Youth Development — Greater Joliet Area YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA Set to Offer Spring Youth Soccer Program

April 7, 2021

YMCA youth sports programs maximize the positive effects of athletics by emphasizing healthy competition and promoting teamwork. The Y focuses on the life lessons that can be learned from sports, and our coaches strive to instill a positive self-image in each player. This spring the Galowich Family YMCA is excited to offer a new Spring Soccer Strikers program for kids ages 8-14. This program will focus on player skill development with a scrimmage/showcase scheduled for the final week of activities.

PLEASE NOTE: Masks will be required.

DATE AND TIME:
Saturdays from May 1-29
12:30-1:30 p.m.

LOCATION:
Galowich Family YMCA
749 Houbolt Drive
Joliet, IL 60431

COST:
$45 for Facility Members
$95 for Community Members

Space is limited, so register today!

If you have any questions about YMCA youth sports, please contact:
Stephen Franklin
Youth and Family Director
(815) 744-3939, ext. 315
[email protected]

YMCA Looks To Expand Programming in Locations Throughout the Joliet Community

February 26, 2021

Smith Family YMCA to Close on March 26

For nearly 95 years, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA has worked to bring about meaningful change in the community. As a result of the ongoing global health crisis, the YMCA has been challenged to reimagine the ways it delivers services to the community.

After months of thoughtful consideration, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA announced today that its Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to permanently close the Smith Family YMCA, located at 1350 S. Briggs Street in Joliet. The last day of operations at the Smith Family YMCA will be Friday, March 26.

“The challenges of the past 12 months have provided our YMCA with an opportunity to take a long, hard look at the programs we offer in the Joliet community. The Smith Family YMCA has proudly served residents of Joliet since 1978, but in recent years, its most impactful programs have operated outside of our YMCA walls and in the community,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Jim Watts.

In the coming weeks, existing Smith Family YMCA programming will be relocated to sites throughout the Joliet community. Two of the YMCA’s largest youth development programs, including its Before and After School Kid Zone and Summer Day Camp programs, will be moving to the Salvation Army Building in downtown Joliet. Additional YMCA programs will be relocated to other community locations in the months ahead.

“We are excited to partner with area churches, local school districts, and other like-minded community organizations, like the Salvation Army, to make YMCA programming more accessible for Joliet residents. By relocating our most impactful programs to neighborhood locations, we hope to remove the barriers that may have prevented residents of all ages, but especially area youths, from utilizing our facility on Briggs Street,” said Watts.

Beginning on March 27, Smith Family YMCA members will transition to the Galowich Family YMCA, located at 749 Houbolt Road in Joliet. All employees at the Smith Family YMCA will have the opportunity to continue employment with the Y by moving to a new community program site or one of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s facilities in Joliet, Morris, or Plainfield.

“Although we are very sad to be retiring the Smith Family YMCA building, we are excited to write the next chapter of the Y’s storied history in the Joliet community. At the YMCA, our mission lives within the hearts of our members, volunteers, and staff, and we know that the spirit of the Smith Family YMCA will live on in our programs for generations to come. We remain committed to providing a YMCA experience for all and serving the Joliet community,” added Watts.

Creativity Happens Here: 2021 YMCA Easter Egg Design Contest

February 19, 2021

Let your creativity shine and plan to participate in the YMCA’s Easter Egg Coloring Contest! Open to children ages, 5-12, this contest is the perfect opportunity for kids to show off their artistic talents and help spread a little Easter cheer.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Download the blank Easter Egg template below and print it out. You may also create a template of your own, just be sure to include a Y logo in your design.

Download Easter Egg Template

2. Grab some crayons, markers, colored pencils or paint and create an Easter Egg design that you think will inspire the community. From pastel colors and bunnies, to chocolate candies and spring flowers, we can’t wait to see your original designs!

3. Design can be submitted in the drop-off box at the membership desk of your local Y branch. You can also submit your design through a message to your local Y’s Facebook page or send an e-mail to [email protected] Submit your design by Thursday, March 25. Please be sure to include a name and age in the submission.

4. Designs will be posted on the Facebook pages of the three Greater Joliet Area YMCA branches from Monday, March 29 through Thursday, April 1. The designs with the most combined photo reactions from each of the following age groups will receive a $30 gift card to an area restaurant:

Ages 5-7
Ages 8-9
Ages 10-12

Three lucky winners be announced on Friday, April 2

Good luck!

Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facebook Pages:

C.W. Avery Family YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA

Morris Community YMCA

Galowich Family YMCA Debuts New Starting Blocks

February 17, 2021

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA JETS Swim Team is excited to begin using newly installed starting blocks at the Galowich Family YMCA. These starting blocks were made possible through the generous support of Debbie and Warren Thomas, parents of JETS Head Coach Ashleigh Thomas.

Debbie said the idea to provide funding for the starting blocks first came to her after she attended the YMCA Gala in 2019.

“Every year we look for ways to give charitable donations and we asked Ashleigh if there were any particular needs at the Y,” Debbie said. “She mentioned that she was coaching some really competitive swimmers at the Galowich Y and there were no starting blocks. Ashleigh has been in swimming for a long time so we are well aware of the importance of having starting blocks, and we know it’s hard to train for races without them.”

Coach Thomas said that she was moved by the donation from her family and that the starting blocks represent a strong commitment to the Y’s historic swimming program.

“These blocks will have an impact on the JETS program by transforming the Galowich Family YMCA Pool to accommodate competitive swimmers in addition to bringing in new opportunities to our swim lesson program,” she said. “This equipment befits the talent and hard work of our JETS swimmers as they pursue their higher level and national swimming goals.”

The new starting blocks were installed earlier this month and come at a time when the JETS swim team is preparing for an exciting stretch of its competitive season.

“I can finally say that we have several meets on the horizon for the JETS,” Coach Thomas said. “We are currently competing in dual meet competitions, and we have our 2021 Illinois Y State Invitational coming up at the end of April. I think it’s a great way to transition our winter season into spring and keep our swimmers excited for the summer.”

Debbie said she and Warren are excited to finally see the project come to fruition.

“It was a long process to get everything approved, especially as the world was dealing with COVID, but it’s really nice to see the pictures of the starting blocks,” she said. “I know that Ashleigh is excited and all the kids are excited. I really hope they enjoy using them.”