Williamsport Branch YMCA

Executive Director
Jeremy Bottorf
Call (570) 323-7134 ext. 125
Email Jeremy

Membership Director
Darbie Johnson
Call (570) 323-7134 ext. 115
Email Darbie

Aquatics Director
Patrice Evano
Call (570) 323-7134 ext. 120
Email Patrice

Wellness Director
Megan Swarthout
Call (570) 323-7134 ext. 174
Email Megan

School Age Childcare Director
Matt Derrick
Call (570) 323-7134 ext. 148
Email Matt

Loyalsock Child Care Center Director
Denise Lang
Call (570) 326-3108
Email Denise

Maintenance Technician
Trey Foehner
Call (570) 323-7134 ext. 138
Email Trey

In March of 1866, John Woodward invited a group of men to join together and look after the young men of Williamsport. After electing officers, the first public meeting was held in the Lycoming County Court House on March 23, 1866. They moved from Youngman’s Hall on Pine St. to the Armstrong Building on Fourth St near Market where they had a social hall, reading room and library, adding an annex containing a gymnasium and auditorium in 1894. Soon they built their own building at 211 West Fourth St at a cost of $14,000 for the land and $23,469 for the building. This later became the site of the Knights of Colum-bus.

In 1917 the Y moved to the corner of Fourth and Elmira St. After a successful fundraising campaign, a new building with two gymnasiums, costing $343,000 and thought to be the most modern YMCA building in the world at the time, was dedicated in 1923. This local Y was one of the first groups in the nation to play basketball shortly after it was invented by a Massachusetts athletic director, James Naismith and even hosted the National Bas-ketball Championships in 1935 and 1937.

In 1947 the Williamsport YMCA held the distinction of the only Y in the world to contain eighteen bowling lanes which cost $37,000. Soon after that the Wolf Memorial Chapel was added and then paddle, handball, squash courts, and a men’s health club were added in 1963.

The early 70’s brought the need for another expansion and the need for modernization. In 1977 the Family Center opened on Elmira St. which included 6 racquetball courts, a gym-nasium and a pool. Through the 70’s and early 80’s the YMCA served the community by providing a home for the Bi-County Office for the Aging, the Work Release Program and the Youth Day Treatment Program.

In 1996, the Williamsport YMCA opened a new Arena which hosted soccer, basketball and hockey leagues, events, parties, skating and many other activities.

The Williamsport YMCA added the Bradford County YMCA as a subsidiary in 2004 and es-tablished the River Valley Regional YMCA in 2006 of which they became the Williamsport Branch YMCA.

By 2009 the YMCA found their focus shifting to meet the current needs of the communi-ty. The Williamsport Branch YMCA moved to a new, more efficient facility on the corner of Walnut and High St in December of 2014.

If the Williamsport Area School District has a morning delay, *Group Exercise classes will begin at Noon. Morning Child Watch will be cancelled.

If the Williamsport School District is closed, all Group Exercise classes, Child Watch, Youth Movement and Programming are canceled until 4pm. A decision will be made by 2:00pm in regards to all evening Group Exercise classes, Child Watch, Youth Movement, and Programming.

If the Williamsport School District has an early dismissal, please check the Branch for cancellations. A decision will be made by 2:00pm in regards to all evening Group Exercise classes, Child Watch, Youth Movement, and Programming.

In case of late afternoon, evening, or weekend inclement weather, the status of all Group Exercise classes, Child Watch, Youth Movement, and Programming will be determined by the Branch Executive Director.

Check our Facebook page for cancellations, delays, or closings by following Williamsport Area School District.

The YMCA will utilize our Social Media pages to also communicate these instances as well.

*Group Exercise Classes includes On-land AND Aquatics
*Policy does NOT include Childcare

Aquatics:

• Children 7 years & under must have an Adult IN THE WATER within arms reach.
• Children 8-11: Adult can be in the water or on pool deck but MUST be in the pool area.
• Children 12-16: Adult can be elsewhere in facility but MUST stay on YMCA property.
• Must be 18 years of age & older to utilize the Hot Tub, Steam Room, and Dry Sauna.

Gymnasium:

• Youth Members who are 13 years of age+ may utilize the Basketball Gymnasium.
• Youth Members who are 12 years of age and younger may utilize the Basketball Gymnasium with a parent or guardian.

Wellness

• Youth 11 – 14 years must be accompanied and supervised by a parent/guardian on the Wellness floor at all times, with parent/guardian within 6 feet away.
• Youth 10 years and under are not allowed on the Wellness floor at any time.
• Equipment must be wiped down BEFORE & AFTER with antiseptic wipes on the walls of the Wellness floor after each use; when circuit training, wipe in between sets.
• Proper footwear is to be worn on the Wellness floor: close toed shoes in weight training areas and shoes with a back portion (securing shoe to the foot) on the cardiovascular equipment (no crocs, slides, or flip-flops). Bare feet are allowed on the matted area.
• Do not drop weights on Wellness floor. Lifts using a release must be performed on Olympic lifting platform. On cable machines and strength training circuit, do not release weight stack without fully lowering to the starting position.
• Return weights and other fitness equipment to its’ proper location after use.
• Only liquid chalk is allowed on the Wellness floor.
• Allow other participants to work in while utilizing equipment (if so, WIPE equipment down in between sets). Refrain from having long phone communications while on equipment, to allow other participants full usage.
• Any personal music device must not be audible to others in the same vicinity.
• Modest workout clothing is to be worn on the Wellness floor, with a top on at all times (chest should be covered, no sport bras only).
• Please utilize locker facilities for duffel bags and backpacks.
• Personal Training with wage compensation is only allowed for employed Y staff.
• Vulgar language and conversation will not be tolerated.

*Fitness Attendants reserve the right to enforce all policies, and will ask participants to leave, if they do not receive full cooperation!*

Members can utilize the Y facility alone at 15 years of age & older (only exception is the 13 year olds+ who can utilize the Basketball Gymnasium only).