Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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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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Make a Splash with Summer Swim Lessons at the YMCA

At the Y, we know enjoying time in the pool is a fun way for kids and families to beat the summer heat. But in order to make a splash, cool off, and enjoy the best moments of summer, we also know that safety comes first. As the nation’s leading swim lesson instructor, the YMCA is proud to offer a wide range of swim lessons to help members of all ages stay fit, healthy, and strong when they spend time in and around the water. Most importantly, YMCA swim lessons will help you gain confidence and learn vital water safety skills that will last a lifetime.

To learn more about summer swim lessons, view the program guide of your local Y branch by clicking below

We also encourage you to use our Swim Lesson Selector to quickly identify your child’s swim stage. For a full description of our swim lesson stages, click here.

And don’t forget, early bird rates for our Summer 2 session are available through Monday, June 30. Don’t miss your chance to save!

REGISTER TODAY

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National Water Safety Month 2025: Six Tips to Help Kids Stay Safe

May is National Water Safety Month. When the weather starts to heat up, the pools, lakes, oceans, rivers and other bodies of water start calling! While swimming can be a very enjoyable activity this summer, it is important to remind all parents and caregivers of the importance of water safety. That is why the Greater Joliet Area YMCA is sharing these six tips on how children can stay safe in and around the water.

Tip # 1: Make sure children know to always ask permission before going in or near the water.

Teaching your children to be water smart is the first step in water safety – be sure they understand the importance of asking permission before going in or near the water.

Tip # 2: Never swim alone without a water watcher.

When children are swimming, make sure they are actively supervised at all times. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty, or where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions.

Tip # 3: Supervise your children whenever they’re in or near water.

Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool or waterfront, make sure your children are within arm’s reach at all times.

Tip # 4: Don’t engage in breath holding activities.

Both adults and children should not hold their breath for a prolonged amount of time while swimming, as this can be dangerous.

Tip # 5: Wear a life jacket.

Inexperienced or non-swimmers should always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while in or around the water.

Tip # 6: Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water.

If an adult or child finds their friend in deep water unexpectedly, their natural reaction may be to jump in the water to try and save them. Even if they are a great swimmer, a panicked person will overpower them, pulling the rescuer under water. The Y’s Safety Around Water program teaches the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using a long object to reach for them, and pull them to safety. By using this technique, an adult or child can help their friend without compromising their own safety.

You can also ensure your child’s safety by enrolling them in swim lessons at the Y. Just like teaching your children to look both ways before they cross the street, having them participate in formal water safety lessons teaches them an important life skill. Learn more about our swim lesson curriculum and schedules here, and register online today!

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Know, See, Respond: Greater Joliet Area YMCA Participating in National Five Days of Action Campaign

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As part of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s commitment to protecting the children in our community, we’re participating in Five Days of Action® – a week-long campaign to increase awareness of child sexual abuse and empower and equip us all to prevent it. By taking part in this important campaign, and implementing abuse prevention practices year-round, we are committing to the safety of all children in our community.

The Know. See. Respond. campaign is back this year, and Praesidium, Saprea, and Lauren’s Kids have shared resources to support this campaign.

Know

When evaluating camps, sports, and other activities for your child, do you KNOW what questions to ask about abuse prevention? As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults, we play a vital role in protecting children and teens from abuse. Learn the key questions to ask from Praesidium, the YMCA’s partner in child abuse prevention, by clicking here.

See

When we SEE grooming patterns—methodical, subtle, gradual, and escalating behaviors used to groom a child for sexual abuse—we can identify them, strengthen our intuition, and protect children. Our partners from Saprea have put together a list of 6 grooming behaviors every parent or caregiver needs to know and what to do if you see them.

Respond

RESPONDing starts when a child or teen feels heard and is helped. How can you take action to prevent child sexual abuse? The Trusted Triangle (for younger children) and the Safety NETwork (for older youth) are strategies from Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Families Family Safety Toolkit. These resources are designed to help families and caregivers teach personal and digital safety in a comfortable and accessible way.

Grades K-2
Grades 3-5

We take our commitment to child protection seriously and we hope you do too.

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Make a Splash: 2025 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 23-27.

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

Use promo code: SWIMWI25 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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YMCA Member Spotlight: Adam Brown’s Y Story

Adam Brown has been a member of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA for more than 15 years and, if there is one thing those in the Y community know about him, it’s how much he loves to swim. 

“Swimming is my thing. I swam in high school. I swam in college. Now I swim at the Y five days a week,” he said. 

In addition to serving as a way to stay healthy, swimming has also played a role in allowing Brown to help others, like he did on a recent family vacation to Ocean City, New Jersey. 

“On our first morning there, my wife and I went down to get a cup of coffee on the boardwalk. We were sitting at a table during breakfast and all of the sudden you could hear screaming down by the beach,” Brown said. “I knew the lifeguards who normally patrol the area weren’t on duty yet, so my instincts kicked in.” 

Brown rushed to the shore and noticed that a family was stuck on the other side of a rock formation where a riptide had formed. 

“When I got out there, three of the four family members were starting to recover, but the 12 year old daughter was still well out in the ocean. I climbed down the rocks and jumped in the water,” he said. 

Brown swam roughly 500 yards to reach the girl and, with the assistance of two surfers who also joined the scene, helped keep her above water until rescue workers arrived to take her back to the beach.

“In total, the entire episode took 15 minutes. Even though I swim regularly, and have completed triathlons, I was completely gassed,” he said. “In fact, once I got out there, I realized that I had put myself in danger too. I just knew I had the ability to help.” 

Brown said the incident was a reminder of the precautions families should take every time they are planning activities around water.

“I think this can be a learning experience for any parents and kids out there. Regardless of the environment you are in, you should always think about safety first,” he said. “Strong swimmers, those who swim all the time and even train year-round, can get into trouble. There is a reason you should never swim at beaches that are unguarded. Know your limits.”

Facilities, Aquatics, and Risk Operations Director Cindy Moss reiterated the importance of learning from real life experiences.  

“We’re so proud of Adam and we hope his example can play a role in raising water safety awareness,” Moss said. “The Y is always here for our community, and we have the programs and services to support swimmers of any age or skill level.” 

Having returned home safely, Adam is happy to be back swimming in the pool at the Y.

“I’ve always been somebody who is looking out for everyone around me and I know that’s the way it is for so many others here at the Y. It’s a comfortable environment and a safe environment. This is the kind of place you want your family to be.” he said.

With the outdoor swimming season coming to a close and fall just around the corner, now is the perfect time to utilize the YMCA! As the nation’s leading swim lesson instructor, the Y  can help your family learn the skills they need to stay safe when they are in and around water. Sign up for fall swim lessons today by registering online or by contacting your local branch.

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