Social Responsibility — Page 2 — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

Safety Starts with You: C.W. Avery Family YMCA Offering American Red Cross Lifeguarding Courses This Spring

March 25, 2026

With more than 100 years of leadership in aquatic safety, the Y is proud to offer lifeguarding certification courses at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA this spring! Get certified and make a difference in your community. Certifications are valid for two years.

Prerequisites to participate in courses:

-Must be 15-years-old or older

-Must be able to complete a continuous 150-yard swim, two minutes of treading water without the use of hands, followed by an additional 50-yard swim.

-Must complete a timed swim to retrieve a 10-pound object from under 7-9.5 feet of water.

American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification with Water Park Option

The purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatics emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies.

Class Options:

April 24-26 or May 8-10

Please note: Course curriculum includes both in-person and online training. At the end of the course, participants will test for Red Cross Lifeguard, First Aid, and CPR/AED certifications. Optional training/testing for Waterpark Lifeguard certification is available for an additional fee.

American Red Cross Lifeguarding Recertification

The Lifeguarding Recertification Course is designed for those who have previously completed a lifeguarding certification. Participants will review course content, practice and test skills, and review emergency team response.

Class Options:

April 11-12 or May 30-31

Please note: Course curriculum includes both in-person and online training. Students who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate for Lifeguarding with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid.

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Have a Heart, Lend a Hand: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Invites Community to Participate in Volunteer Days of Service

March 24, 2026

To prepare for the busy summer season, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is teaming up with its members, volunteers, staff, and local businesses to host Volunteer Days of Service at each of its facilities.

C.W. AVERY FAMILY YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544
Date: Friday, May 1
Time: 9 a.m.- Noon

MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450
Date: Thursday, May 7
Time: 9 a.m.-Noon

VILLAGE OF SHOREWOOD YMCA
1801 W. Jefferson Street
Shorewood, IL 60404
Date: Wednesday, May 13
Time: 9 a.m.- Noon

JOLIET COMMUNITY YMCA
Hosted at Joliet Junior College
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
Date: Friday, May 22
Time: 9 a.m.- Noon

Volunteer yourself or recruit a group of co-workers, friends, and family to join you for a great day of team building and giving back to your community! Volunteers must be 18 years of age. A complimentary lunch will be served for volunteers at 11:30 a.m.

To learn more, please contact the Executive Director at your local YMCA branch.

C.W. AVERY FAMILY YMCA
Erin Lightbody
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 238

MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA
Jamie Heitman
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 515

JOLIET COMMUNITY YMCA
Brooke Hall
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 316

VILLAGE OF SHOREWOOD YMCA
Trisha Dust
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 327

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SUMMER FUN HAPPENS HERE: YMCA to Offer Day Camp at Three Locations in Joliet this Summer

March 23, 2026

This summer, the Joliet Community YMCA (JCY) is bringing safe, affordable, and unforgettable day camp experiences to kids in Grades K–8 at three convenient locations in Joliet!

With offices based on the main campus of Joliet Junior College, JCY is an innovative initiative that brings vital YMCA youth development, sports, and family programming to neighborhood locations throughout the greater Joliet community. By partnering with local churches, school districts, and like-minded community organizations, JCY is making it easier than ever for families to access high-quality programs—right in their own neighborhoods.

At YMCA Summer Day Camp, every day is an opportunity for kids to grow, connect, and thrive. Campers build lasting friendships while strengthening their spirit, mind, and body in a supportive and welcoming environment. With up to ten weeks of action-packed fun, kids will enjoy swimming, sports, outdoor adventures, arts and crafts, and so much more.

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER DAY CAMP IS UNDERWAY!

YMCA Summer Day Camp Locations (Grades K-5)

Messiah Lutheran Church
40 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
REGISTER TODAY

Salvation Army Community Center
300 3rd Avenue
Joliet, IL 60433
REGISTER TODAY

YMCA Teen REACH Summer Camp Locations (Grades 6-8)

In the Y’s FREE Teen REACH Summer Camp program, campers will participate in life skills education, mentorship/career exploration, STEAM, and service-learning activities, in addition to swimming, sports, field trips, and more!

