YMCA of Central Florida to host free community events in April and May
Healthy Kids Day and Water Safety Day are two of the YMCA’s free, family-friendly activities fulfilling the nonprofit organization’s mission to strengthen and support communities
WE ARE BACK NOW WITH A LIVE LOOK HERE TOWARD NEW SMYRNA BEACH. WHAT A VIEW. RIGHT. OUR COAST MAY BE A HOT SPOT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE LOOKING TO COOL DOWN THIS WEEKEND. OUR FIRST WARNING WEATHER TEAM IS TRACKING NEAR RECORD HEAT. LOOK OUT. THAT’S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A HOT SPOT. WELL, THE YMCA IS CELEBRATING 175 YEARS OF FUN IN THE SUN, HANDS ON ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES. JOINING ME NOW TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THIS LOCAL EVENTS, ALL OF THEM COMING UP IS THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF AQUATICS AT THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, JOHN LEWIS. JOHN, WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING US. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, I REALLY WOULD. THIS IS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, YOUR THE SUMMER SEASON, LEADING THE AQUATICS CHARGE HERE. TELL US ABOUT JUST THE WHY AND SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU GUYS RUN AND WHY IT’S BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITIES HERE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT KNOW THE YMCA HAS A GYM AND SWIM, BUT WE’RE REALLY SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT AS OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS HAVE EVOLVED, SO HAS THE Y. BUT ULTIMATELY OUR MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES. AND WE DO THAT IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS. SO WHETHER IT’S THROUGH YOUTH PROGRAMS, SWIMMING LESSONS, SPORTS, EARLY LEARNING, THE Y REALLY HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. WELL, I FEEL LIKE WE SAY 175 YEARS, BUT IT’S A STAPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? IT’S A PLACE WHERE KIDS CAN LEARN HOW TO SWIM. THEY CAN GO HANG OUT FOR THE SUMMER. SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT. I KNOW YOU HAVE A BIG EVENT COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, HEALTHY KIDS DAY. WHAT IS THAT? JOHN. YEAH, SO HEALTHY KIDS DAY IS ACTUALLY A NATIONAL YMCA INITIATIVE. ALL OF OUR YMCA IS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN HEALTHY KIDS DAY. SO IT IS FROM 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M. AT ALL YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA LOCATIONS. AND IT IS REALLY OUR KICKOFF TO SUMMER. SO IT’S ALL ABOUT ENGAGING WITH YOUTH, ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES, AND OPENING OUR DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN SHOWCASE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. I LOVE THAT, OKAY, SO THAT’S A NICE INTRODUCTION, RIGHT? SO THEY CAN MAYBE SEE WHAT THE Y IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITY VENDORS. WE’LL HAVE COMMUNITY HEALTH SCREENINGS. OUR POOLS WILL BE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL DISCOUNTS AND OFFERS THAT WE’RE RUNNING THIS WEEKEND AS WELL. SO IF FAMILIES ARE INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN HEALTHY ACTIVITIES DURING THE SUMMER, WE HAVE MEMBERSHIP PROMOTIONS. WE’RE WAIVING OUR REGISTRATION FEE ON ALL OF OUR SUMMER CAMPS, AND WE’RE OFFERING DISCOUNTS ON SPORTS AND SWIM SWAG BAGS FOR ANYBODY WHO SIGNS UP FOR SWIM LESSONS. OH THAT’S GREAT. OKAY. VERY COOL. OKAY, SO JOHN, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT. SO MAY MAY IS WATER SAFETY MONTH, WHICH IS HUGE AS WE HEAD INTO MAY NEXT MONTH. TAKE US THROUGH THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE’S SO MANY OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES THIS SUMMER TIME LEADING INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO MAY IS NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH. AND SO ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YMCA ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING AND PROVIDING ACTIVITIES FOR WATER SAFETY, WATER SAFETY, EDUCATION AND OUR YMCA IN LAKE MARY IS ACTUALLY DOING A WATER SAFETY DAY ON MAY 2ND. SO THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE REOPENING OF THEIR POOL. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITY VENDORS OUT THERE. SO WE KNOW WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THE SEMINOLE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF’S OFFICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS UCF CARD AND OTHER VENDORS TO HELP PROMOTE WATER SAFETY AND ALL OF THE GREAT AQUATICS PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON AT THE Y. YOU GUYS REALLY DO HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS COMING UP. JOHN, WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF THINGS, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR FOR KIDS JUST GETTING INTRODUCED TO THE WATER? