Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

You are here: Home / Archives for Youth Development

Morris Hospital YMCA Invites the Community to Attend ‘Coffee with the YMCA’ Events

As we prepare to open the new Morris Hospital YMCA in early 2025, the Y is excited to invite the community to participate in our ‘Coffee with the YMCA’ events this fall! These meet and greets will be wonderful opportunities to learn more about the new facility, future programming, membership opportunities, and grand opening festivities.

Tuesday, September 17*
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Wesley Center
111 W. North Street
Morris, IL 60450

*Complimentary child care services will be available onsite at this meeting.

Tuesday, October 1*
6-7 p.m.
Wesley Center
111 W. North Street
Morris, IL 60450

*Complimentary child care services will be available onsite at this meeting.

Monday, October 7
8-9 a.m.
Morris City Hall
700 N. Division Street
Morris, IL 60450

Tuesday, October 8
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Coal City Schools Administrative Center
550 S. Carbon Hill Road
Coal City, IL 60416

SHARE THIS:

2024 Morris Community YMCA Coloring Contest

Calling all Y Kids! To celebrate this very fun time of year in Grundy County, the Morris Community YMCA is holding a special Coloring Contest! Open to kids, ages 4-12, this is the perfect opportunity to let your artistic talents shine.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Download the official entry form below.

Coloring Contest Form

2. Grab your crayons, markers or colored pencils and color away!

3. Drop it off at the Membership Desk of the Morris Community YMCA or give it to your Kid Zone counselor.

4. All entries must be submitted by Noon on Sunday, September 22. Contest is open to children ages 4-12. One winner will be selected in each of the following age groups:

Ages 4-5
Ages 6-7
Ages 8-9
Ages 10-12

PLEASE NOTE: One entry per child, but multiple children per household are allowed. Submitted artwork becomes the property of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. Official Entry Form must be signed by a parent or guardian, 18 years or older.

Good luck!

SHARE THIS:

Charter Memberships On Sale Now for the New Morris Hospital YMCA

Demonstrate your support for the Y’s mission in Grundy County by becoming a Charter Member of the new Morris Hospital YMCA. Located just west of Morris Grade School on Dupont Avenue, our new 60,000-square-foot YMCA facility is scheduled to open in early 2025. 

As a Charter Member, you’ll enjoy unparalleled benefits, special perks, and a front-row seat to our grand opening:

PRIORITY ACCESS IN DECEMBER 2024
Charter Members will be among the first to experience our new state-of-the-art facility and innovative programs.

COMMEMORATIVE GIFTS
Charter Members will receive a welcome kit packed with exciting one-of-a-kind YMCA gear and grand opening gifts.

EXCLUSIVE EVENTS
Charter Members will be invited to an exclusive preview event during our Grand Opening week in December.

RECOGNITION ON DONOR SIGNAGE
The everlasting legacy of each Charter Member will also be honored on a permanent donor sign, displayed within the new building.

SPECIAL SAVINGS AVAILABLE FOR CURRENT YMCA MEMBERS
Stop by the Morris Community YMCA or contact Membership Operations Director Michele Claysen at (815) 744-3939 ext. 305 or via email at [email protected] to learn more about these savings!

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY!
To become a Charter Member, please click below:

PURCHASE A CHARTER MEMBERSHIP

SHARE THIS:

Celebrating a Successful 2024 Summer Camp Season at the YMCA

Our 2024 Summer Day Camp season, which was generously sponsored by CN, officially came to a close last week. It was another incredible experience for everyone involved!  

We’d like to thank all of our camp families for spending the summer with us here at the YMCA. We hope you have a wonderful school year and look forward to seeing you back at camp next year.

We’d also like to thank all of our wonderful community partners who opened their doors and their hearts, allowing us to provide much-needed summer child care at locations throughout Will and Grundy Counties. 

Finally, we’d like to thank our top-notch summer camp team for their endless energy, compassion, and creativity. Your hard work and tireless dedication helped to ensure that each of our campers had a summer full of fun and adventures.

As we take a look back at the summer that was, let’s take a closer look at YMCA Summer Camp By the Numbers:

8 Camp Locations

With a little help from our friends, we hosted camp at each of our YMCA facilities and at offsite locations throughout the community. Thank you, Salvation Army Joliet Corps Community Center, Joliet Junior College, Saratoga School District 60C, Plainfield School District 202, and Valley View School District 365U for helping us serve kids in our community this summer.

