Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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YMCA Kid Zone Registration for the 2026-27 School Year Opens for Facility Members on April 11

We know that learning doesn’t end when the school bell rings. The way your children spend time outside the classroom can make a big difference in their personal development and your family-life balance.

That is why the Y is excited to partner with area school districts to offer our Kid Zone youth enrichment program at schools throughout Joliet, Plainfield, Morris, Shorewood, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, and Seneca

Kid Zone provides a safe place for children to keep their mind and body active while learning social skills and positive values. Our caring professionals are committed to helping kids build confidence and character.

Through guided play, children learn to respect themselves and others, work out their differences and discover the value of true friendship, all while in a safe and nurturing environment. Academic support from caring role models enriches your child’s educational experience and enables families to spend more quality time together.

Registration for the 2026-27 school year opens at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 11 for Facility Members and at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 18 for Community Members!

REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE

Sign your child(ren) up for Kid Zone by Monday, April 27 and pay a $0 registration fee, a savings of $50!

To learn more about the Kid Zone Program, click here.

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Charter Memberships On Sale Now for the New Village of Shorewood YMCA

We are so excited for the future Village of Shorewood YMCA! Located on Route 52 in Shorewood, this wonderful new facility is set to open later this spring. And now, you can demonstrate your support for the Y’s mission by becoming Charter Member! Charter Memberships are currently on sale and can be purchased through February 28.

As a Charter Member, you’ll enjoy unparalleled benefits, special perks, and a front-row seat to our grand opening:

PRIORITY ACCESS IN APRIL 2026
Charter Members will be among the first to experience our new state-of-the-art facility and innovative programs.

COMMEMORATIVE GIFTS
Charter Members will receive a welcome kit packed with exciting one-of-a-kind YMCA gear and grand opening gifts.

EXCLUSIVE EVENTS
Charter Members will be invited to an exclusive preview event during our Grand Opening week in April.

RECOGNITION ON DONOR SIGNAGE
The everlasting legacy of each Charter Member will also be honored on a permanent donor sign, displayed within the new building.

SPECIAL SAVINGS AVAILABLE FOR CURRENT YMCA MEMBERS
Stop by the Membership Desk of your local Y branch during your next visit or contact Membership Operations Director Michele Claysen at (815) 782-0818 or via email at [email protected] to learn more about these savings!

PLEASE NOTE: A Charter Membership is a one-time donation that includes Founding Member status, recognition, and commemorative gifts. To enjoy access to the new Village of Shorewood YMCA when it opens, Charter Members will also need to become Facility Members and begin paying regular monthly dues starting in April 2026. Facility Memberships will be available beginning March 1, 2026.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY!
To become a Charter Member, please click below:

PURCHASE A CHARTER MEMBERSHIP

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Let’s Work Together: Village of Shorewood YMCA Set to Host Employment Open Houses

We are so excited for the future Village of Shorewood YMCA! Located along the thriving Route 52 corridor, the new 60,000-square-foot YMCA facility is set to open in spring 2026. And, as we prepare to welcome the community, we are looking to hire part-time positions across a wide range of departments! Learn more about working at the Village of Shorewood YMCA by attending one of our upcoming Employment Open Houses:

Location:
Shorewood Village Hall
1 Towne Center Boulevard
Shorewood, IL 60404

Friday, January 30
9 a.m.-Noon

Wednesday, February 4
9 a.m.-Noon

Monday, February 9
5-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 12
5-7:30 p.m.

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE BEGINNING JANUARY 26

  • Lifeguards
  • Water Fitness Instructors
  • Swim Instructors
  • Dance Instructors
  • Wellness Attendants
  • Fitness Instructors
  • Personal Trainers
  • Kids Corner Attendants
  • Activity Center Attendant
  • Preschool Class Instructors
  • Youth/Teen Class Instructors
  • Custodians
  • Reception Desk Attendants
  • Building Supervisors
  • Gym Supervisors
  • Sports Instructors
  • Youth Program Instructors

As a valued member of our YMCA family, part-time employees receive:

  • A free Y membership and generous program discounts
  • Participation in the Y’s retirement plan (when eligibility requirements have been met)
  • Flexible hours
  • On-the-job training
  • Amazing co-workers
  • A fun and family-friendly work environment

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

You can also learn more about the Village of Shorewood YMCA by clicking here.

