Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

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

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Greater Joliet Area YMCA Receives $5,000 Donation from ECOLAB

Through its commitment to youth development, the Y nurtures the potential of every child in its Before and After School Kid Zone programs by incorporating the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in a safe, resource-rich environment for children in grades K-8. 

These efforts are made possible through the generosity of organizations like ECOLAB, which recently provided a $5,000 donation in support of the YMCA’s Kid Zone program. 

The Y would like to thank ECOLAB for this donation and the role it will play in providing important services to students and families this school year. 

To learn more about YMCA Kid Zone, please click here. To pledge your support for the Mission Strong Fund, make an online donation today or contact Mission Advancement Director Donnie Chestnutt at [email protected].

Pictured in top photo: (L-R) ECOLAB Senior Human Resources Business Partner Shreya Patel, ECOLAB Engagement and Inclucion Leader Nayeli Hernandez, Galowich Family YMCA Executive Director Trisha Dush, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Mission Advancement Director Donnie Chestnutt, Joliet Youth Development Team Operations Director Brooke Hall, ECOLAB Human Resources Manager Benjamin Park, ECOLAB Associate Human Resources Business Partner Arnetta Bosby. 

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Morris Hospital YMCA Invites Members to Participate in Opening Sampler Programs

We are so excited to welcome the community to the Morris Hospital YMCA! If you are looking to explore all of the amazing things kids, families, and adults can do at the Y, we invite you to participate in our upcoming sampler programs!

PLEASE NOTE: These events and activities will be FREE and are open to Morris Hospital YMCA Facility Members only.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

REGISTER ONLINE

STORY ART
Dates: Tuesday, December 17 and Tuesday, January 7
Time: 5:15-6 p.m.
Kids will enjoy storytime then make a craft based on a theme from the story!
Ages: 3-5

HAVE THE SLIME OF YOUR LIFE
Dates: Thursday, December 19 and Thursday, January 9
Time: 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Kids will have a gooey good time making slime that stretches and bubbles!
Ages: 6-8

COOKIE DECORATING 
Date: Wednesday, December 18
Time (Ages 6-8): 5-5:45 p.m.
Time (Ages 9-13): 6-7:30 p.m.

Date: Monday, December 30
Time (Ages 6-8): 2-2:45 p.m.
Time (Ages 9-13): 3-4:30 p.m.
Kids will get a chance to create a sweet treat!

KIDS’ NIGHT OUT HOLIDAY KICK OFF
Date: Friday, December 20
Time: 5:30-8 p.m.
Kids will enjoy a holiday movie and a variety of festive games, crafts, and snacks!
Ages: 4-12

INTRO TO SWIM LESSONS
Dates: Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21
Stages A & B (Ages 6 months – 3 years): 10-10:30 a.m.
Stages 1P & 2P (Ages 3-5): 10:40-11:10 a.m.
Stages 3P & 4P (Ages 3-5): 11:20-11:50 a.m.
Stages 5Y & 6Y (Ages 6-12): Noon-12:30 p.m.

Friday, December 27 and Saturday, December 28
Stages A & B (Ages 6 months – 3 years): 10-10:30 a.m.
Stages 1Y & 2Y (Ages 3-5): 10:40-11:10 a.m.
Stages 3Y & 4Y (Ages 3-5): 11:20-11:50 a.m.
Stages 5Y & 6Y (Ages 6-12): Noon-12:30 p.m.

Participants will complete baseline testing to establish the best starting level for their first lesson!

JETS SWIM TEAM CLINICS
Date: Friday, December 20
Time (Ages 6-10): 5-6 p.m.
Time (Ages 11-17): 6-7 p.m.
Swimmers will get a chance to learn basic strokes, meet the coaching staff, and learn more about the team!

ADULT PROGRAMS PROGRAMS

REGISTER ONLINE

Open to ages 16 and above except where noted

ROWED RAGE
Date: Monday, December 16
Time: 6:30-7:15 p.m.
This class uses various equipment in timed intervals to create a total body workout!

FULL BODY BLAST
Date: Tuesday, December 17
Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m.
This workout incorporates a variety of exercises to target all major muscle groups and enhance strength, endurance, and mental toughness.

CARDIO CRUSH
Date: Wednesday, December 18
Time: 9-9:45 a.m.
Get your heart pumping in this cardio-based class with added strength and core training for even more fun!

WALL PILATES
Date: Friday, December 20
Time: 7-7:45 a.m.
This low-impact, full-body exercise is a variation of traditional Pilates that uses a wall and a mat to build strength, flexibility, balance, and stability. 

FAB 50 SOCIAL HOUR
Date: Thursday, January 2
Time: 11 a.m.-Noon
Join us for some fun and fellowship with coffee and snacks! Open to ages 50 and up.

INTRO TO LAP SWIMMING
Date: Thursday, January 2
Time: 5-6 p.m.
Date: Friday, January 3
Time: 10-11 a.m.
This class will help you learn fundamental techniques for exercise or competition. 

90-MINUTE YOGA: LEARNING TO EMBRACE CHANGE
Date: Wednesday, January 8
Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
This class will give you a chance to relax and reflect on life’s various changes while improving your balance and flexibility. 

AQUA HIP-HOP FAMILY FITNESS
Date: Friday, January 10
Time: 6-6:45 p.m.
This low-impact class will bring dance exercises to the water, giving you and your family an awesome pool party workout! PLEASE NOTE: Open to ages 6 and up. Kids ages 6-12 may be swim tested prior to participating and must have a parent in the water at all times. 

