A.E. Finley YMCA

Overview

• The YMCA of the Triangle is a community-focused wellness and fitness organization operating multiple branches across the Triangle area in North Carolina, including the Poyner YMCA in downtown Raleigh and the Taylor Family YMCA in Cary. While not a dedicated sauna business, it provides comprehensive wellness facilities emphasizing health, fitness, youth programs, and community connection in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.
• The overall experience promotes belonging, well-being, and growth, with facilities serving as hubs for fitness classes, pools, camps, and social events. Emphasis is on family-friendly environments, character-building activities, and accessible programs supported by the Annual Campaign to remove financial barriers.

Features & Amenities

• Fitness and Group Exercise: Wide variety of classes including Hot Yoga, Cycling, MX4 (high-intensity training), group fitness, ballroom dancing, and over 300 weekly classes across branches.
• Aquatics: Indoor and outdoor pools, lap swim, family swim, water fitness classes, waterslides, splash grounds, and spraygrounds (seasonal); Taylor Family YMCA features the innovative DynaDome retractable enclosure over the outdoor pool for year-round use.
• Gym and Courts: Full gyms for games and sports, pickleball courts (e.g., 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at Taylor), indoor tracks, and fitness orientations.
• Youth Areas: Kid Zone for ages 6 weeks-11 years (specific hours like 9 a.m.-Noon and 4:45-8 p.m. Mon-Thu at Taylor).
• Other Amenities: Community kitchens (planned at some sites), wellness hubs for pilot programs, and spaces for events like family nights and fitness challenges.

Services

• Memberships: Access to all branches with options for Family, Single Adult, Two+ Adults; free 7-day trial pass available; health insurance gym benefits accepted.
• Youth Programs: Summer day camps (full/half-day, themed weeks like “Little Scientists”), overnight camps (e.g., Camp Sea Gull/Seafarer, Camp Kanata), special needs camps, sports/nature camps, CILT leadership training for teens (grades 9-10), Y Achievers for leadership and college/career prep.
• Fitness and Wellness: Free fitness consultations, Diabetes Prevention Program (16-week lifestyle change sessions), swim lessons, water aerobics, personal training.
• Community and Education: Before/after-school care, Y Learning tutoring, events like Holiday Hustle challenges, ballroom dancing ($10-15/class), partnerships for financial literacy and healthy cooking (e.g., Cooking Matters).
• Volunteer and Leadership Opportunities: Roles for teens/adults, mission trips, service projects.

Pricing

• Memberships: Details on branch-specific pages (e.g., Poyner YMCA membership page); financial assistance available via Annual Campaign.
• Classes/Events: Ballroom dancing at Kraft Family YMCA: $10 per class (members), $15 per class (non-members); no sign-up required.
• Camps: Subsidized via Annual Campaign (e.g., $171/week for Camp High Hopes); weekly sessions June-August.
• Programs: Diabetes Prevention qualifies for financial aid; many youth programs free/low-cost for those in need; 100% of Annual Campaign donations directly support access.

Location & Hours

• Poyner YMCA: 227 Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh, NC (26,000+ sq ft in renovated building); hours not specified in content.
• Taylor Family YMCA: 101 YMCA Dr., Cary, NC 27513; Phone: 919-469-9622.
  • Branch: Mon-Thu 5 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri 5 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Lap/Family Swim: Varies, e.g., Mon-Thu 5 a.m.-8:30 p.m. lap swim.
  • Pickleball: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Other Branches: Kraft Family YMCA (8921 Holly Springs Rd., Apex, NC); multiple locations across six counties for camps/pools.
• General Access: 24/7 app for tracking; events year-round.

Notes

• What Makes This Special: Strong community focus on inclusivity and belonging (“where WE ALL BELONG”), serving 230,000+ annually; removes barriers via Annual Campaign for camps, programs; innovative features like Poyner as a pilot wellness hub, Taylor’s DynaDome for all-weather aquatics, and character-building (bead necklaces for traits like Caring, Respect).
• Partnerships with schools (e.g., joint YMCA/elementary in Southeast Raleigh), corporations (Wells Fargo for education), and nonprofits enhance impact.
• Emphasis on life-changing stories: From youth leadership to adult transformations (e.g., 110-lb weight loss); free/low-cost access ensures everyone thrives, fostering connections amid isolation.