Your

San Luis Obispo County

YMCA

Our Mission:

The San Luis Obispo County YMCA has been a part of our county for more than 50 years offering programs to develop the spirits, minds, and bodies of those in our community. We hope you enjoy being a part of the YMCA where we're building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

We strive to develop the total person - spirit, mind and body - through value-based programs . Everyone is welcome and thanks to the generosity of many caring donors, no one is turned away due to financial constraints. We have dozens of programs and services to help you grow and to connect with your community by volunteering and through other activities. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify, click here for details.

Our Programs

• Help families grow closer
• Guide your child's development and
• Contribute to a healthier and more active you!

The YMCA is a local non-profit organization offering fun, healthy and educational programs for children, families and adults throughout San Luis Obispo County. Volunteers, business leaders, program participants and other community neighbors guide the Y in its service to our community. Focused on building strong kids, strong families and strong communities, YMCA programs appeal to all ages, from the young to the young at heart, and are available regardless of  race, creed, nationality or disability.

The SLO County YMCA is a membership focused community organization.  Everyone who participates in the Y is a member of the Y.  As a not-for-profit organization, our mission is to grow strong kids, strong families and strong communities in San Luis Obispo County, with the support of our community.   To lend your support to the YMCA, you can volunteer or make a donation.

If you'd like to participate in a Y program, you can become a YMCA member by either enrolling as a SLO YMCA Health & Fitness Center member (which includes access to the San Luis Obispo or San Miguel Fitness Center and Sinsheimer Pool), or as a Program Member, to participate in such programs as Club Y, Day Camps, Youth Sports and Guides & Princesses.

YMCA values start with the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. They are what we teach and what we live by.

The Six Pillars are woven throughout our programs, whether we are coaching youngsters in T-ball, tutoring students after school, teaching adult exercise classes or sharing adventures at camp.

We Build Strong Kids, Strong Families and Strong Communities
We believe that by teaching and living these Character concepts, that everyone benefits, especially children. In learning these six pillars, children involved with the Y have the positive experiences and develop personal qualities that they need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible, as demonstrated by the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets (www.search-institute.org/assets).

We’re working to help guide our community’s youth by offering safe, supervised summer-time and school-year activities that empower them to make positive choices. For more information on what these experiences can mean for our youth, learn about the 40 Developmental Assets, and the research that makes them so important.

Find out more about the core values of the YMCA:

• Character Counts
• Search Institute: 40 Developmental Assets

What We Teach & Offer Your Child

• Support - Young people need to experience support, care, and love from their families, neighbors, and many others. They need organizations and institutions that provide positive and supportive environments.
• Empowerment - Young people need to be valued and have opportunities to contribute with others. For this to occur, they must be safe and feel secure.
• Boundaries & Expectations -Young people need to know what is expected of them and whether activities and behaviors are "in" or "out" of bounds.
• Constructive Use of Time - Young people need constructive, enriching opportunities for growth through creative activities, youth programs, congregational involvement, and quality time at home.
• Commitment to Learning - Young people need to develop a lifelong commitment to education and learning.
• Positive Values -Youth need to develop strong values that guide choices.
• Social Competencies - Young people need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, to build relationships, and to succeed in life.
• Positive Identity - Young people need a strong sense of personal power, purpose, and worth.