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Join the Morris Hospital YMCA During Our Grand Opening Membership Sale

The new Morris Hospital YMCA will officially open its doors to serve the community on Monday, December 16! This much-anticipated grand opening date will mark the culmination of a 19-month construction phase for Grundy County’s first full-facility YMCA.

JOIN TODAY AND SAVE
Join the Morris Hospital YMCA during our Grand Opening Sale and pay a $0 Joiner’s Fee – a savings of up to $120!

JOIN THE MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA

Sale Continues Through December 25 

FACILITY LOCATION AND HOURS
2200 W. Dupont Avenue
Morris, IL 60450

Monday-Friday: 5 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

FACILITY AMENITIES

  • An Eight-Lane Lap Pool
  • An Aquatics Viewing Area
  • A State-of-the-Art Wellness Center
  • Group Exercise Studios
  • A Cycling Room
  • A Functional Training Area
  • A Healthy Eating Kitchen
  • Multi-Purpose Rooms
  • Gathering and Meeting Spaces
  • Engaging Youth Play Spaces
  • A Gymnasium
  • Basketball Courts
  • Pickleball Courts
  • Indoor and Outdoor Walking Tracks
  • Outdoor Fields
  • An Outdoor Playground

2025 Monthly Membership Rates

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.

A full list of member benefits can be viewed here.

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Erin Lightbody Named Executive Director of C.W. Avery Family YMCA

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA is proud to announce that Erin Lightbody has been named Executive Director of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA. Lightbody, who has worked for the Y since 2003, started her new role this month and we are excited to have her leading operations at our Plainfield location.

A seasoned YMCA professional with more than 20 years of experience, Lightbody began her YMCA career as a counselor/site-coordinator in the Y’s Before and After School Kid Zone program and was named the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s Youth and Family Director in 2004. After leading youth development programming for 14 years in Plainfield, she became the YMCA’s Youth Operations Director in 2018, and has been instrumental in shaping youth programs across the association. Through her leadership, the YMCA has created and implemented policies and procedures that ensure the nearly 1,300 children who participate in Y programs each day have a safe, engaging, and enriching experience. 

During her tenure at the Y, Lightbody not only helped the Y navigate the challenges of providing childcare services during the COVID pandemic, she also became a certified Praesidium Guardian, an award given to leaders who help ensure that an organization is following the highest industry standards for child abuse prevention. As a part of her certification, Lightbody completed an impact project designed to improve applicant screening for childcare positions in the Y’s summer day camp and before and after school programs.

“Taking the Praesidium Guardian class helped me take a look at the entire interview and training process for employees in our childcare programs and identify ways we can continue to improve hiring and onboarding candidates. Everything from start to finish has been made more robust. I look forward to continuing to support families in my new role, as well as all those that walk through the doors of the Y,” Lightbody said.

Lightbody also played a key role in supporting the expansion of YMCA child care programs into the Valley View School District, and she plans to continue to drive the YMCA’s mission forward by fostering a culture of excellence, community, and inclusion at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

“Erin brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to our organization,” Director of Branch & Program Operations Lisa Behounek said. “Throughout a remarkable YMCA career spanning more than two decades, Erin has consistently demonstrated her passion, leadership, and dedication to our mission. Her vision, attention to detail, and ability to connect with staff, children, and families alike make her the perfect fit for this role. We are excited to see her lead the C.W. Avery Family YMCA into the future.”

Lightbody has a degree in Business Administration/Sports Management from Aquinas College. She resides in Plainfield with her family.

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OPENING DAY FOR THE NEW MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

Early Bird Memberships Available Through December 1

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA announced today that the new Morris Hospital YMCA, which will be located at 2200 W. Dupont Avenue, will officially open its doors to serve the community on Monday, December 16. This much-anticipated grand opening date will mark the culmination of a 19-month construction phase for Grundy County’s first full-facility YMCA.

Built in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers, the new 60,000-square-foot YMCA facility will feature an eight-lane lap pool, a state-of-the-art health and wellness center, a gymnasium and indoor walking track, group exercise studios, a cycling room, a healthy eating kitchen, engaging youth play spaces, and meeting rooms. Surrounded by property that is planned for residential development, the new YMCA will be located adjacent to Morris Grade School and West Side Park, and will feature an outdoor walking track.

A mainstay in the Grundy County community for the last decade, the YMCA has been working collaboratively with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers to enhance the health and wellness of Grundy County residents since opening its temporary facility in 2015 in downtown Morris. In its new home on Dupont Avenue, the YMCA will offer expanded year-round programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility for residents of all ages.

“We are very excited to welcome the community to the new Morris Hospital YMCA,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and Chief Executive Officer Katy Leclair. “We look forward to working with our partners at Morris Hospital to create a welcoming community center where residents of all ages can participate in high-quality and impactful programs. December 16 will be a monumental day as we officially open our doors on Dupont Avenue and see the dreams of our generous donors and community partners, loyal YMCA members, and hardworking volunteers and employees realized,” added Leclair.

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 December 1. Early Bird Members will enjoy priority access when the new facility opens in December.

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 nearly $1 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 on Saturday, January 11, 2025.

JOIN THE MORRIS HOSPITAL YMCA

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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

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