Greater Wichita YMCA Community Development

10/08/2026

10.13.2026

10/07/2026

What do you do when you feel so good about something, you just can't hold it in any longer?

Write a poem.

At least that's what Jan from the Hutchinson YMCA did recently to celebrate the special relationship she's built with her trainer, Mindy Gloria.

Her words are fun, witty, relatable and reflective of how connections are at the heart of the YMCA:

I didn't want to exercise at the Y.
I'd rather stay home and eat pie, read books, paint, and pet cats!
But to improve balance and health, I had to face facts!
Mindy, my trainer, with lots of smiles
put Gary, Lori, and me through tricks from her files!
Mindy knows exercises for every body part.
Encouraging and challenging, she soon won my heart!
Week by week we carried weights through the halls.
"Superman" and "birddog" and throwing balls.
We moaned, laughed, bonded and sweat.
When we left class we were proud...and wet!
You know a thousand ways to exercise, You made our strength and balance rise!
Thank you, Mindy, you're an amazing athlete!
As trainer (and MOM) you can't be beat.

10/02/2026

What a great way to end the week: Our YMCA family is getting bigger!

Please join us in giving a great, big welcome to our newest Greater Wichita YMCA branch, the YMCA of Topeka.

Our reach is expanding and so is our ability to increase the health and wellness of more Kansans. We have so many reasons to celebrate!

Read the full announcement here: ymcawichita.org/news/ymca-topeka-joins-greater-wichita-ymca

Big announcement today ...

The YMCA of Topeka is now officially part of the Greater Wichita YMCA!

Mark Ault, Chair of the YMCA of Topeka Board of Directors, put into words what we all feel: "The momentum we’re gaining from the Greater Wichita YMCA solidifies our ability to impact more lives in the Topeka community for years to come. We look forward to this next step forward.”

Read the full announcement: ymcawichita.org/news/ymca-topeka-joins-greater-wichita-ymca

10/01/2026

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month
🎗1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
🎗382,640 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year
🎗1,048 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer today
🎗5 women will be lost to breast cancer today

Awareness is the first step toward action.
🎗Annual Screenings
🎗Know your family history
🎗Maintain a healthy lifestyle:
🎗healthy weight, exercise regularly, healthy diet, limit alcohol intake

YMCA cancer survivor program Visit www.ymcawichita.org/livestrong.

09/30/2026

Self-improvement doesn't have to be a huge commitment.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as taking 30 seconds to stretch, take a breath and do something good for yourself.
You don't need a long workout. You don't need to completely change your routine. You just need to start somewhere.
Small choices, repeated over time, can add up to meaningful change. So today, give yourself 30 seconds. Stretch. Move. Breathe. Take that small step toward a better you.
Self-improvement starts with the little things. What's your 30- second change today?

09/28/2026

💛 Sometimes, a program starts with a goal to get stronger and ends with finding a community.

That’s exactly what happened with a group of participants in LIVESTRONG at the YMCA.

A year ago, Julie Wranosky took on a group of participants, ranging in age from their 30s to their 80s. They brought different personalities, experiences, opinions, and plenty of laughter to every workout.

As Kelli put it, “WE WERE A LOT.” 🤣

But somewhere along the way, something pretty amazing happened.

They became friends. ❤️

Alison shared:

“We became friends and still are. Some of us still work out with Julie once a week!”

And Kelli said the experience was about so much more than physical fitness:

“It’s not just about physical fitness. It’s good for your mental health, confidence, strength, and overall well-being.”

That is what belonging can look like at the YMCA.

It’s having a place where you can show up exactly as you are. A place where you don’t have to be the fastest, strongest, or most experienced person in the room. A place where people encourage you, laugh with you, celebrate your progress, and keep showing up beside you.

Kelli summed it up perfectly:

“You simply show up, do what you can, and keep going. And the support system is THE BEST.”

Through LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, participants don’t just build strength—they build confidence, relationships, and community. And sometimes, the people who begin as workout partners become friends who continue to walk alongside one another long after the program ends. ❤️

This is belonging. This is community. This is the YMCA.

09/27/2026

Tomorrow is the last day for Early Bird pricing!

Ready to get your kids moving this fall? Fall II Sports registration is open at the Greater Wichita YMCA, but time is running out to save on registration.

Early Bird pricing ends tomorrow, September 28, and prices increase on September 29. Registration completely closes October 5.

Don’t miss your chance to get your athlete signed up!

Register online or in person at any Greater Wichita YMCA.

09/26/2026

Did you know that our studios are open, equipment is available, and following along with a class is just couple taps away!

Thanks to YMCA 360 InStudio you can take a class with everything you need, even when there isn’t one on the Schedule. Ask a staff member for help if you don’t know where to find it or how it works in your favorite YMCA branch.

