Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Three Times the Fun: My Y Rewards Special April Earnings Event

TRIPLE POINTS CHECK-IN SPECIAL OFFER

Spring is in full swing and the Y is celebrating with a special bonus points offer for My Y Rewards program participants.

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facility Members, ages 16 and up, enrolled in the My Y Rewards program will receive triple rewards points every time they check in at the Y between April 21-27. 

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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Join the Y During Our 2025 Tax Day Sale

JOIN THE Y ON TAX DAY AND SAVE!

During the Y’s 2025 Tax Day Sale, new and alumni members will pay a $15 Joiner’s Fee, a savings of up to $105.

Valid only on Tuesday, April 15 at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA branch.

OUR FACILITY MEMBERS 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, all fully programmed with activities for the entire family, including family swim time, swim lessons, aquatic fitness programs and lap lane access.
  • Three wellness centers, all equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment.
  • Free fitness orientations and daily group exercise classes (programs vary by location).

Quality Programming
In addition to our free group exercise classes, the Y offers year-round swim lessons, sports programs and personal training, among a slew of other options.

Child Care
If you have a Family Membership, you can drop your child(ren) off at our supervised playroom while you exercise.

So Much More
A complete list of member benefits can be found here.

Three CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Dr, Plainfield, IL 60544

Galowich Family YMCA
749 Houbolt Road, Joliet IL 60431

Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue, Morris, IL 60450
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My Y Rewards Special March Earnings Event

DOUBLE THE FUN FITNESS CLASSES 

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your health and wellness routine with YMCA group fitness classes. And now, My Y Rewards members will have double the fun exercising during our Special March Earnings Event!

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facility Members, ages 16 and up, enrolled in the My Y Rewards program will receive double rewards points for every group fitness class they attend between March 17-23!

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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Morris Hospital YMCA Recognized with Partnership Award

The Morris Hospital YMCA, alongside its partners from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers and the City of Morris, were recently recognized by the Grundy Economic Development Council (GEDC) and the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce with the ‘Partners of the Year Award.’ Presented at the GEDC and Chamber’s annual dinner on March 5, the award recognized the collaborative efforts amongst the Y, the Hospital, and the City to bring the first full-facility YMCA to Grundy County. The Morris Hospital YMCA opened its doors to serve the community in December 2024.

Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair led a group of YMCA staff on hand to accept the award alongside Morris Advisory Council Chair Kevin Olson, City of Morris Mayor Chris Brown, and Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers President and CEO Tom Dohm.

“The Y would like to thank the GEDC for this incredible honor,” Leclair said. “We know that all the great things that happen every day at the YMCA would not be possible without strong community partnerships. Morris Hospital and the City of Morris have shown an amazing dedication to supporting the Y as we begin a new chapter of serving our community with this facility.”

The Morris Hospital YMCA represents the largest fundraising effort in the history of Grundy County and is now home to more than 6,000 YMCA members. Located just west of Morris Grade School on Dupont Avenue, the new 60,000-square-foot YMCA features an eight-lane lap pool, gym, a state-of-the-art wellness center, a group exercise studio, cycling studio, healthy eating kitchen, and engaging youth play spaces.

To learn more about the new Morris Hospital Y, click here or stop by today! 

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Celebrate Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is so excited to celebrate Healthy Kids Day at each of our branch locations! Each site will feature fun educational activities and active play to keep kids moving and learning, helping them maintain healthy habits and academic skills to achieve their goals and reach their full potential. Healthy Kids Day events are free and open to the community.

GALOWICH FAMILY YMCA 
Friday, April 25
5:30-7 p.m.

In addition to participating in a fun series of health and wellness activities, attendees will also gain entrance into special raffles. Prizes include Y swag and a free month of membership.

Gym
Kids will be able to participate in sports demonstrations like flag football, basketball, and pickleball throughout the evening and get the chance to play in our inflatable bounce house!

Fitness Studio
Get your heart pumping with a family friendly bootcamp class circuit!

Lap Pool
Dive in for open swim and water safety education activities. Swim lesson evaluations will also be available.

Innovation Center
Stop by for healthy snack making as well as art and writing class demonstrations.

Staff will also lead tours of the wellness center where teens can learn about wellness center certification. YMCA partners and local organizations will be on hand to provide families with important information.

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required and children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register all individuals that will be in attendance.

If you have any questions about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, please contact Youth and Family Director Tracy Wrase at [email protected] or (815) 744-3939, ext. 315.

MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA
Saturday, April 26
10:30 a.m.-Noon

Stop by the Y and enjoy:

-Health and wellness demonstrations with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers
-Games and activities for kids including an inflatable bounce house in the gymnasium
-A family group fitness class
-Arts and crafts

And so much more!

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required and children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register all individuals that will be in attendance.

REGISTER TODAY

If you have any questions about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, please contact Youth and Family Director Jordan Overton at [email protected] or (815) 513-8080, ext. 513

C.W. AVERY FAMILY YMCA 
Saturday, April 26
11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Stop by the Y and enjoy:

-An energetic family fitness class
-An interactive gardening demonstration
-Crafts to help support mindful breathing
-Fun in our bounce houses
-Swimming in the Family Pool from Noon-1 p.m.

And so much more!

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required and children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register all individuals that will be in attendance.

REGISTER TODAY

If you have any questions about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, please contact Youth and Family Director James Wagner at [email protected] or (815) 267-8600, ext. 234

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Ignite Your Passion: Jeannie Howell’s Y Story

At the YMCA, we are always proud to support members as they strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reach their goals. This includes individuals like Jeannie Howell, who says she has experienced life changing health and wellness results since joining the Galowich Family YMCA in 2008.

“In 2007, a nurse that I worked with helped me make a New Year’s resolution. She said ‘Let’s exercise for at least an hour once or twice a week.’ At that point in time, I weighed 287 pounds and my knees would pop when I would go up and down the stairs. Since then, I’ve lost more than 100 pounds and I’m now off 2 diabetic medicines that I had taken for 30 years,” she said. 

Jeannie says her Y journey began with water aerobics classes and that she eventually found opportunities to explore one of her life’s passions – dance. 

“When I joined the Y, I thought to myself ‘If I start working out here it’s possible for me to become the dancer that I always aspired to be.’ It was step classes, it was line dancing, it was Zumba, it was everything. I was so winded at first because I couldn’t keep up, but my love for dance allowed me to keep going.”

Jeannie said the process of losing weight was slow and measured, but with each step she gained more confidence, eventually participating in local dance competitions.

“I saw changes along the way that gave me confidence. I was able to stay on the dance floor longer and longer. That’s when I knew everything was working,” she said. 

In addition to improving her health, being at the Y allowed Jeannie to build lasting friendships. 

“I’ve made so many connections at the Y. I’m still friends with everyone I met in the first water aerobics classes from 2008. And when I meet up with friends from Zumba classes, sometimes we end up doing the dances right in the bar when music comes on,” she said.

When offering advice to others seeking to improve their health, Jeannie emphasizes that patience has been the most important factor in her health and wellness journey.

“You can’t be in a hurry and you can never quit. Bad habits die hard and it’s never easy. You have to find something you enjoy. So try some of everything and find something that you like. It takes time but it becomes a lifestyle,” she said. 

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