Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Make a Splash at the YMCA: 2026 Winter Swim Lesson Sale

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is excited to announce a Winter Swim Lesson Sale!

Save $7 when you register for Winter 2 swim lessons from January 19-26.

Offer valid at any Greater Joliet Area YMCA location. Open to Facility Members and Community Members. Some restrictions may apply.

Use promo code: SWIMWI26 when registering online. You can also call your local branch to reserve your time slot:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 Wallin Drive
Plainfield, IL 60544
(815) 267-8600

Galowich Family YMCA
749 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431
(815) 744-3939

Morris Hospital YMCA
2200 West Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450
(815) 513-8080

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Registration Underway for YMCA Winter Homeschool Swim Lessons

The Y is excited to offer youth swim lessons for homeschool families this winter! These programs are open to kids, ages 4-14, and will feature 30 minutes of lessons and 30 minutes of open swim. PLEASE NOTE: Participants will be swim tested at the first lesson.

Winter 1 Lessons: 4-week session running January 5-February 1
Cost: $47 for Facility Members, $94 for Community Members

Winter 2 Lessons: 5-week session running February 2-March 8
Cost: $58 for Facility Members, $116 for Community Members

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
REGISTER TODAY

Galowich Family YMCA
Thursdays, 11 a.m.-Noon
REGISTER TODAY

Morris Hospital YMCA
Mondays, 11 a.m.-Noon
REGISTER TODAY

To learn more, please contact the aquatics director at your local Y branch:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Jack Glimco
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 228

Galowich Family YMCA
Catie Wallis
[email protected]
(815) 744-3939, ext. 320

Morris Hospital YMCA
Coni Schram
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 520

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Skills for Life: Caleb and Natalie Lopez’s Y Story

YMCA swim lessons help kids stay fit, healthy, and strong when they spend time in and around the water. Additionally, kids of all ages gain confidence and learn vital water safety skills that will last them a lifetime. For C.W. Avery Family YMCA member Naomi Lopez, seeing her children Caleb and Natalie learn to swim at the Y has been an invaluable life experience.

“Caleb and Natalie started lessons at the Y a couple years ago when they were preschoolers. They had no experience and were nervous to even do anything near water,” Naomi said. “They’ve gone from not knowing anything to swimming on their own. They’ve built so much confidence and love coming here.”

Caleb and Natalie have participated in both group swim lessons and private swim lessons, options that Naomi said provide different advantages for families. 

“With group lessons, I really like that there are so many options. It’s very flexible. I can get them in pretty much any day I want. With private lessons, they were able to improve their skills even quicker because of it being 1-on-1. In both cases, they have had a wonderful experience with all of their instructors. They’re organized in the way they do things, so it’s always timely and always fun,” she said. 

Naomi believes the structure of YMCA swim lessons has also had a positive impact on Caleb and Natalie as young learners.  

“They were very little during the time they started swim lessons and didn’t have any classroom experience. They learned little things that would help in a classroom setting like following the teacher and listening. It helped them to pay attention and follow instructions,” she said.

And, after continuing lessons this fall, Caleb and Natalie have now reached swim levels that allow them to use the full amenities of the YMCA’s Family Pool. 

“I usually bring them to play in the Family Pool in the winter, which is great for when it’s so cold and there is nothing to do outside. They can both go down the big slides now, which was something they couldn’t do before, so that was huge for them,” Naomi said.

But for the Lopez family, the Y journey is just beginning.

“I have four kids total and the two little ones will also be doing swim lessons soon,” Naomi said. “This is a great place for all, especially families looking for a budget friendly option and an opportunity to give their kids a lot of different extracurricular activities. Whenever my kids are interested in something I always look to the Y first before looking anywhere else. It’s perfect.”

To learn more about swim lessons at the Y, click here or speak with a member of our aquatics team during your next visit. To register online, click here.

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YMCA Staff Profile: Meet JETS Assistant Head Swim Coach Manny Arriola

The JETS YMCA Swim Team, one of the area’s most historic youth swimming clubs, is a year-round competitive swimming program that offers instruction and training for swimmers, ages six and up. This fall, we were excited to welcome Manny Arriola as the team’s assistant head swim coach. Manny has been a familiar face in YMCA aquatics programs for the past three years, and brings a wide range of instructional experience to his new role. You can learn more about him in the Q&A below.

