Children & Youth
Child Watch
- Child Watch is available for children ages 6 weeks to 9 years.
- Daily max of 2 hours (90 minutes for infants).
- Reservation requirements and schedule varies by location.
Child/Youth Age Requirements
Adults are individuals who are 18 years of age or older.
| Ages 9 & younger | Ages 10–11 | Ages 12–15 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Facility | Children ages 9 and younger must be actively supervised at all times by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.* | Children ages 10–11 are permitted at the YMCA as long as a parent, guardian or responsible adult remains on the premises. | Youth ages 12–15 are permitted to be at the YMCA for up to three hours without adult supervision. |
| Wellness Center | Children ages 8 and younger* are not permitted. Children age 9* may use cardio equipment with active adult supervision only if they have completed Youth Conditioning class. | Children ages 10–11 may use cardio equipment with active adult supervision only if they have completed Youth Conditioning class. | Youth ages 12–15 may use both cardio and strength equipment with active adult supervision. They may use equipment without adult supervision only if they have completed the Iron Teens class.^ |
| Aquatic Areas | Children ages 5 and younger must be accompanied by an adult in the water and remain within arm’s reach. Children ages 6–9 must have an adult actively supervising them in the pool area. | Children ages 10–11 are permitted in the pool area as long as a parent or guardian remains on the premises. | Youth ages 12–15 are permitted to be in the pool area for up to three hours without adult supervision. |
*Unless participating in a staff-supervised program. When children participate in a program, a parent, guardian or a responsible adult must remain on the premises unless otherwise noted.
^North YMCA excludes the use of free weights for Youth/Teens.
| Ages 9 & younger | |
|---|---|
| General Facility | Children ages 9 and younger must be actively supervised at all times by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.* |
| Wellness Center | Children ages 8 and younger* are not permitted. Children age 9* may use cardio equipment with active adult supervision only if they have completed Youth Conditioning class. |
| Aquatic Areas | Children ages 5 and younger must be accompanied by an adult in the water and remain within arm’s reach. Children ages 6–9 must have an adult actively supervising them in the pool area. |
| Ages 10–11 | |
|---|---|
| General Facility | Children ages 10–11 are permitted at the YMCA as long as a parent, guardian or responsible adult remains on the premises. |
| Wellness Center | Children ages 10–11 may use cardio equipment with active adult supervision only if they have completed Youth Conditioning class. |
| Aquatic Areas | Children ages 10–11 are permitted in the pool area as long as a parent/guardian remains on the premises. |
| Ages 12–15 | |
|---|---|
| General Facility | Youth ages 12–15 are permitted to be at the YMCA for up to three hours without adult supervision. |
| Wellness Center | Youth ages 12–15 may use both cardio and strength equipment with active adult supervision. They may use equipment without adult supervision only if they have completed the Iron Teens class.^ |
| Aquatic Areas | Youth ages 12–15 are permitted to be in the pool area for up to three hours without adult supervision. |
*Unless participating in a staff-supervised program. When children participate in a program, a parent, guardian or a responsible adult must remain on the premises unless otherwise noted.
^North YMCA excludes the use of free weights for Youth/Teens.
Membership Access & Management
YMCA Check-in
All Members, Guests, Volunteers, and Program Participants are expected to check in at the Welcome Desk upon arrival.
Account Management
Requesting Membership Category Changes
- Members must request membership type changes in person at the YMCA.
- Pro-rated fees may apply depending on the membership category.
Placing Your Membership On Hold
- Monthly memberships may request a hold once per calendar year for up to 90 days through ymcacolumbus.org/hold.
- Memberships will automatically revert to their original draft date and rate for the month following the end of the hold period.
Cancelling Your Membership
- Monthly memberships with no outstanding balance can be cancelled anytime via ymcacolumbus.org/account and will be automatic.
- If a member has not paid for the month of the request, the YMCA will still draft one more payment and have access through the end of that month.
- Membership cancellation may result in ineligibility for certain YMCA programs (i.e., Swim or Gymnastics Team).
Code of Conduct & Appearance Standards
Code of Conduct
- YMCA members should represent our Core Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.
- All persons using the facility or grounds are expected to follow all YMCA policies and procedures and to conduct themselves appropriately. Physical or verbal abuse, sexual innuendo or display or offensive behavior of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
- YMCA staff have the right to determine if any conduct or language is inconsistent with the YMCA’s mission.
- It is illegal to carry a firearm, deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance anywhere on YMCA property.
- The YMCA is a smoke, vape, drug, marijuana and alcohol-free facility. This also includes its grounds. The possession or sale of any drugs or drug paraphernalia will lead to prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
- Persons responsible for any loss of or damage to YMCA property or that of members, volunteers or staff will be held personally and financially liable.
- Members, program participants and guests agree to area-specific policies and rules posted at the Welcome Center and in each area. Please ask our staff if you have any area-specific policy questions.
- Programs and schedules are subject to change.
Dress Code & Modesty Policy
- Please wear proper gym, swim and workout attire. The YMCA reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of all attire.
- Street shoes are not permitted on the gym floor, pool deck, court surfaces or fitness equipment.
- To ensure everyone’s privacy and comfort, we ask that individuals using YMCA programs and facilities utilize private areas—such as restrooms, individual stalls, or designated changing spaces—when changing clothes or transitioning to and from showers, whenever possible. We encourage all individuals to exercise discretion and to remain mindful and respectful of others at all times.
