Programs & Services

Our Values: Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility

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Active Older Adults

Today's seniors are more health conscious than ever before. At the YMCA we've made the health and fitness of our seniors a top priority by providing programs for the spirit, mind and body. Through group exercise classes and aquatic programs that concentrate on mobility and flexibility, dance programs, educational programs, social events, day and overnight trips and volunteer activities, the YMCA is bringing Active Older Adults together for camaraderie, fellowship and fun!

Adventure Experience

Looking to promote self-growth, problem solving and creative thinking skills? At the YMCA Willson Outdoor Center and Hoover Y-Park your goals become our agenda. Designed for individuals and teams, our Challenge Course generates new ideas and fresh perspectives in problem solving. Innovative activities include small and large group games, low and high ropes courses, climbing towers and hands on projects to enhance learning and team building.

Aquatics & Swim Lessons

Aquatics

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From parent-child infant toddler classes to aqua aerobics to arthritis aquatic programs, every age is the right age to swim at the YMCA. The YMCA is your number one resource in central Ohio, providing youth and adults the opportunity for swim lessons, water exercise programs for all skill levels, SCUBA lessons and certification, swim team, lifeguard training, CPR and more! Offering programs at 11 convenient locations, the YMCA is here to meet your recreational and instructional needs in aquatics.

Swim Lessons

Arts

Now more than ever YMCA's appreciate the power of art, especially on childhood development, and seeks to engage members by offering art classes for youth, teens and adults in a multitude of mediums. From clay classes to acrylic and oil painting, taught by Grove City artist Dave Maple, art at the YMCA will build a healthy spirit, mind and body.

Camp

Day Camp

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Summer just wouldn't be the same without the excitement and adventure of a YMCA Day Camp. For over 30 years, central Ohio children have come together for a summer full of nature, water fun, games, cookouts, arts & crafts and new friendships! A wide variety of programs are offered for children grades 1 through 12, with special programs designed just for teens. Traditional, Sports and Specialty Camps are available. Camp runs June through August of each year. Most camps are accredited by the American Camping Association. Membership Assistance is available.

Overnight Camp

Enjoy the best that summer has to offer with swimming, boating, archery, campfires, food, singing, sports, nature, camp-outs and much more at Camp Willson--the YMCA's premier resident camp. Serving children since 1918, Camp Willson is located just one hour northwest of Columbus in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Perfect for children ages 7 through 17 offering Traditional, Horseback, Specialty and Teen Camps. Family Camps, Men's/Women's Weekends, Horselovers and Teen Weekends are also available throughout the year. The Willson Outdoor Center is proud to be accredited by both the American Camping Association and the Certified Horsemanship Association.

Child Care

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Did you know that the YMCA is the largest child care provider in Central Ohio, statewide and nationally?

The YMCA is well known for its fitness facilities, youth and adult sports, summer camp, and many other programs, however, thanks to the YMCA's mission and focus, most of our child care programs have access to swimming pools, sporting equipment, trainings, and many other resources that make all of our programs unique.

In a YMCA child care program, children will learn, they'll have fun, and have fun learning!

Corporate Challenge

The YMCA Corporate Challenge program is the largest of its kind in the state of Ohio, with competitions ranging from darts and billiards to softball and golf, all for both men and women.

Dance

From Ballet to Tap to Swing, YMCA dance programs are just what you need to stay active and have fun! Beginners as young as four are introduced to the unique art of dance to improve motor skills and rhythm. Intermediate and advanced training is available for Tap, Ballet and Jazz. Couples and singles, grab your dancing shoes for a YMCA Swing Dance program, guaranteed to get you on your feet!

Outdoor Education

The YMCA is the perfect teacher's aid with Environmental and Outdoor Education programs designed to supplement your curriculum, improve proficiency in test scores and provide an exciting environmental experience outside the classroom. With the guidance of experienced naturalists, students learn to appreciate and understand nature through our "hands-on" environmental workshops.

ECRN+

Early Childhood Resource Network. Part of the YMCA for over twenty years, the Early Childhood Resource Network is a program that screens, refers, and provides service coordination to children, ages 6 weeks through 5 years, who have or are at risk of having developmental delays, disabilities and special health care needs. ECRN also provides on site child observations at childcare and preschool sites. Service coordination is available for eligible children and their families.