Q: Can you describe your background in aquatics and past experience with the YMCA?

My swimming journey began when I was nine years old. I swam for the Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club (CWAC) until I started high school. I then became a member of the swim and water polo teams at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.

I started my coaching career in September 2023 as an assistant for the JETS, and I have enjoyed working with all the amazing staff and coaches I have met during my time here. I have learned a lot about coaching from all of them. In addition to working with the JETS, I previously served as head lifeguard at the Galowich Family YMCA, which allowed me to teach training classes to prospective lifeguards. I have also worked with swimmers as a private swim instructor. 

Q: Why are you passionate about the JETS program?

With my competitive swimming background, I’ve always had a strong desire to stay connected to the sport. I gained countless life lessons as a swimmer and becoming a coach has given me the chance to give back to the community. Coaching for the JETS has given me a new perspective and allowed me to help shape the next generation of swimmers, both in the pool and in their day-to-day lives. What makes this experience even more meaningful is that I share the core values of the JETS and the YMCA as a whole. Supporting swimmers and their growth – physically, mentally, and emotionally – has been incredibly fulfilling. I’m truly grateful to be part of a community that reflects the values I believe in, and I’m proud to represent both the JETS and the YMCA

Q: What are the most important things parents/swimmers should know about the benefits of YMCA aquatics programming?

One important thing for parents and swimmers to understand is that YMCA aquatics programs go far beyond teaching swim lessons, they also help instill valuable life skills along the way.  From the earliest days of learning to float, to developing resilience after a tough race, every step becomes part of a meaningful Y story- one filled with growth, encouragement, and achievement. We also emphasize that our programs are inclusive, welcoming swimmers of all ages and skill levels. And, with the dedicated work of our instructors and directors, swimming at the Y is truly life-changing. It’s inspiring to witness how the Y transforms beginners into confident swimmers and more confident individuals overall.

Q: What is your overall coaching philosophy? 

I believe coaching goes beyond teaching technique; it’s about being a mentor and a positive influence. My coaching philosophy centers on empowering swimmers for personal growth in addition to athletic development. As a coach, I strive to instill the core values of the YMCA while helping swimmers build confidence, character, and resilience. Swimming uniquely combines individual achievement with team unity, offering a space where athletes learn to push themselves independently while supporting and growing alongside their teammates. Swimmers have the opportunity to meet new people, form friendships, and have fun – all while learning new skills. My goal is for swimmers to one day look back and recognize how much they improved not only as athletes, but as individuals. It’s this balance that makes the sport, and the coaching role, so meaningful.

Q: What are things to watch from the JETS during the fall/winter season?

With more than 200 swimmers, this is the largest the JETS team has ever been and we are so proud to expand our reach throughout the communities we serve. The launch of the JETS program at the Morris Hospital YMCA is a huge development. Welcoming a wave of new swimmers from Morris and the surrounding communities of Grundy County has been a great step forward for the program. Another milestone on the horizon is the anticipated opening of the new Village of Shorewood YMCA next spring, which will continue the expansion of the JETS program. The prospect of bringing in new swimmers and hosting more meets has generated a lot of enthusiasm among swimmers and families alike. It’s truly an exciting time to be a part of the JETS.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time outside the Y?

I have a variety of hobbies, but swimming remains one of my favorite ways to relax during my free time.  I still swim recreationally during my time off. If I had to choose my favorite swim strokes, I would pick backstroke and freestyle, but my favorite events overall are the individual medleys. I also enjoy reading, especially philosophy books and comic books, which I enjoy for their thought-provoking ideas and creative storytelling.

We are so excited to have Manny helping lead our JETS! To learn more about YMCA aquatics programs, click here.

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2025 Summer Water Safety Programs at the YMCA Help Children Build Invaluable Life Skills

As America’s most trusted swim lesson instructor, the YMCA has been teaching kids how to swim for more than 100 years. Swim lessons at the YMCA help kids stay fit, healthy, and strong when they spend time in and around water. But, most importantly, they gain confidence and learn vital water safety skills that will last a lifetime.