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Joliet Community YMCA Set to Offer Youth Enrichment Programs this Winter

The Joliet Community YMCA is excited to offer new after school youth enrichment programs for students in local school districts this winter! See below for details.

YMCA After School Workshops

Participants will learn, explore, and have fun with their friends during art, STEM, and no heat treat/nutrition activities! Students can register on a per workshop basis.

Cost (per workshop): $10 for Facility Members, $20 for Community Members.

Location: Sanchez Elementary School
Students must attend Sanchez Elementary School to participate. YMCA Kid Zone after school program participants who are registered for a workshop will be chaperoned to and from the workshop. All workshops will be held from 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Dates:
Tuesday, January 13
Snowman Slime

Tuesday, January 27
No Bake Pie

Tuesday, February 10
3D Valentines Creation

Tuesday, February 24
Baking Soda Balloon Experiment

REGISTER TODAY

Location: Singleton Elementary School
Students must attend Singleton Elementary School to participate. YMCA Kid Zone after school program participants who are registered for a workshop will be chaperoned to and from the workshop. All workshops will be held from 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Dates:
Wednesday, January 14
Snowman Slime

Wednesday, January 28
No Bake Pie

Wednesday, February 11
3D Valentines Creation

Wednesday, February 25
Baking Soda Balloon Experiment

REGISTER TODAY

Location: Messiah Lutheran Church
Open to kids ages 5-14. YMCA Kid Zone after school program participants from Troy CCSD 30-C who are registered for a workshop will be chaperoned to and from the workshop. All workshops will be held from 4-5 p.m.

Dates:
Monday, January 12
Snowman Slime

Monday, January 26
No Bake Pie

Monday, February 9
3D Valentines Creation

Monday, February 23
Baking Soda Balloon Experiment

REGISTER TODAY

YMCA After School Club

Offered for FREE in partnership with Laraway CCSD 70C to students attending Laraway School. Participants will rotate through exciting activities including STEM experiments, art projects, no-heat treats/nutrition lessons, and sports.

Dates: Thursdays beginning January 15 and continuing through April 30. No club activities on March 19 (Early dismissal) and March 26 (Spring Break).
Time: 3-4:30 p.m.

An activity bus will be available to transport students home after each session.

REGISTER TODAY

Learn more about all the exciting programs offered by the Joliet Community YMCA this winter by checking out our online program guide.

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Helping Kids Thrive: Emerson Hayden’s Y Story

Each day, students in the YMCA’s Before & After School Kid Zone program explore a positive learning environment where they form foundational skills, develop healthy, trusting relationships, and build self-reliance through the Y values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. This includes kids like nine-year old Emerson Hayden, a fourth grade student at Central Elementary School in Plainfield School District 202.

Emerson is currently in his fifth year attending Kid Zone, and his mom, Ashleigh, said the family’s connection to the program deepens each year. 

“Some of the counselors have become like family to us,” Ashleigh said. “They’re just as invested in his growth as we are.”

Ashleigh noted a recent instance where YMCA staff helped Emerson study for a geography test covering state capitals. 

“They went above and beyond to help and their support gives him a lot of confidence,” she said. 

In addition to academic support, Ashleigh said the Y’s focus on social interaction has been vital for Emerson’s development.

“One area we’ve really seen growth in him is resolving conflict and considering other people’s feelings and ideas. Emerson is an only child and he needed to learn about sharing and, like all kids, he needed help with decision making. The counselors foster teamwork and creativity, and he’s built lasting friendships with the other kids in the program,” she said. 

Ashleigh believes the program’s curriculum also helps to keep students engaged while nurturing independence.

“We have neighbors and friends who are in the program, and we have told them how great it is that there is a balance of structure and freedom with the activities,” she said.

It’s clear to see that the Kid Zone program has become an essential piece of the Hayden family’s day-to-day life. 

“It’s an affordable, reliable program for parents. It has given us flexibility to confidently manage work and family responsibilities. For me, as a mom, knowing that Emerson is safe, happy, and thriving gives me peace of mind,” Ashleigh said. 

We would like to thank Ashleigh and her husband, Chris, for their support of the Y, and we wish Emerson the best of luck throughout the 2025-26 school year!

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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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