Athens YMCA

Overview

• Athens YMCA is a comprehensive community fitness and youth development center, offering a wide range of facilities including indoor pools, outdoor tracks, racquetball and basketball courts, and dedicated youth rooms. It functions as a hub for health, wellness, and social programs rather than a traditional sauna or spa business, with no saunas or spa areas mentioned.
• The overall atmosphere is family-friendly, inclusive, and community-oriented, emphasizing youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Programs foster belonging, skill-building, and fun in a supportive environment, highlighted by testimonials like those from Sunshine Studio participants who value dancing and socialization.

Features & Amenities

• Aquatics facilities: Indoor pool for swim lessons, family swimming, and water-based activities like the Jingle Bell Mile Swim.
• Sports courts: Racquetball and basketball courts for games and training sessions.
• Fitness areas: Outdoor track for walking/running (e.g., Walking in a Winter Wonderland), general workout spaces.
• Youth and program rooms: Dedicated Youth Room for music therapy and special needs programs like Sunshine Studio.
• General amenities: Locker rooms, front desk for guest passes, areas for group activities, games, and events; no saunas, steam rooms, or spa features noted.
• Additional perks: Camp spaces for day camps (Camp Kelley), areas for field trips, and integration with community partners like Piedmont Athens Regional.

Services

• Swim Lessons: Parent/child (6 months-3 years), youth (3-12), and adult (13+) lessons; 30-45 minute classes twice weekly for 4 weeks, focusing on safety, strokes, and fun.
• Youth Programs: After-school, summer camps (Camp Kelley with themes like Olympic Week), sports camps (soccer, football, basketball, golf, nature, STEAM), Sunshine Studio for adults with special needs (service learning, skill-building).
• Fitness & Wellness: Basketball/football training with Tony Sorrells, Recovery Functional Wellness for chronic conditions (Parkinson’s, cancer), music therapy for special needs children.
• Community Events: Field trips for K-5th graders (health, fitness, fun), Pinwheels for Prevention (child abuse awareness sessions), Kids Card challenges (holiday-themed activities).
• Membership & Support: Various membership types (Adult, Family, Health Clubs, Senior), financial assistance applications, job opportunities.

Pricing

• Swim Lessons: $70 members / $90 non-members per 8-lesson session (all levels).
• Basketball/Football Training: 4 sessions $150, 8 sessions $275.
• Sunshine Studio: $35 daily / $75 weekly, $50 registration deposit.
• Field Trips: $50 per class (K-5th grade).
• Music Therapy: $100 per child (Fall 2025, financial aid available; some grants cover costs).
• Day Camp (Camp Kelley): $145/week per child + $25 registration fee (discounts for family members); sports camps $125, specialty $140.
• Recovery Wellness: $10/class non-members (free for members/caregivers).
• Financial Assistance: Available for memberships/programs based on income/expenses (closed until Jan 2026 for some); requires documentation.

Location & Hours

• Location: 915 Hawthorne Avenue, Athens, GA 30606; some offsite Wednesday programs for Sunshine Studio (details via email).
• Operating Hours: Vary by program; general access supports 7:50 AM–5:45 PM for camps; swim lessons evenings (5:30-7:45 PM); Sunshine Studio 10-1:30 PM (Mon/Fri); field trips 9:30-11:30 AM (Tues/Thurs). Office hours for applications; specific program schedules listed (e.g., music therapy Fridays 1:45-2:30 PM).

Notes

• What makes this special: Strong focus on inclusivity for special needs (Sunshine Studio, music therapy), financial accessibility via aid and lotteries, and community impact through campaigns like Building Community (capital improvements) and partnerships (Piedmont, The Cottage for prevention). 89-year Camp Kelley tradition builds character; no sauna/spa but excels in aquatics/youth development. Emphasizes safety (waivers, chaperones), volunteer opportunities, and holistic growth (‘no graduating to the couch’). Hiring actively; multi-year campaign for community strength.