Geneva Lakes Family YMCA | Main Facility

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ABOUT US

The YMCA is the nation's leading nonprofit organization serving more than 10,000 neighborhoods across the nation.  We have the presence and partnerships to not just promise, but to deliver lasting personal and social change.  Being healthy means more than just being physically fit. It is about maintaining a balanced spirit, mind and body. The Geneva Lakes Family YMCA is a place where you can work toward that balance by challenging yourself to learn new skills, fostering connections with friends through a wide array of affordable programs for all ages, or bringing your loved ones closer together through our many family-centered activities. We are joined together by a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility.

WHO WE ARE

The Geneva Lakes Family YMCA has been in the community for more than 130 years. We continue to seek out and develop new ways to help people reach their potential and empower them to lead healthier lives! Our Y is unique in that we serve as the City of Lake Geneva Sports and Recreation Department. In collaboration with the City, a variety of sports including baseball, softball, football, soccer and more is offered at Veterans Park, Lake Geneva.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that promote healthy lifestyles, strong families, and positive youth development to build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all, regardless of ability to pay.  Our commitment to inclusion practices and strong diversity creates better communities, a better country and a better world. Our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility guide us as we nurture youth development, healthy living and social responsibility in our community.

OUR HISTORY

The Geneva Lakes Family YMCA's roots can be traced back to 1883 when three businessmen, who were sitting by a campfire on the shores of Geneva Lake, discussed the idea of establishing a permanent professional YMCA training school. Shortly after that fireside chat, the men purchased land in Williams Bay, WI, and founded their YMCA training camp. The first classes were held in tents, and the camp became a thriving campus where YMCA workers from across the country gathered for physical activity, spiritual reflection, and service learning.

In 1890, the camp moved to Chicago and became what is now known as Aurora University. The original camp was used for retreats. As the national YMCA movement progressed, the retreat became George Williams College (named after the founder of the YMCA), and the YMCA in Lake Geneva as we know it today became a separate non-profit organization dedicated to improving the spirits, minds and bodies of everyone in the community.

Times have changed since our founding in the 1890s, but one thing remains the same. The Geneva Lakes Family YMCA is and will continue to be committed to improving the health and well-being of the community by offering programs and services that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.