When You have fun options, prioritizing your health and wellness feels anything but “routine.” Putting self-care first helps enhance your sense of joy and contributes to a better quality of life. The YMCA of Reading & Berks County offers something for every age. Here’s a top 10 list of activities to keep your mind, body and spirit strong.
1. Health & Wellness.
Exercise in one of five fitness centers outfitted with new, free weights and cardio equipment that streams your devices so you can track your progress or catch up on your shows. Have little ones? Check the times for supervised childcare in the Kids Court while you work out or get a massage at New Beginnings in the Sinking Spring Y. With fitness and nutrition orientations and cooking classes, the Y helps you improve your lifestyle choices.
2. Fitness Classes.
Find your fun in fitness classes, including Zumba® , yoga, spin, aquacise, LesMills™ BodyPump and many more that cater to different fitness levels and interests.
3. Sports.
Get a day pass or membership to have a ball playing racquet sports year-round. To keep beginners and practiced players moving, the Y has indoor pickleball courts. You also can shoot hoops in, or maybe even rent, the gym.
4. Swimming.
Head to the indoor swimming pool at the Reading YMCA branch where you can enjoy lap swimming, recreational swimming and swim lessons for all ages.
5. Certifications and Classes.
Take CPR, AED and lifeguarding classes in life-saving procedures offered by the American Red Cross.
6. Summer Camps.
Enroll your children in summer day camp and playground programs! Every week features amazing field trips within and beyond Berks, fun weekly themes, pool/water days, sports, arts and crafts and educational programming for fun camp challenges. Campers will learn new skills, preventing summer learning loss. They’ll make new friends and life-long memories!
7. Celebrate a Birthday.
At the Sinking Spring Y, make the day special with exclusive access to the Kids Court (Play Port, bounce house and climbing wall) and dedicated party staff. There are also options for Nerf parties and Gaga Pits
8. Kids Night Out.
Parents can take the night off and drop their kids (grades K-6) off for an evening of fun and games, crafts, snacks and movies. This monthly event rotates among the Y’s five branches.
9. Enrichment Programs.
In addition to early learning centers, the Y offers Before & After School Care and School’s Out programs for school-aged children. Homework help, games and nutritious snacks are a few of the things you can expect.
10. Participating in community events
Participating in community events offers a special sense of connection, camaraderie and purpose. Save these dates:
• Take the plunge on March 15 at Blue Marsh for the Y’s Annual Marsh Madness Polar Plunge event to benefit youth.
• Come to Healthy Kids Day, a free family fun day hosted by the YMCA and Berks County Parks & Recreation on April 26 featuring a color run for kids, food trucks, smoothie making bikes, crafts, fitness activities and local vendors. • Pick your partner and register online (beginning March 30) for the Annual Cornhole Tournament on June 13. This family-friendly event will have brackets for adults (12+) and families (ages 6-12 can team up with an adult), food trucks and prizes.
For 166 years, the YMCA of Reading and Berks County has worked to strengthen our community by building healthier families, empowering youth, fostering inclusivity and providing a foundation for connection and belonging. The Y has five fitness/wellness centers, two early learning centers, and is one of the few in the nation to offer residential housing programs. In addition to its physical branches in Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley (Fleetwood, Oley and Schuylkill Valley), the Y provides enrichment programs and community activities with several organizations and schools throughout the county. ymcarbc.org