Joliet Junior College
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
REGISTER TODAY

Salvation Army Community Center
300 3rd Avenue
Joliet, IL 60433
REGISTER TODAY

PLEASE NOTE: To attend Teen REACH Camp, campers must be entering grades 6–8 during the 2026–2027 school year at a middle school that feeds into Joliet Township High School District 204. Proof of residency is required. Campers must commit to attending at least 80% of the summer camp days offered.

To learn more about JCY summer day camp programs, contact the Y at (815) 744-3939.

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Building a Healthier Community: Join the Y During our 2026 Spring Membership Sale

March 12, 2026

Spring Membership Sale
March 13-16, 2026

* Valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Start your spring off right by joining the Y during our Spring Membership Sale! During this sale, new and alumni members will pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee, a savings of up to $120! With our wide variety of classes and programs, you’ll be sure to find something at the Y for every member of your family.

LEARN MORE

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
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).

Free Basic Access to the YMCA On the Go App
The On the Go App will provide Y members with access to the YMCA 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This new interactive tool is loaded with free workouts, on-demand videos, and nutrition tips.

Free Access to the My Y Rewards Program
Upon enrolling in the My Y Rewards Program, you’ll 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.

Quality Programming
In addition to our free group exercise classes, the Y offers year-round swimming lessons and personal training, among a slew of other options. You can check out a full list of our programming by taking a look at our Spring 2026 Program Session Schedules.

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

*Programs, classes, and amenities vary by location and are subject to change

THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

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

Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450

Galowich Family YMCA*
749 Houbolt Road
Joliet IL 60431
*The future Village of Shorewood YMCA will open on April 27. Early Bird Memberships are on sale now! Learn more here.

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Opening Day for the New Village of Shorewood YMCA Scheduled for Monday, April 27

March 2, 2026

Early Bird Memberships Available Through April 19

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA announced today that the new Village of Shorewood YMCA, which will be located at 1801 W. Jefferson Street, will officially open its doors to serve the community on Monday, April 27.

Built in partnership with the Village of Shorewood, the new facility will provide YMCA members and residents living in Shorewood and the greater Joliet area with access to health and wellness and recreational programming in a welcoming and contemporary space. Conveniently located along the thriving Rt. 52 corridor, the new 60,000-square-foot Village of Shorewood YMCA will feature an eight-lane lap pool, a state-of-the-art health and wellness center, a gymnasium, indoor and outdoor walking tracks, group exercise and cycling studios, engaging youth play spaces, community rooms, an outdoor playground, and fields for summer camp and youth sports programs.

“We are so excited to welcome the community to the new Village of Shorewood YMCA,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and Chief Executive Officer Katy Leclair. “This new facility is more than just a beautiful building- it’s a testament to the strength of partnership, a shared dedication to health, wellness, and recreation, and our commitment to serving families for generations to come. We look forward to opening our doors and inviting the community into a place where friendships are formed, goals are reached, and community comes to life each and every day,” Leclair added.

As construction of the new facility nears completion, area residents are invited to take advantage of exclusive pre-opening membership opportunities as part of the YMCA’s Early Bird Membership Sale, which will run through Sunday, April 19. Early Bird Members will enjoy priority access when the new facility opens on Monday, April 27.

YMCA Facility Members enjoy significant cost-savings and priority registration on YMCA programs, and receive free access to the YMCA’s On the Go App, as well as unlimited guest passes. Ensuring that no one is turned away from the YMCA due to the inability to pay, the Y proudly invests more than $1.5 million into its members and the community each year through its financial assistance program, providing scholarship assistance and free community programming.

The YMCA will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and community open house for the new facility on Saturday, May 2.

JOIN THE VILLAGE OF SHOREWOOD YMCA

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