YMCA of Wilkes-Barre

06/20/2026

FREE Swim Lesson & Water Safety Day – Saturday, June 27!

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends formal swim lessons as an important layer of protection. Water safety education, active supervision, and swimming skills all work together to help keep children safer around water.

📱 Phones Down. Eyes Up.
Drowning is often silent and can happen in seconds. When children are in or around water, distractions can wait.

Join us at the Wilkes-Barre YMCA for a FREE 45-minute swim lesson with water safety incorporated into every class!

🏊 Class Times

💦 Parent & Child (parents in the water) – 9:00 AM

💦 Preschool – 9:00 AM, 9:55 AM, or 10:35 AM

💦 Youth – 9:00 AM, 9:55 AM, or 10:35 AM

💦 Adaptive (parents in the water) – 11:45 AM

Please choose the class based on your child’s age, not swimming ability.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents participating in Parent & Child and Adaptive classes should be prepared to enter the water.

👀 Parents of Preschool and Youth swimmers will observe from the balcony unless an instructor asks you to remain on the pool deck. Please be respectful of our staff and procedures so we can provide the safest experience possible for all swimmers.

✅ Registration is required for this FREE event so we can maintain appropriate swimmer-to-instructor ratios and ensure a safe, positive learning environment for everyone.

🩱 Children and participating parents should arrive in their bathing suits and be ready to enter the water at the start of their scheduled lesson time. Please bring a towel. Changing room availability is limited.

🚪 If you arrive early, please wait in the hallway until it is time for your lesson. This helps us keep traffic flowing and classes running smoothly.

🎉 There may also be family fun activities available in the gym, including inflatables and other activities.

📅 Registration for our next swim lesson session is now open! Spots are limited due to our instructor-to-child ratios, so don’t wait to register.

We are so excited to welcome new and returning swimmers for a fun day of learning, confidence-building, and water safety! 🏊‍♀️💙

06/19/2026

06/15/2026

Join us for new classes in the Group Exercise Studio!

For more info contact:
[email protected]

06/15/2026

Our branch is looking ✨beautiful✨ inside and out! Thanks to everyone from Colours Inc. who volunteered for United Way of Wyoming Valley's last Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre! We are grateful for all that you do to make our community and the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA a better place!

To our friends at Colours, Inc., thank you for being a loyal supporter and partner in our mission and for going above and beyond on days like this! We could not accomplish all that we do without your support.

06/12/2026

Our Preschool & Pre-K friends are making a splash in swim lessons! 🏊☀️

Not only are we having the BEST time learning and building confidence in the water, but we’re also learning incredibly an important thing this time of year, water safety! From practicing safe swimming habits to becoming more comfortable in the water, these lessons help build skills that can last a lifetime.

Watching our little swimmers grow braver, stronger, and more excited each week has been so much fun! 💙 Here’s to safe swimming, big smiles, and summertime fun ahead! 🌊☀️

06/12/2026

We recently celebrated Joann Mavus, the winner of our Frank M. Henry Layperson of the Year Award, which has been given out annually since 1935. Here is her nomination, which says it all. Thank you, Joann!

I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Layperson of the Year award than Joann Mavus. Since 2016, Joann has been the heart of our swim lesson program, giving her time and energy to help children and families feel safe and confident around water.

Joann first came to the YMCA as a mom, with her three sons who participated in several of our programs. As they grew older, she decided she wanted to give back to the place that had given her family so much. She began volunteering to teach swim lessons. It quickly became clear this was more than just volunteering for her— it was a passion.

Over the years, Joann has gone above and beyond in every way imaginable. When we needed help on Saturdays with preschool and youth programs, she didn’t hesitate to step up. When we found ourselves short on instructors during the week, Joann volunteered her time on Thursdays and even the occasional Tuesday until we could find coverage. She’s never said “no” when there was a need—she just shows up with a smile and gives her best.

Outside the pool, Joann has become our go-to photographer at events, capturing priceless memories for families. She never charges a dime. She does it out of love. It’s her way of giving back. It shows in every photo she takes and every family she helps.

Joann is one of the most caring and selfless people I’ve ever met. She has a heart of gold and would truly give the shirt off her back to anyone in need. She’s helped children overcome their fears of the water, taught parents how to keep their little ones safe, and supported her fellow staff and volunteers without hesitation. She never seeks recognition or reward—she simply cares, deeply and genuinely.

06/11/2026

Like a windmill catching the breeze, your child's potential can soar at the Charlotte L. Casterline Early Learning Center! We are excited to welcome new families to our program and currently have:
👶 4 Toddler Openings 🧒 2 Preschool Openings

Our nurturing teachers create a safe, engaging, and educational environment where children can learn, explore, build friendships, and develop the skills they need to thrive.

✨ Now is the perfect time to join our growing community! For enrollment information or to schedule a tour, please contact:

Crystal Boisseau, Child Care Director 📞 570-921-3791 📧 [email protected]

Come see why families choose Casterline as the place where young minds grow and dreams take flight!

06/11/2026

Kids ages 2-12 years old! Help us kick off our Water Safety Event (June 26 & 27) by creating a custom drawing. Drawings should include a water-safety element. Please include your child's age when emailing your drawing to [email protected]. Two winners will be chosen on June 29. Submissions due by June 27. Our two drawing champions will receive a voucher for a FREE swim lesson group session (7 weeks, $140 value).

06/10/2026

Host Your Party at the YMCA This Summer!

Looking for a fun, active, and easy way to celebrate? The YMCA is the perfect place for your next birthday or special event.

We offer swim parties, gym parties, and combined swim and gym parties to fit your group’s needs. A bounce house is also available to add even more fun to your celebration.

All parties are held in a safe, supervised environment with space for kids to play, swim, and enjoy time with friends and family.

Contact Sam Reinhardt, [email protected] with any questions!

06/10/2026

Summer at SEM is at its halfway point! Here are some photos from our Wilderness Survival class to highlight the camp so far.