in, and you can go right into the gym or the pool. I’ve also got my husband signed up for a membership and ready to go,” she said. 

And when it comes to advice for potential Y members, Kathleen believes taking the first step is the most important one. 

“Just make the call or stop in. Everyone here is so kind,” she said.  

We thank Kathleen for being a part of our Y community and wish her the best as she continues on her health and wellness journey.

If you are interested in working with a YMCA personal trainer, now is the perfect time to start! The Y’s September Personal Training Sale is underway and you can learn more by clicking here. 

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Stronger Together: Bring a Friend Fitness Class Opportunities

Grab a workout buddy and join us for special fitness classes at the Y! Facility members are invited to bring a guest for free. Fitness is always better together!

PLEASE NOTE: Guests must present a valid photo ID when checking in. Attendance in these classes will not count against a guest’s total pass usage for 2025.

Cardio Interval
You’ll alternate between cardio intervals and strength moves to achieve the maximum results, increased cardiovascular fitness and calorie burning.
Date: Friday, September 12
Time: 4:15-5 p.m.
Location: Morris Hospital YMCA

Bootcamp
A mix of strength and cardio drills, using circuits and intervals.
Date: Monday, September 15
Time: 9-9:45 a.m.
Location: Galowich Family YMCA

Cardio Mix
This class will feature 30 minutes of WERQ, 30 minutes of Butts and Guts, and 30 minutes of stretching
Date: Friday, September 26
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: C.W. Avery Family YMCA

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See You in September: My Y Rewards Special Earnings Event

Fall is a season of change and now is the perfect time to rejuvenate your health and wellness routine with a little inspiration from the YMCA! Our special My Y Rewards September Earnings Event will help you build healthy habits and stay focused on achieving your fitness goals!

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facility Members enrolled in the My Y Rewards program will receive 150 bonus rewards points if they check in at the Y at least 15 times in the month of September.

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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YMCA September Personal Training Sale

Whether you’re just starting your health and wellness journey, or looking to add a little variety to your exercise program, a YMCA personal trainer can help you to achieve your wellness goals. And now you can take your first step with the help of our September Personal Training Sale! Throughout the month if you buy four sessions, you get one free!*

Learn more about personal trainers at your local Y branch by clicking below.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Galowich Family YMCA
Morris Community YMCA

Register online by clicking below.

One-on-One Personal Training
Avery
Galowich
Morris

Group of Two Personal Training 
Avery
Galowich
Morris

*Offer good September 1-30, 2025. Valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Visit your local branch for more details.

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Celebrating a Successful 2025 Summer Camp Season at the YMCA

Our 2025 Summer Day Camp season, which was generously sponsored by CN, officially came to a close this week. It was another amazing summer filled with friendship, learning, and meaningful life experiences for everyone involved! 

We’d like to thank all of our camp families for spending the summer with us here at the YMCA and wish you all the best during the new school year. We look forward to seeing you back at camp next summer.

We’d also like to thank all of our wonderful community partners who opened their doors and their hearts, allowing us to provide much-needed summer child care at locations throughout Will and Grundy Counties. 

Finally, we’d like to thank our top-notch summer camp team for their boundless enthusiasm, compassion, and creativity. Your hard work and tireless dedication helped to ensure that each of our campers had a summer full of fun and adventures.

As we take a look back at the summer that was, let’s take a closer look at YMCA Summer Camp ‘By the Numbers:’

8 Camp Locations

With a little help from our friends, we hosted camp at each of our YMCA facilities and at offsite locations throughout the community. Thank you, Salvation Army Joliet Corps Community Center, Joliet Junior College, Plainfield School District 202, and Valley View School District 365U for helping us serve kids in our community this summer.

1,302 Campers

We are so proud to provide a memorable camp experience for each and every one of our amazing summer day campers.

288 Counselors

Summer day camp would not be possible without the dynamic skills and inspiring leadership of our Summer Camp staff team.

44 Summer Day Camp Volunteers Contributing more than 1,800 Volunteer Service Hours 

Student volunteers from local high schools as well as volunteers from the Catholic Charities of Joliet were a pivotal resource during summer day camp as they provided assistance to Y staff, ensuring campers participated in a wide range of learning opportunities.

3,312 ‘Go Blue’ Swim Lessons and 107 New Blue Level Swimmers 

At the start of camp, campers completed mandatory swim tests before entering the pool for the first time and, based on their swimming abilities, received a red, yellow, or blue wristband. To improve their swimming skills, all red and yellow wristband campers participated in 15-minute swim lessons each week with the goal of “Going Blue” by the end of summer. To “Go Blue” meant that swimmers had enough strength, skill, and confidence to pass the YMCA’s blue swim test, which included jumping into the deep end of the pool, treading water, and swimming the length of the pool using a front crawl stroke without stopping.

64 Field Trips

We were thrilled to help our campers go on exciting adventures! Whether it was a trip to the arcade, a visit to the zoo, or a splash-tastic day at the waterpark, our campers got the chance to explore the community and make memories!

Nearly $100,000 Raised by the YMCA’s Send a Kid to Camp Campaign 

At the Y, nobody is turned away due to the inability to pay. Nearly half of the children who attend YMCA summer day camp programs receive financial assistance, and this is made possible by the incredible generosity of YMCA donors. This spring, our Send A Kid to Camp Campaign supporters generously funded nearly 2,000 days of camp for children in our community.

Thank you again for a wonderful Summer Camp season! We look forward to seeing you back at the YMCA next summer. Camp registration for the summer of 2026 will get underway next March!

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United Way