Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Let Your Talent Shine: 2025 YMCA Holiday Card Design Contest

The YMCA’s Holiday Card Design Contest is back! Open to Y Members, ages 6-12, the contest is the perfect opportunity for kids to let their artistic talents shine and help spread a little cheer this upcoming holiday season.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Download an entry form and print it out. Entry forms are also available at the Y’s Front Desk.

2. Grab some crayons, markers and colored pencils and draw a picture that depicts your favorite things about the holidays and the winter season. From snowmen to Christmas trees, to candy canes and snowflakes, we can’t wait to see your original designs!

3. Complete the entry form and drop it off at the Y.

We will select our three favorite designs—one from each age group—to be featured on the Y’s holiday card.

Age Groups

  • Ages 6-7
  • Ages 8-9
  • Ages 10-12

Each of our winners will receive a YMCA Sweatshirt and other exciting prizes.

Download Entry Form

The deadline to enter is 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 6.

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YMCA Junior Wolves Program to Host Youth Basketball and Coaching Clinics

The YMCA’s Junior Wolves program is here to help youth basketball players and coaches prepare for the upcoming YBL season by hosting special clinics this fall! These FREE co-ed clinics will be taught by JJC’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach Shaun Sanderson and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Danny Turner alongside members of their respective teams.

Youth Basketball Clinics

These sessions will focus on teaching young athletes the fundamentals of the game of basketball, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and ball handling.

Saturday, October 25
Grades 5-12
8:30-10 a.m.
REGISTER TODAY

Grades Pre-K-4
10:30 a.m.-Noon
REGISTER TODAY

Following, all participants and their families are invited to cheer on JJC during the annual women’s basketball Alumni game.

Coaches Clinic

These sessions will provide coaches with an overview of skills, drills, practice schedules, and game strategies for the upcoming YMCA youth basketball season. Session topics will vary based on grade level, but coaches are welcome to participate in all sessions.

Friday, December 5
6-7:30 p.m.
REGISTER TODAY

All clinics will be held at the following location:
Joliet Junior College Event Center
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431


ABOUT COACH SANDERSON
As the winningest coach in the program’s history, Coach Sanderson has been at the helm of the JJC women’s basketball program for 17 seasons. Since becoming the head coach at JJC, Sanderson has helped more than 50 athletes extend their playing careers at four-year institutions and was named the 2025 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Collegiate Women’s NJCAA Division III Coach of the Year.

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT COACH TURNER
Coach Turner became the head men’s basketball coach at JJC in 2022, bringing more than 30 years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels to the Wolves program. Turner has also worked as an instructor at several high-profile camps in the Chicagoland area, including the Chicago Bulls Basketball Academy, Northwestern University, and DePaul University basketball camps.

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Celebrate Halloween at the YMCA

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

Galowich Family YMCA

Boo Bash
Friday, October 17
6-8 p.m.

Join us for our spooktacular family-friendly events with activities, games, candy, and more! These events are free and open to the community.

REGISTER TODAY

To learn more, please contact Youth and Family Director Tracy Wrase at [email protected] or (815) 744-3939, ext. 315.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Halloween Spooktacular
Saturday, October 18
1-3 p.m.

Stop by the C.W. Avery Family YMCA for our exciting Halloween Spooktacular! We will have a Trunk-or-Treat as well as spooky activities, games, crafts, and more!

Cost: Free and open to the community

REGISTER TODAY

If you are interested in hosting a trunk, please contact Youth and Family Director James Wagner at [email protected] or (815) 267-8600, ext. 234.

Kids’ Night Out: Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree
Friday, October 24
6:30-9 p.m.

Join us for a variety of activities such as games, sports, movies, and arts & crafts. Be sure to wear your Halloween costumes! PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required at least 48 hours in advance.

Cost: $20 for Facility Members/$40 for Community Members

REGISTER TODAY

Morris Hospital YMCA

Halloween Spooktacular
Saturday, October 25
10-11:30 a.m.

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

Join us for our exciting Halloween Spooktacular with trunks decorated by local businesses and Morris Hospital!

Cost: Free and open to the community

REGISTER TODAY

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.

Joliet Community YMCA

Monster Mash
Saturday, October 25
1-3 p.m.

Location:
Salvation Army Community Center
300 E 3rd Avenue
Joliet, IL 60433

REGISTER TODAY

To learn more, please contact Youth and Family Manager Keyanna Montgomery [email protected] or (815) 744-3939, ext. 362.

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Joilet Community YMCA Set to Offer College Planning Workshop This October

YMCA Teen Achievers workshops are free and open to the community, providing area students with important resources they can use to prepare for life after high school. Next month the workshop topic will be:

Finding Free Money for College
Date: Saturday, October 18
Time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Location:
Joliet Junior College Event Center
Room 2001
1215 Houbolt Road Joliet, IL 60431 

This workshop will include tips for starting your college search, identifying possible red flags in your school choice, finding scholarships, and completing scholarship applications. All attendees will have access to an array of scholarship options and find answers to other commonly asked questions. This event is primarily for high school juniors and seniors, but freshmen and sophomores are welcome to attend. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to attend as well. 

Facilitator: Kacey Helland, Teacher from the Plainfield South High School World Language Department

Kacey is a former YMCA Teen Achievers facilitator with more than a decade of teaching experience. She has earned degrees in Spanish, Secondary Education, and Educational Leadership, and is excited to help students on their educational journey. 

REGISTER TODAY

To learn more about this event, please contact:

Darrell Collins
Teen REACH & Teen Achievers Director
Phone: (815) 782-0828
Email: [email protected]

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Morris Hospital YMCA Invites the Community to Participate in Focus Group Activities

As we strive to meet the needs of our community, the Morris Hospital YMCA is excited to host focus group activities to help identify programs and services that members local residents would like to see offered at the Y. 

Date: Thursday, October 2

Times:
Senior Programming
9:15-10 a.m. 

Preschool/Youth & Family Programming
10-10:45 a.m. 

These events will be held in the Community Room are open to the community. Light refreshments will be served. Stop by and share your feedback! 

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

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Belonging Begins With Us: Celebrate 2025 Welcoming Week at the YMCA

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA will be joining YMCAs across the country to celebrate Welcoming Week from September 12-21! Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA’s national partner Welcoming America, elevates the growing movement of communities that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country. This week-long celebration is an opportunity for neighbors – both immigrants and US-born residents – to get to know one another and celebrate what unites us as a community.

This week, when you visit your local Y branch, you’ll be able to participate in fun activities that will get you in to the spirit of Welcome Week.

EXPAND YOUR WORLD

Members will be invited to participate in fun and easy activities to expand their perspectives and make our community a more welcoming place for all. You can grab an activity card by visiting the Membership Desk.

BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER 

Members will have the opportunity to pin their country of origin on a map located in the lobby. We are so excited to display a worldwide community throughout the week!

TRY NEW TASTES

Members can sample delicious foods from around the world during our cultural food extravaganzas. Enjoy fellowship with your neighbors, learn about different cultures, and play games with new and old friends. Plus, bring a friend and you can enter to win some fantastic raffle prizes including gift cards and Y swag! Branch specific dates can be found below.

GALOWICH FAMILY YMCA
749 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
Friday, September 12
10 a.m.-Noon

C.W. AVERY FAMILY YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544
Wednesday, September 17
10:30 a.m.-Noon

MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450
Thursday September 18
11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

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