Health & Safety
Protecting Our Community
- The YMCA reserves the right to deny or terminate membership or program participation to any individual who is a registered sex offender or who has a history of violent or unsafe behavior.
- Submit reports or concerns through the Contact page where the observation took place.
- Report any concerns or grievances anonymously through EthicsPoint®.
- Staff should never be left alone with a single child, out of sight or unobserved by YMCA staff or others. If you witness this, please report it using one of the above methods.
Safe Pools
- Only enter and exit the pool area through locker rooms.
- Non-swimmers of any age are not permitted in the deep end of the pool.
- Youth who need assistance or a flotation device must have an adult in the water with them and cannot be in the pool’s deep end.
- To ensure our members’ safety, all youth ages 15 and under are required to take a swim test if they wish to swim in the deep end of our swimming pools. Check with your YMCA to learn more.
- YMCA lifeguards reserve the right to test swimming competency of any participant at any time if their ability to safely utilize the deep end of the pool is in question.
- Any class without a minimum of 4 participants may be subject to cancellation. Pool schedule is subject to change.
- Please see additional rules in the pool and hot tub area before use.
- To ensure member and guest safety, the YMCA of Central Ohio closes outdoor pools due to thunder and/or lightning; pools will reopen 30 minutes after the last trace of thunder and/or lightning.
Fitness & Personal Training
Wellness Center
- Center supervisors reserve the right to determine equipment competency and limitations at any time to ensure the safety of participants and members.
- Sign-ups and a 30-minute limit may be required for cardio equipment.
- Please return weights and dumbbells to the storage racks when done.
Private Instruction
- As a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity, private use of our facility and equipment by members to provide instruction to others not supervised by the facility or staff is prohibited.
- This includes, but is not limited to: personal training, swimming instruction, sports instruction, and other programs.
- Unsupervised instruction by persons not legally associated with the YMCA for that purpose puts other members and the YMCA of Central Ohio at risk.
- Failure to comply will terminate membership privileges at the YMCA and affiliated facilities. The YMCA's executive staff will determine whether a violation of this policy has occurred.
Shared Spaces Etiquette
Locker Room
- Clothing and other personal belongings not in use shall be stored in the lockers the YMCA provides.
- Do not leave locks on daily-use lockers.
- Please store your personal belongings in a locked locker (bring your own lock). The YMCA is not responsible for items stolen from the facility or the grounds.
- Children over age 5 must use gender-appropriate locker rooms. The YMCA offers family changing rooms for those with disabilities and for children who are old enough to use the gender-appropriate locker rooms but still need assistance.
Mobile Manners
Cell phone, camera or video camera use is strictly forbidden in the locker rooms and restrooms.
Privacy & Media Policy
Photo Notice
The YMCA may take pictures and videos of various activities for promotional use. Please let us know if you do not wish to be included in these medias.
Are you participating in a larger YMCA production and/or an event? Please complete our digital Photo, Video & Audio Release Form.
Communication Privacy
Your privacy is important to us, therefore we will not sell, rent or give your name and address to anyone for any reason outside of the YMCA.
The YMCA of Central Ohio typically communicates the following information via email, phone call and/or text:
- Exclusive offers, new programs or classes and special events
- Member satisfaction surveys
- Account issues
- E-newsletters
Facility Access & Guest Policies
Nationwide Reciprocity
- Nationwide Membership reciprocity enables you to visit participating YMCAs outside of the YMCA of Central Ohio.
- Must show valid ID and use home location at least 50% of the time.
- Check with the YMCA you are visiting for more information.
Guests
Many YMCA members are welcome to bring guests. Each location may maintain different policies at the discretion of their Executive Director. Please contact your YMCA’s Welcome Desk to inquire about guest policies. In general:
- Each membership includes 5 free guest passes per year.
- Guest schedules and restrictions, including by age, may apply.
- Guests must be accompanied by the member.
- Guest passes are valid for one day only.
- Only members age 18 and older may bring a guest to the YMCA.
- Guests over age 16 are required to present a current photo ID.
- Guests under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult member.
Program Scheduling & Disruptions
Classes & Programs
- Reserve group fitness classes on the YMCA360 mobile app: ymcacolumbus.org/ymca360.
- Any program without a minimum number of participants may be subject to cancellation. Programs cancelled by the YMCA will be made up or credits will be issued.
- Credits must be submitted to and approved by a Program Director.
- Refunds will only be given with a doctor’s written notice and approval of a Program Director.
- Any other class missed by a participant cannot be made up. Schedules are subject to change.
Weather Policy
The YMCA of Central Ohio will close only during extreme weather conditions (Level 3); decisions to delay or close are based on short- and long-term meteorological reports.
Recognizing that some members and employees live a significant distance from locations, use your best judgment to decide whether it is safe to drive.
Snow Emergency
(As determined by the county where the YMCA is located)
- If a Level 1 Snow Emergency is declared, YMCAs within the affected area will maintain operation as usual. No closings or delays will be initiated.
- If a Level 2 Snow Emergency is declared, branches in the affected area MAY delay opening or close early; classes/programs at affected branches MAY be canceled. The executive director will decide to alter programs/hours in conjunction with his/her immediate supervisor. If the building is open, the executive director should evaluate staffing needs and allow staff who are not essential to keeping the building open to leave.
- If a Level 3 Snow Emergency is declared, YMCAs within the affected area will close, and all classes/programs will be canceled.
The website, mobile app notifications, social media and local news stations will announce delays and closures.