NEWS

Important Information Regarding Y Summer Camp Programs

Yes, the Y's summer camp programs are coming this summer! Though they may look a little different than they have in the past, the Y will still be here to offer enriching youth programs, just as we have the past 60 years. Y Summer Camps provide a safe, thriving environment for your child to learn, grow, and thrive. Through a variety of activities and projects, campers will explore personal interests and discover creativity, while making friends and lasting memories. Summer Camp will begin June 22, 2020! (Date subject to change.) 
This summer, all camps will operate in compliance with CDC guidelines and will follow strict health and safety procedures including health screenings, physical distancing, and increased sanitization practices.

Due to the current guidelines, Pioneers, Trailblazers, High Adventures, Junior Explorers, and Sparks Camps will not be offered as previously announced. An alternative summer camp experience will be offered with a reduced capacity, reduced number of locations, and without field trips. As always, our camps will continue to offer fun themes, memorable opportunities, and safe adventures. 

If your child is registered for camp from June 8 to June 19, you will receive a refund for those camp deposits. If your child is registered for a camp from June 22 and on, you will have the opportunity to request enrollment at the new camp, or to cancel your registration, if you choose to do so. (Due to the limited capacity, there will be a priority process for registrations, and we may be unable to grant all requests.) 

This is the information we are able to provide at this time. We will be able to share additional details very soon! We will send a follow up email when registration is open, and change forms are available.

In the meantime, if you are an essential worker in need of high-quality childcare and enrichment, we are proud to offer Camp CARE. 

Important Information Regarding The Y's Child Care Programs and Youth Sports:

(The following information pertains to The Y's Child Care Programs and Youth Sports around SLO County. Please see section below for information regarding The Y's Fitness Facility on Southwood Drive.)

Summer Camps

Yes, the Y’s summer camps and sports programs are coming this summer! Though they may look a little different than they have in the past, the Y will still be here to offer enriching youth programs, just as we have the past 60 years.

Y Summer Camps provide a safe, thriving environment for your child to learn, grow, and thrive. Through a variety of activities and projects, campers will explore personal interests and discover creativity, while making friends and lasting memories. All Summer Day Camps will operate in compliance with CDC guidelines and will follow strict health and safety procedures including health screenings, physical distancing, and increased sanitization practices. Plans are being formulated, and we will be able to announce further details in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, if you are an essential worker in need of high-quality childcare and enrichment, we are proud to offer Camp CARE.

Summer Sports Seasons 

The SLO County YMCA is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all of our members, children and families. In an effort to keep you and your family healthy and prevent the spread of germs, we are sharing some important information.
 
YMCA Child Care programs will be closed in accordance with the closures of our local school district campuses. 
 
In support of the school districts and state guidelines, when a school site is closed, we will not be offering any child care programs at our Y program sites. In the event a school reopens earlier, we will open as well.
 
Program registrations will be put on hold until our services resume. A credit of the unused days will be applied to each account. The credit will be applied, as a portion of the payment for the next payment due, at the time our services resume.

All spring season Youth Sports have been cancelled. You will receive a credit on your account for this program.

We will keep all families updated with information as it develops. Emails will be sent regularly, and messages will also be posted on our website and social media. In the event of a sudden change, please see our social media: https://www.facebook.com/sloymca

Closure for any length of time represents a significant threat to our non-profit organization. We know that our Y is an extension of your family and we remain honored and committed to serving you, just as we have served for the last 60 years. We are committed to doing everything possible to secure the future of our YMCA, and our services, as these uncertain times continue. If you'd like to make a donation to our YMCA to help fund our continued efforts, please visit www.sloymca.org/donate.

So what’s next for our Y? We are discussing ways we can serve the community, and are actively looking for gaps in services that we can provide in a safe manner.

Important Information Regarding The Y's Fitness Facility

At the SLO County YMCA, the well-being of our members, staff, and the broader community, has always been, and always will be, our top priority. Because of this commitment, we are adjusting our approach, as advised by public officials and in response to a growing need. The Y is so much more than a gym, and it’s more important than ever to live our YMCA mission of serving and strengthening our communities. 

In order to ensure the health of our entire Y community, we have suspended operations of our fitness facility to the public on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

We understand that this announcement may feel abrupt and unexpected. We are grateful for the outpouring of support many of you have expressed. The decision to close our fitness facilities was made to best ensure the safety of everyone in our community. We are hopeful that these significant precautions will help prevent additional spread of the virus, and that we can begin to return to our normal routines soon.

How this will affect YMCA membership:  

Closure for any length of time represents a significant threat to our non-profit organization. We know that our Y is an extension of your family and we remain honored and committed to serving you, just as we have served for the last 60 years.

We are committed to doing everything possible to secure the future of our YMCA, and our services, as these uncertain times continue. If you'd like to make a donation to our YMCA to help fund our continued efforts, please visit www.sloymca.org/donate.

As YMCA Fitness members, you have a choice to join us in this effort. 

• We are asking that you please keep your fitness membership active so we can keep our community together and vibrant during these significant challenges. In doing this, please continue to pay your membership fee during the closure so that we can use this revenue to accomplish our mission during this time of uncertainty. If you make this choice, no additional action needs to be taken on your part.
   
• You also have the choice to put your membership on hold. We will put your membership on hold at no charge, and you will not be charged monthly dues.

Active SLO County YMCA members will continue to recieve regular updates and access to On Demand resources.

So what’s next for our Y? We are discussing ways we can serve the community, and are actively looking for gaps in services that we can provide in a safe manner.

We know you still have a lot of questions. We do, too. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this evolving and challenging situation. 

We will continue to work with the health department to determine what other actions, if any, would be prudent on our part and when it will be safe to reopen our facilities at this time, we are estimating a four week closure. During this closure, we will provide updates and information directly to staff, members, and participants via email. We will also be posting information to our website and social media.

Whatever you choose, we thank you for your support and understanding. Please take care of yourself and one another. Our community is strong, and together, we will get through this.

We are thinking of you, your families, and your employers during this monumental chapter in history.