09/25/2026

🌟 S.T.A.R. Is Shining at Spaght! 🌟
Week 2 of S.T.A.R. at Spaght Science & Communication Magnet is in the books!
Our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders came together after school for an afternoon filled with learning, laughter, and fun!
We started with a free snack, jumped into literacy activities, and then wrapped up the afternoon with a game!
We’re so excited to see our S.T.A.R. students growing, learning, and having fun together—and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

09/25/2026

First Field Trip = So Much Fun!
Our Middle School After School (MSAS) students kicked off their first field trip of the year this week—and what better way to start than by exploring several of our Greater Wichita YMCA branches!
Our students had the opportunity to visit different Y locations, experience what each branch has to offer, and spend time learning, exploring, and having fun together. We love creating opportunities for our middle schoolers to get out, try new things, build friendships, and discover all the possibilities available to them through the YMCA!
And this is just the beginning! 🎉
Is your middle schooler looking for a safe place to belong, make friends, try new activities, and have fun after school? Our MSAS programs are FREE and available at 14 Wichita middle schools!
👉 Learn more and sign up: at the link in our bio

09/23/2026

You'll want the sound on for this video featuring ESPN Wichita 92.3's Pat Strathman and the Y's Catherine Seals.

The topic was YMCA youth sports and how any adult can explore volunteer sports coaching opportunities at our branches.

FACT: Volunteer coaches don’t need to be professional coaches or former athletes to make a difference. The YMCA provides training, so no experience is necessary.

ANOTHER FACT: Volunteering can fit different schedules and interests. There are opportunities for people who want to coach, assist a coach or simply lend a hand.

We’re currently looking for coaches for the Fall II sports season (all applicants go through a thorough screening process).

Contact the sports director at any one of our 12 branches to get involved so every child has a team to play on.

09/20/2026

If you have time and want to get some fresh air come see us at ICT Open Streets on Douglas today from 12:00-4:00 PM!

09/15/2026

Everything we do at the YMCA is centered around improving lives. Our nonprofit mission is as big as it gets, and it’s something we can’t do alone.

Our sincere appreciation goes out to HCA Healthcare, parent company of Wesley Healthcare, for its generous support of our LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program that helps cancer survivors take back their strength, independence and hope for the future.

Yesterday, Bill Voloch, President & CEO of Wesley Healthcare, and Dave Stewart, Director of Communications & Community Engagement at Wesley Healthcare, presented the YMCA with a $25,000 check that will make it possible for nearly 100 individuals to attend 12 weeks of future LIVESTRONG at the YMCA sessions at area YMCA branches. Donations like this allow us to continue offering LIVESTRONG at the YMCA free of charge to anyone, at any point in their cancer journey.

A gift like this will impact so many lives, and we’re incredibly grateful to partner with HCA Healthcare and Wesley Healthcare to strengthen our community.

Thank you!

(pictured left to right) Ronn McMahon, President & CEO of the Greater Wichita YMCA, Dave Stewart, Director of Communications & Community Engagement at Wesley Healthcare, Shamain Bachman, Vice President of Marketing at the YMCA, and Bill Voloch, President & CEO of Wesley Healthcare.

09/11/2026

9/11 is one of those rare moment's in our nation’s history where you remember exactly where you were when the news broke. The images permanently etched into our collective memories.

Today, on its 25th anniversary, we pause to remember the 2,977 people we lost. They will never be forgotten.

Year after year, we are honored our YMCA branches have been gathering places for individuals throughout our community to take part in the 9/11 memorial stair climb tradition.

110 floors, 2,200 steps, representing the height of the World Trade Center towers.

Each climb honors the 343 FDNY firefighters who gave their lives while helping others on September 11, 2001.

Coming together, we honor their sacrifice and carry their memory forward.

09/04/2026

The YROX Fitness Race is intense – not impossible.

Advance preparation makes the difference, and that's where YMCA trainers come in.

Starting next week, 35 trainers at 11 YMCA branches will kick off YROX Group Training sessions. To get involved, you must sign up in person at any YMCA location by Monday, September 14.

ABOUT TRAINING: Attend early morning/daytime/evening sessions twice a week for 8 weeks with any trainer at any location.

⇾ You've not locked into one time or place.
⇾ Training is on your terms.

AND THEN THERE'S THE BENEFITS:
⇾ Learn beginner, intermediate and advanced modifications for each of the race's 8 functional fitness stations.
⇾ Be mentally and physically ready for race day on 10/31.
⇾ Become a ROX star in your own right

The only thing left to do is add your name to our training rosters. You got this!

Learn more at ymcawichita.org/yrox.

09/03/2026

A good night's sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health. This September, challenge yourself to prioritize rest by aiming for 100 hours of sleep throughout the month, or about 8 hours each night.

Track your sleep in the YMCA 360 app by manually adding a workout and selecting “Sleep.”

Need help winding down? Explore YMCA 360's Rest & Restore sleep support playlist, featuring Bedtime Yoga and other relaxation content designed to help you rest easier.

Join through the app or online at https://ymca360.org/challenges/2705-wake-me-up-when-september-ends.

Don't have the YMCA 360 app? Download it today >>>> ymcawichita.org/ymca360.

09/03/2026

Labor Day (Monday, SEPT 7) is the final day of our 2026 water park season. There's a reason people say time flies when you're having fun! The Fall season is up next with YMCA branches ready to keep the excitement going.

HOLIDAY HOURS: YMCA branches will be open on Labor Day, with adjusted hours. Please check the schedule first before heading out ➡ ymcawichita.org/laborday2026

09/02/2026

Our members have spoken ... the best part about the YMCA is the people!

Tell us: What keeps you coming back to your YMCA branch? Let's fill the comments with Y ❤