Beginning January 1, 2023, everyone who engages with the Y, whether through our many early childhood, school-based youth programs, mentoring, swim lessons, camp, and more, will all be Y members, with full access to our Y family centers and all the many benefits which come with that.
Currently, participation in the Y varies based on the programs families may choose to enroll in. Effective January 1, 2023, Y membership will be the singular gateway to Y community life regardless of the Y program which may have been a family’s starting point.
Membership in the Y and all its many benefits will be the foundation for all other participation in Y programs. Everyone who accesses the Y for our wide array of programs for youth and adults – both in and out of Y family centers — will be a Y member and will have full access to all Y member benefits, along with the benefits of the program(s) they also choose to be a part of.
Effective January 1, 2023, the following benefits are included as a part of a Y membership:
- Enrollment in skill-building youth sports classes such as soccer, sports mix, baseketball and rock wall classes, among others
- Outdoor adventure opportunities for youth
- Regular Family Fun Nights
- Opportunities for youth to learn new skills and socialize with their peers
This adds to our already robust offering which includes:
- Full access to 11 Y Family Centers
- Energizing group exercise classes for all fitness levels
- Refreshing pools
- Rock walls
- Stay & Play activity rooms for little ones
- The best strength, cardio & free weight equipment
- Low impact water exercise classes
- Gymnasiums for basketball, pickleball & more
- Family game rooms
- Fitquest: our personalized fitness program
- Family swim & family gym
- Parents’ Night Out
- Programs for all ages
- Outings & group activities for seniors
- Y Leaders’ Club for teens
- Fulfilling community volunteer activities
Y membership will also enable Y member-only access to Y swim lessons, day camp and sports leagues.
Y YOUTH SPORTS CLASSES
Effective January 1, 2023, enrollment in Y skill-building youth sports classes, including rock wall classes, is an exclusive free benefit of Y membership. All members will be able to register their children for sports programs such as sports mix, soccer, basketball, rock wall classes and more, at no additional cost. Others wishing to access Y youth sports must become members before registering for a sports program.
Y SWIM LESSONS AND SPORTS LEAGUES
Starting January 1, 2023, Y membership will be required for access to Y swim lessons and Y sports leagues, including rock wall teams. Those wishing to register for swim lessons and/or sports leagues must be Y members at the time of registration and must remain members at least through the time of their program participation.
Since membership is the only way to access swim lessons or sports leagues, effective January 1, 2023 there will no longer be a “non-member” rate for these activities. There will only be a member rate.
Y BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT (BASE)
Currently, all full-time BASE families receive a Y membership as a part of your Y program experience. Starting January 1, 2023, all enrolled families, both full-time and part-time, will automatically receive a Y Family Membership with your BASE enrollment. This gives you and everyone in your household full access to all Y Family Centers in Central Maryland.
Your membership continues at no additional cost to your family even during school holidays and the summer months, provided you re-enroll in the next year’s BASE program by June 1st each year.
This additional benefit is worth over $1,200 a year.
Y PRESCHOOL
Currently, all full-time Y Preschool families receive a Y membership as a part of your Y program experience. Starting January 1, 2023, all enrolled families, both full-time and part-time, will automatically receive a Y Family Membership with your Y Preschool enrollment. This gives you and everyone in your household full access to all Y Family Centers in Central Maryland.
Your membership continues at no additional cost to your family even during school holidays and the summer months as long as your child is enrolled in the Y Preschool program.
This additional benefit is worth over $1,200 a year.
Y HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START
A Y Family Membership is already included as a part of Y Head Start and Early Head Start enrollment. All enrolled families automatically receive their membership with enrollment.
Your membership continues at no additional cost to your family even during school holidays and the summer months, provided you re-enroll in the next year’s Y Head Start or Early Head Start program by June 1st each year.
This additional benefit is worth over $1,200 a year.
Y DAY CAMP
Starting January 1, 2023, Y membership will be required for enrollment in Y Day Camp. Camp families must be Y members at the time of camp registration and must remain members at least through the time of your child’s day camp enrollment.
Since membership is the only to access Y Day Camp, effective January 1, 2023 there will no longer be a “non-member” rate for camp. There is only a member rate.
Y OVERNIGHT CAMP
Because many Y Overnight Camp families come from areas well outside the Central Maryland region, Y membership is encouraged but is not a requirement for enrollment.
Y OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME (OST) AND Y MENTORING PROGRAMS
Currently, a Y membership is part of the OST and mentoring experience, with the type of membership varying. Starting January 1, 2023, a Y Family Membership will be included as a part of the Y OST and Y Mentoring experience for all OST, mentor and mentee families.
All enrolled families will automatically receive a Y Family membership with their participation. This gives you and everyone in your household full access to all Y Family Centers in Central Maryland.
For Y OST families, your Y membership continues at no additional cost to you even during school holidays and the summer months, provided you re-enroll in the next year’s Y OST program by June 15th each year.
Y mentor and mentee families will maintain their membership throughout the duration of their program participation.
This additional benefit is worth over $1,200 a year.
Y COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
The Y supports over 15,000 students and families in Community Schools across Baltimore City.
Starting January 1, 2023, all Y Community School families who are not enrolled in a Y OST program (which includes membership) will have the option to enjoy a Y Family Membership for just $10 a month. This includes everyone in your household and provides full access to all Y family centers in Central Maryland.
This is a savings of $105 a month. The special reduced monthly membership rate of $10 will remain in effect for Y Community Schools families for as long as your student remains enrolled in one of the Y Community Schools in Baltimore City.
A full list of Y Community Schools may be found HERE.
This additional benefit is worth over $1,100 a year.
Y YOUTH & GOVERNMENT
Youth & Government is open to all high school students in the state of Maryland. Starting January 1, 2023, a Y Family Membership will be included as a part of the Y Youth & Government experience. This gives you and everyone in your household full access to all Y Family Centers in Central Maryland. Your membership continues at no additional cost to you throughout the duration of your program participation.
Families whose children do not continue enrollment in early childhood or school-based youth programs will not lose their Y membership. Your Y Family Membership will continue at the existing monthly membership rate. If you choose, you may change your membership at that time.
Although we are providing Y membership at no cost or very little cost to the vast majority of families enrolled in our early childhood and school-based youth programs, we recognize that families may still need help affording participation.
Y Open Doors Savings lower costs to help make participation in Y membership and youth programs more affordable and accessible. We’ve relaxed our requirements to qualify for Open Doors Savings by expanding the qualifying income range and increasing the savings that can be applied. Additionally, we've simplified the application process.
If you have a question that isn’t covered in the FAQ, please submit it below and a member of the Y leadership team will respond to you within one business day. Thank you!