1,220 Campers

We are so proud to provide a memorable camp experience for each and every one of our amazing summer day campers. 

215 Counselors

Summer day camp would not be possible without the dedication, versatility, and inspiring leadership of our Summer Camp staff team.

39 Summer Day Camp Volunteers Contributing 2,100 Volunteer Service Hours 

Student volunteers from local high schools as well as volunteers from the Catholic Charities of Joliet were a pivotal resource during summer day camp as they provided assistance to Y staff, ensuring campers participated in a wide range of learning opportunities.

63 Field Trips

We were thrilled to help our campers go on exciting adventures! Whether it was a trip to the movies, a visit to the zoo, or enjoying a day at an amusement park, our campers got the chance to explore the community and make memories!

More than $80,000 raised by the YMCA’s Send a Kid to Camp Campaign 

At the Y, nobody is ever turned away due to the inability to pay. Nearly half of the children who attend YMCA summer day camp programs receive financial assistance, and this is made possible by the incredible generosity of YMCA donors. This spring, our Send A Kid to Camp Campaign supporters generously funded more than 1,700 days of camp for children in our community.

We look forward to seeing you next summer. Camp registration for the summer of 2025 will get underway in March!

SHARE THIS:

Meet C.W Avery Family YMCA Before and After Care Director Lori Barrie

This week marks the start of the 2024-2025 school year and the Y is ready to once again welcome students into our before and after school Kid Zone program! Before and After Care Director Lori Barrie is starting her first year at the helm of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Kid Zone program in Plainfield School District 202. We are so excited to have Lori on the Y team. You can learn more about her in the Q&A below!

Q: How did you get involved with the YMCA’s Kid Zone program? 

I have been with the Y’s before and after school team for more than seven years. My journey began as a counselor at Eichelberger Elementary School and I later became a site supervisor for the schools in the northern portion of the district. I have been so blessed to have the opportunity to visit and get to know students, parents, and counselors throughout the years, and I’m so happy to get started as the director of this wonderful program! 

Q: Why do you have a passion for youth development work?

Working with children is an amazing experience. My goal is to provide children with a safe, fun, and rewarding learning environment, making a positive impact on their lives each and every day.

Q: What do you think makes YMCA Kid Zone a special experience for kids? 

I think the sense of community and family that we create at our Kid Zone sites makes it special. We also offer a variety of crafts, STEM projects, games, and physical activities that we know create well rounded learners. 

Q: With the new school year officially underway, what are some of the most exciting activities you have planned for the months ahead? 

Each month, we base our curriculum around a core character development theme. Our first theme is ‘Relationship Building,’ so we are incorporating different activities for kids to start building positive relationships with their classmates and counselors. We are also excited to have guests from the Plainfield Library visiting sites for reading activities, and the games and themes we have planned for our Fun Fridays are always a favorite activity for our students!

Q: What are your favorite things to do outside of the Y? 

My favorite thing to do outside of the Y is to spend time with my family.  We enjoy exploring new places on walks and hikes. I am also a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and love attending games and watching them on TV!

If you are interested in joining our Kid Zone staff team, visit our Employment Opportunities page or apply online today. 

SHARE THIS:

Galowich Family YMCA Invites Families to Participate in Fall Homeschool Gym and Swim Programs

The Y is excited to offer health and wellness programs for homeschool families this fall! These five-week programs are open to kids, ages 4-14.

Fall 1 Classes: August 26-September 29
Fall 2 Classes: September 30-November 3
Fall 3: November 4-December 15

Homeschool Gym
Thursdays, 10-10:45 a.m.

Cost: $55 for Facility Members, $110 for Community Members

Activities will focus on developing healthy habits, making new friends, and enjoying new forms of exercise and games!

REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE!

Save $5 when you register your child for Homeschool Gym by August 26 for Fall 1, September 6 for Fall 2,  November 4 for Fall 3. Discount Code: HOMESCHOOL

REGISTER TODAY

Homeschool Swim Lessons
Thursdays, 11 a.m.-Noon

Cost: $52 for Facility Members, $104 for Community Members

Participants will receive a 30-minute swim lesson and then have 30 minutes for open swim in the pool.

REGISTER TODAY

SHARE THIS:

United Way