Greater Waterbury YMCA

Freedom. Community. Joy. 🎉 Juneteenth is this Friday! In observance of the holiday, we'll be open 5AM–12PM on June 19th. Waterbury Youth Services will be closed. Swipe to see what's happening in Waterbury this weekend! ✊🏾

DYK 88% of child drownings occur with at least one adult present? Take the pledge to put your phone away when near the water this summer and always assign a water watcher who is undistracted by phones, conversations, reading, or alcohol.

This summer, make swim lessons part of your water safety plan! 🏊 Session 4 (June 22 – August 17) registration is open for members — community registration opens June 26. Sign up at bit.ly/waterburyymca or at the Front Desk Today!

School’s almost out and summer is close… we outside! 🔥

Pop out to the Teen Summer Kickoff Cookout for good vibes, giveaways, good food, and great music by the biggest — Ron Roscoe This is a teens-only lituation! FREE.

June 22 | 56 Gaffney Pl (YMCA Lot) | 11 AM – 3 PM

See you there — and don’t forget to vote for the Teen Awards → Bit.ly/yteenawards (link in bio) Voting closes June 15.

🎉🎉CONGRATS to this fantastic group of 8th graders from Wendell L. Cross (Waterbury Public Schools).

30 students celebrated never having received a disciplinary referral throughout all three years of middle school. Greater Waterbury YMCA's Adam Dubois, Outdoor Center Director and Kristen Jones, Associate Executive Director, led teambuilding games with the students, with the day ending with the Principal of Wendell L. Cross awarding each student a certificate of accomplishment.

Let's give these students a round of applause! 👏

Camp is right around the corner! And we're excited for all YMCA camps throughout the state of Connecticut to start the summer off right!

We all know that basketball 🏀 was invented at the YMCA.

So the gym at the Greater Waterbury YMCA is the perfect place to make your next American Red Cross 🩸blood donation!

Join us on:
🏀Thursday, June 25, 2026
⏰11AM –4 PM
📍Greater Waterbury YMCA, 136 W Main St, Waterbury - in the gym
🚗 Free on-site parking! Multiple lots behind the building.

✅To register, visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/ and enter keyword Waterbury

📣As a reminder, the June donor incentive is a $15 e-gift card to your choice of merchant PLUS automatic entry for a chance to win one of two $7,500 gift cards!

Greater Waterbury YMCA Wellness Book Club 📚

The Book of the Month for June is:
"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller

Book Club meets on Wednesday, May 27
2-3PM - Mind, Body, Spirit Room

Member: Free | Non-Members: $5
Registration Required.

To register online, visit bit.ly/waterburyymca > Program Registration or for more information, email Amber Upson, [email protected]

Do you have what it takes to be a ?

YCONS are YMCA icons. Individuals and organizations that make the Y special. They live, breathe, and embody the mission. They are long-time members, inspirational community partners, passionate staff members who go above and beyond, and anyone who loves the Greater Waterbury YMCA .

Our next YCON is no stranger to being in the social media spotlight and looking good while working out – meet Carolyn Collazo. Carolyn is one of the Greater Waterbury YMCA’s Group Fitness instructors who makes everyone sweat during Cardio Dance. Be sure to check out her class.

When asked, “What does community mean to you and how does the Y help create it?” Her reply, “Community means a judgment-free zone where people of all the colors of the rainbow can connect and exist together in harmony. The world keeps changing, so compassion and connection needs to remain strong and full of unbreakable bonds. The YMCAs are my home base, as I felt like I could be myself with no judgment and exist as a group fitness instructor to mainly showcase that I want to bring people together to just dance and have fun.”

The reason Carolyn keeps coming back to the Y is that the Y is FAMILY!

Do you know someone who should be our next YCON? The process is easy! We have three ways to nominate!

📌Stop by the bulletin board at the Y for a paper nomination form
🔗Visit https://bit.ly/WaterburyYCON
📩Email Justin Montanez, YCON Liaison, [email protected] with the name of whom you would like to nominate.

🎉 Time to Celebrate! 🎉

Congratulations to Wonder's Oasis Family Daycare and Libélula Family Daycare on their grand opening through the Waterbury Childcare Incubator Program!

On June 5, the Greater Waterbury YMCA and Waterbury Youth Services celebrated this exciting achievement with a ribbon-cutting ceremony surrounded by family, friends, community members, and local leaders.

A special congratulations to Rosa and Maria, 2025 POWER graduates, whose hard work has led them to launch their own childcare businesses. Through POWER, a 26-week Spanish-language program, participants gain the training, licensing, and support needed to build successful home daycare programs that strengthen families and communities.

This is more than a grand opening—it’s an investment in local entrepreneurs, working families, and greater access to quality childcare throughout Waterbury.

Thank you to our incredible community partners and funders for making this vision possible: Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC),Connecticut Community Foundation, M&T Bank Charitable Foundation, United Way of Greater Waterbury,, and the Office of Early Childhood.

We also extend our gratitude to Governor Lamont ( Office of Governor Ned Lamont), State Representative Geraldo Reyes Jr., Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski (City of Waterbury - Mayor's Office), and the Board Members of Greater Waterbury YMCA and Waterbury Youth Services for joining us in celebrating this special day.

Here's to new beginnings, thriving businesses, and stronger communities!

Summer is HERE and Session 4 is loading 🔥 Free swim lessons, camp, dance nights, basketball, and more — all under one roof. Members, registration is open NOW. Non-members, you’re up June 15. Don’t sleep on this. 🏊☀️🏀

Full brochure in bio. 🔗 Register: bit.ly/waterburyymca