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO AS WE HEAD INTO SUMMER, I’M SURE THERE’S A LOT OF PARENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR KIDS ALSO FOR THEMSELVES. AND SO THE YMCA IS REALLY ABOUT ENGAGING WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY. AND SO WE’RE REALLY JUST EXCITED TO INVITE OUR NEIGHBORS INTO THE Y TO OPEN OUR DOORS AND TO LET THEM KNOW EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON THAT’S JUST FOR THEM. AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU’RE SAYING THAT THERE’S THE INFANT SWIM LEARNING TO TEACH, YOU KNOW, A NEWBORN, A BABY, BUT THEN ALSO MORE COMPETITIVE TOO WITHIN THE Y, CORRECT? WE DO. YES. SO OUR AQUATIC PROGRAM IS AT THE Y TO COVER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM, STARTING WITH OUR SAFE START PROGRAM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS TEACHING INFANT SELF-RESCUE SKILLS ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH OUR GROUP SWIMMING LESSONS FOR KIDS AND ADULTS. AND THEN WE ALSO OFFER COMPETITIVE AQUATIC PROGRAMS, BOTH DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAMS. AND THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE CAMPS AND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU GUYS HAVE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, RIGHT? IT IS. WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON. WE HAVE SUMMER CAMPS THAT ARE GETTING READY TO RAMP UP STARTING THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE. WE’RE ACTIVELY REGISTERING FOR ALL OF OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS. SO KIDS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN BASKETBALL OR VOLLEYBALL, WE HAVE PROGRAMS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE SWIMMING LESSONS GOING ON YEAR ROUND FOR INFANTS THROUGH ADULTS. JOHN, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH Y? SO I’VE BEEN WITH THE Y FOR 15 YEARS HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR ABOUT TEN. SO WHY IS IT SO Y IT’S A NONPROFIT THAT I FEEL LIKE ALL OF US KNOW ABOUT. BUT SOMETIMES YOU CAN’T FORGET ABOUT THE Y BECAUSE THAT’S REALLY WHERE IT ALL CAN START FOR KIDS. SO WHY IS THIS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING FOR YOU AND WHY DO YOU LOVE IT SO MUCH? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO MY KIDS ARE CURRENTLY GROWING UP IN THE Y. YEAH. WHAT I THINK IS REALLY COOL ABOUT THE Y IS THAT WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE ORGANIZATION. SO WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AT WHAT STAGE IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH, THERE’S PROGRAMS FOR YOU AND THERE’S PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SUPPORT YOU AT THE Y. I LOVE IT. I WALKED INTO THE Y, THE LAKE MARY ONE, AND EVERYBODY HAS A SMILE ON THEIR FACE. THEY WERE SO WELCOMING. I WAS LIKE, MAN, THIS IS SUCH A GREAT SPOT.
YMCA of Central Florida to host free community events in April and May
Healthy Kids Day and Water Safety Day are two of the YMCA’s free, family-friendly activities fulfilling the nonprofit organization’s mission to strengthen and support communities
Updated: 9:59 AM EDT Apr 17, 2026
YMCA of Central Florida is preparing to host two free community events in April and May. Healthy Kids Day (April 18) and Water Safety Day (May 2) are two of the YMCA’s family-friendly activities fulfilling the nonprofit organization’s mission to strengthen and support communities. Associate Vice President of Aquatics for the YMCA of Central Florida John Lewis joins WESH 2 to preview both events. Healthy Kids Day is a nationwide initiative and will take place across all Central Florida YMCA locations. Organizers say the event is designed to offer free, fun activities for families while promoting healthy lifestyles for kids.Water Safety Day will kick off the Y’s Water Safety Month initiative, while celebrating the reopening of the J Douglas Williams YMCA pool in Seminole County. The event will include local partners, including law enforcement and community organizations, focused on drowning prevention. Participants can expect to learn more about water safety education, swimming evaluations, activities and more. Click here to learn more about the YMCA of Central Florida and all upcoming events.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
YMCA of Central Florida is preparing to host two free community events in April and May.
Healthy Kids Day (April 18) and Water Safety Day (May 2) are two of the YMCA’s family-friendly activities fulfilling the nonprofit organization’s mission to strengthen and support communities.
Associate Vice President of Aquatics for the YMCA of Central Florida John Lewis joins WESH 2 to preview both events.
Healthy Kids Day is a nationwide initiative and will take place across all Central Florida YMCA locations.
Organizers say the event is designed to offer free, fun activities for families while promoting healthy lifestyles for kids.
Water Safety Day will kick off the Y’s Water Safety Month initiative, while celebrating the reopening of the J Douglas Williams YMCA pool in Seminole County.
The event will include local partners, including law enforcement and community organizations, focused on drowning prevention.
Participants can expect to learn more about water safety education, swimming evaluations, activities and more.
Click here to learn more about the YMCA of Central Florida and all upcoming events.