Equestrian

The YMCA Willson Outdoor Center, located just one hour northwest of Columbus in Bellefontaine, Ohio is home to 45 beautiful horses, ready to saddle up for your next adventure. With a full slate of equestrian programs and horseback riding opportunities, the YMCA Willson Outdoor Center is perfect for the resident camper, both novice and experienced. Or, if you have a group of ten or more, Willson is available for birthday parties, 1 hour trail rides, lessons and overnight horseback riding excursions.

Future of America

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Many young people exhibit the potential to be successful in school and in their communities, but they lack adequate support and positive opportunities to develop the confidence, the skills and the positive values that will guide their choices.

The YMCA Future of America Leadership Development Program will reach out to these middle school youth who have limited opportunities, and will teach value-centered leadership skills.

Health and Fitness

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As part of the central Ohio community for nearly 150 years, the YMCA is central Ohio's pioneer and by far the largest provider of comprehensive health and fitness programs in this area. Whether you're a beginner or a fitness guru, our trained and specialized fitness staff is here to make your health and fitness goals our top priority. We believe exercise and health education are important for people of all ages, incomes and abilities.

Hiking Club

The Central Ohio Hiking Club is one of the longest standing programs with the YMCA of Central Ohio. The program is affiliated with the YMCA Central Branch. It falls under the auspices of the program committee and is directed by the YMCA Central Branch Consulting Board of Directors.

PALS

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The YMCA of Central Ohio's Positive Alternative Learning for Students program serves as a structured and supervised environment for 6th to 12th grade students who have been suspended from school.

Preschool

The YMCA of Central Ohio offers State Licensed Preschool programs in 5 YMCA branches. Our preschool programs follow an educational enriching curriculum that focuses on School Readiness, Character Development, Health and Fitness, Diversity and Values Education. YMCA Preschool is a great way for your child to interact with other children and to gain the social skills that they will need as they grow and mature into school-agers.

Residential Services

Supportive Housing

With the YMCA of Central Ohio's supportive housing program for adult men and women, our main objective is to offer the assistance and support needed to stabilize and maintain independent housing, while providing access to those supportive services needed in order to achieve the highest possible standard of living.

SCUBA

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The history of national dive training in the United States began with the development of the YMCA SCUBA Program.

As divers and instructors, we have dedicated ourselves to the quest for ever-better ways to teach others to enjoy the underwater world. Throughout the history of sport diving, the YMCA has maintained unsurpassed standards.

Sports

Youth Sports

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A mainstay of YMCA offerings for young people, Y youth sports programs fill kids' discretionary hours with positive activities and caring adult attention. Coaches-often volunteers, including many parents-emphasize teamwork and cooperation over winning at any cost, developing good values over developing the next superstar.

Adult Sports

From instruction in Tae Kwon Do and golf to adult open basketball pick up games racquetball and Corporate Challenge participating in Y Adult Sports programs offers opportunities for friendship and community a sense of well-being self-confidence and improved mental abilities and cognition - not to mention the obvious benefits of healthy hearts lungs bones and muscles.

Teens

At the YMCA we recognize the need for positive, structured, social and supervised programs for teens. Teens from all over central Ohio have found friends, fun and fellowship at the YMCA through programs and activities geared specifically for them. Teen Nights, High School Hoops, Teen Leaders Club, Leaders-in-Training and Minority Achievers are just a few of the programs that give teens the opportunity to experience the Y at its finest.

Youth

At the YMCA of Central Ohio our youth programs promote the positive, healthy development of young people through activities and experiences that address the developmental assets that all children and youth need to obtain social, emotional, physical and cognitive competencies. Whether in youth sports, G.I.R.L.S. Club, WEATY's or one of the many other Y-Youth programs, the YMCA is here to provide an environment where your youth can feel safe, have fun and build trusting relationships.

YMCA/OSU

YMCA of Central Ohio and The Ohio State University have formed a partnership with one goal in mind–to improve the health of YMCA members and the community.

By complementing each other's area of expertise, the YMCA and OSU Medical Center can now provide YMCA members with access to wellness and fitness programming and health care services.

Y-Tribes /Trails

The YMCA Y-Tribes program is designed to give boys and girls from kindergarten through sixth grade a one-on-one opportunity to build communication, companionship, understanding and mutual respect with a parent, grandparent or guardian.

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