Something about back-to-school season always feels like the start of a new year. You can feel it in the air, as summer starts to let up just a bit with cooler mornings, gentler breezes and shorter days. And all at once, families across the region are back in the swing of things: buses, homework, sports practice, music lessons … the list gets longer every year.

There’s something special about the chaos of September, though. The excitement is palpable as children are overheard swapping stories about summer adventures and comparing their lunchbox inventory. And then there’s the challenge of new activities like basketball, painting, soccer, arts and crafts, dodgeball and swimming.

With so much on a family’s plate, it’s easy to wonder if you’ll ever keep track of it all, and when and where there will be a moment for everyone to stop and catch their breath. For a lot of families in the Greater Scranton area, that place is the Y.

From early childhood education to before and after-school care, youth activities to swim team, and everything in between, there’s no place like the Greater Scranton YMCA for your family to find their place.

A family membership at the Greater Scranton YMCA is the solution for busy families. Beyond being a place to build a healthy body, the Greater Scranton YMCA helps families build healthy minds and spirits, too. It’s a place to build belonging and community with something for every member of the family throughout every season of the year. Take a peek behind the scenes and see what a year with the Greater Scranton YMCA could look like for your family!

FALL

Fall is the perfect time for a reset — a chance to refresh routines and find a solid place to land when the week feels impossible to manage. Here at the Y, we’re just getting started. With new Youth Programming offerings every month, included free with a family membership, children ages 3-14 can find the activity that moves them while parents rest and reset in the study café. Or, if swim is more your speed, check out the seasonal sessions of swim lessons offered for all ages, beginning as early as 6 months. Lessons are offered at a discounted rate for family members.

Family members are also entitled to utilize our Child Watch Program at no cost. Drop the kiddos off with trusted Y staff who will keep them engaged while parents enjoy all of the amenities the Y has to offer! Work out in one of our three fitness centers, drop into a group exercise class, or take a dip in one of our two pools. Meet up with the rest of the family near our fireplace to warm up for a few minutes.

While you’re there, browse the book selection offered in partnership with the Lackawanna County Library System before heading out into the brisk fall air together.

WINTER

On a cold winter morning in NEPA, everyone needs a little warming up. Thankfully, there’s hot coffee and tea waiting for you at the Greater Scranton Y. Grab a warm, complimentary cup and catch up with friends in the Community Kitchen before checking out one of the many Group Exercise classes on offer. Take it easy with Flex and Stretch or Shallow Water Exercise, or challenge yourself with Kickboxing or HIIT classes.

When your family is fighting the winter blues, family swim can lighten the mood and help your family reconnect after a long day of running around; we even have inflatable climbing structures to help burn off some extra energy. Then, parents can warm up with a soak in the jacuzzi, a session in the steam room, or some extra sweating in the sauna. Our universal locker rooms make wrangling the whole family much easier after a fun-filled day at the Y.

Don’t forget to take advantage of discounted rates on special events, like our Annual Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Dance, where little ones can invite a special adult to join them at the Y for a night of dancing, sweets and family fun.

SPRING

Early spring is the perfect time to cozy up with the family, and what better place to do that than the Greater Scranton Y. Enjoy a family power-hour in the Study Café: tackle homework, enjoy a new book or connect with a member of our Wellbeing Initiative Team. They can help connect families to much-needed resources in our community.

Then, as the weather warms up, take things outside! Every spring, the Y hosts Healthy Kids Day, a free, community-wide event open to members and non- members alike. The event features bounce houses, a rock wall, first responder vehicles, face painting, food trucks and more. Join us for a fun-filled morning meant to kick off a safe and healthy summer.

Spring is also a great time for celebrations, and the Greater Scranton YMCA is here for your family. Birthday parties at the Y are a great way to enjoy your time together without worrying about the details, and with discounted member pricing, it’s a no-brainer.

SUMMER

Summer is one of our busiest times at the Y, but also one of the best times to enjoy the benefits of family membership. Discounted early bird registration opens for Summer Day Camp, so be sure to register kids aged 3-13 for their best summer ever.

Plan a staycation at the Greater Scranton Y: Enjoy the pool with family, connect with the community at our NEPA Gives cookout, make new friends when you try a new class and learn alongside your family as you make the Greater Scranton YMC the “Let’s Do It All” place!

There is no single moment throughout the year that makes a family membership worth it. Rather, it’s a million small moments when your family is connected, learning and thriving. And the best part is, the Greater Scranton YMCA never turns anyone away for inability to pay. Financial assistance is available for all memberships and programming to ensure that every family can experience all that the Y has to offer.

For more information on family membership, including financial assistance options, visit greaterscrantonymca.org, call 570-342-8115, or stop in at 706 N. Blakely St. in Dunmore.

The Greater Scranton YMCA: There’s no place like this place.

Colleen Burns Ecklund is the marketing and development director at the Greater Scranton YMCA. Her work focuses on sharing the Y’s impact, building community partnerships and helping tell the story of the people behind the mission.