The Y Blog

  Meet Jessica Beach, the Peoria YMCA’s new Director of Aquatics, who will oversee the pool, swim lessons, lifeguards and the Safety Around Water Program. Jessica has always felt at home around water, and swam competitively for her middle school, high school, and college teams. She has worked at the YMCA in Salem, Oregon for […]

Are you passionate about working with children, specifically children ages 5-12?  If so, the Y could use your help! Our summer day camp program will serve approximately 150 youth this summer, many of whom come from at-risk environments. We are actively searching for volunteers who have a passion and skill in five particular areas (see below), […]

April is Move More Month, with April 3rd being National Walking Day. Exercise is an important component of a healthy lifestyle and walking is a great way for anyone to add exercise to a daily routine. Here are a few benefits that walking provides, in case you need that extra little nudge to get moving: […]

Across the nation, on the birthday of Dr. Seuss, children and families will be coming together to nurture a love for reading.  In celebration of Read Across America Day on March 2nd, here are some tips to help get your child interested in reading: Setup a schedule that includes daily reading. Whether it’s before bed or after getting […]

The Peoria YMCA has a renewed commitment to developing strong, effective and impactful youth and family programs. Effective January 1st, Ellen Corbin accepted a new role for our YMCA, as the Director of Youth and Family Programs. This has been an area of significant need for our Y and I am very excited to have […]

Are you an older active adult, wondering about the changes with your health insurance company and what you are eligible for with your Y membership?  We are here to help you! Here are a few frequently asked questions: Did the SilverSneaker program go away? No, the Peoria YMCA is still offering SilverSneakers classes and memberships. […]

As you change your calendar from December to January, there’s always a bit of a thrill in the promise of a new year that’s full of potential. The New Year provides a chance to start fresh and say goodbye to any of the frustrations the previous year held-a perfect opportunity to make resolutions that will […]

Fall is one of my favorite seasons for many reasons: the cooler weather, the changing colors of the leaves, football, soups, and all the amazing fruits and vegetables that are in season! If you are like me and love pumpkin everything, sweet, juicy apples, and amazing soup recipes, then this post is for you! I […]

With 26 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, there is no denying the magnitude of the problem. Learning about diabetes, the risk factors and how to take control of your health are areas where the YMCA can help. In this video learn what diabetes is, how you can find out if you are at risk, and […]

They say that the best time of year to plant a tree is in the fall. I wanted to share with you a powerful message I came across recently. Have you ever thought of our youth as a type of “tree” and what can happen when we plant and water the seeds? Belong to something […]