The YMCA’s Swim Lesson Curriculum is based on a continuum that focuses on a skill-based progression that builds confidence and supports skill development swimmers of all ages. This summer, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA was proud to once again provide swim lessons through our “Go Blue” and Safety Around Water initiatives.

“Go Blue” 

The “Go Blue” Water Safety Program was offered as a part of summer day camp activities at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, Galowich Family YMCA, and Morris Hospital YMCA. At the start of the summer, campers completed mandatory swim tests before entering the pool and, based on their swimming abilities, received a red, yellow, or blue wristband. 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.

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.

This year’s program served 606 campers and provided 3,168 swim lessons over the course of the summer. Here are the exciting results!

Start of SummerEnd of Summer
Red Swimmers35.99%26.22%
Yellow Swimmers31.11%23.45%
Blue Swimmers32.90%50.33%

During the first week of summer camp, only one third of the campers attained the highest swim level when tested. By the end of the final week of testing, more than half the campers had gone ‘Blue.’ Additionally, 60 campers that were previously required to wear life jackets when using YMCA pools as red level swimmers improved to a swim level where a life jacket was no longer needed. 

Safety Around Water

Youth in Joliet and the surrounding communities also received invaluable swim lesson instruction through the Safety Around Water program this summer at the Galowich Family YMCA. Made possible thanks to the generosity of local businesses and grantors, including the United Way of Will County, the program provided a series of free 30-minute swim lessons to children from the Y’s Salvation Army summer day camp site, the Boys and Girls Club of Joliet, the Harvey Brooks Foundation, Laraway School, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will/Grundy County. In total, 144 children received Safety Around Water instruction with 597 lessons completed. Below are their amazing swim test results!

Start of SummerEnd of Summer
Red Swimmers56.25%43.06%
Yellow Swimmers22.22%26.39%
Blue Swimmers21.53%30.56%

At the start of summer, more than half of Safety Around Water participants required the use of a life jacket when entering the pool as red swimmers. We were so proud to see that figure reduced by more than 13 percent by the end of summer. As a result of the Y’s summer Safety Around Water program, 13 children improved their swimming abilities, earning their blue wristband by passing the Y’s blue swim test.

We would like to thank the staff members on our amazing YMCA aquatics teams as well as the generous efforts of volunteer swim instructors for helping children learn these life-saving skills this summer.    

If you would like to help support Safety Around Water by donating to the YMCA Mission Strong Fund, you can do so below.

Donate Today

And, if you are interested in becoming a volunteer swim instructor, click here.

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YMCA Staff Profile: Meet Aquatics Director Coni Schram

The Morris Hospital YMCA is proud to welcome Coni Schram as our new Aquatics Director! Coni brings more than 20 years of aquatics experience to the Y, and we know she will do an amazing job leading programs in our lap pool. You can learn more about Coni in the Q&A below. 

Q: Where are you from and what is your background in aquatics? 

I live in New Lenox where I was an Aquatics Supervisor at Lincoln-Way High School for 24 years. 

Q: Why were you interested in joining the Y team? 

The culture. Right from the start, I have been welcomed with open arms and embraced with a supportive environment by the staff team and members.  

Q: What do you find most rewarding/inspiring about working in aquatics? 

I love to see the progression of a person who is learning to swim. It is very rewarding to see the advancement in skill and watch confidence grow. 

Q: How can members of the community benefit from YMCA aquatics programs? 

There are a lot of programs our members can benefit from. We offer group swim lessons, private swim lessons, and adaptive swim lessons. We also offer multiple water exercise classes that have numerous advantages: enhancing cardiovascular health, improving strength and flexibility, and aiding in stress management, all while being low-impact on joints and muscles. 

]You don’t have to be an expert swimmer to enjoy the programs and benefits of our pool.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? 

I love being outside. I enjoy sports, travel and spending time with my family.

We are so excited to have Coni leading the Y’s aquatics team in Morris! If you would like to join the Y team as a lifeguard or swim instructor, apply online today. To learn more about YMCA aquatics programs, click here.

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United Way