McGaw YMCA Children's Center

McGaw YMCA Early Childhood programs welcomed fall with their annual Pumpkin Harvest Parade! 🎃🍂🌟 Little ones, staff, and volunteers proudly marched from the Children’s Center to our Grove Street building and back, showing off the pumpkins they grew this year. Cheers, smiles, and autumn magic were everywhere!

Join the McGaw YMCA Camp Echo team for a Virtual Info Night on Tuesday, October 21, from 6:00–7:00PM (CST)! Whether you’re brand new or a returning camp family, this is your chance to:

🌲 Meet our directors & key staff
🌟 Hear 2026 youth program highlights
🎟️ Get pro tips for the Early Registration Lottery
❓ Ask your questions live in the Q&A

Don’t miss out! Sign up today at https://bit.ly/echoinfonight

The Y's Afterschool programs are here when you need us - even on non-attendance days!
✅ School’s Out Afterschool (K-5) - includes door-to-door transportation and weekly swim lessons
✅ MetaMedia (6-8) - digital media and maker education program with transportation options

Both programs run from school dismissal to 6:00 p.m. and feature hands-on STEAM activities, homework help, snacks, and more! Additional non-attendance day options available.

🌟 Special Offer: first time School’s Out Afterschool families can receive 50% off the first month! Restrictions apply.

Learn more and register: https://www.mcgawymca.org/cc/afterschool/

May is National Water Safety Month! Each year, we bring the canoe into our 4-lane pool so that our Children’s Center kiddos can have fun while learning life‑jacket and boat safety skills — essential for everyone in our lakefront community!

Join our team and make a difference this summer! We're looking for assistant teachers, enrichment assistants, and more to support our summer learning programs & day camps.

📅 Seasonal positions are available—apply now: https://www.mcgawymca.org/careers/listings/

Now Enrolling for Fall - registration is open for Early Childhood Programs (6 Weeks - 4 Years) and School’s Out Afterschool (Grades K-5)!

From Infant Care to Preschool, our year-round, full-day early learning programs at the McGaw YMCA Children's Center are designed for growth, learning, and fun!

Our afterschool program offers playtime, homework help, STEAM activities, swim lessons (K-2), and snacks. Plus, explore optional extras like Tae Kwon Do and theater with local partners! Open on regular school days, half/full days & school breaks (fees apply).

Learn more and register now on our website! https://www.mcgawymca.org/cc/

McGaw Y members & Northwestern affiliates—Fall registration is open! 🍎📚 Secure your spot in our Early Childhood Full-Day and School’s Out Afterschool Programs today! Community-wide registration begins in one week.

Register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/mcgawymca/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=2025%20application%20&viewMode=list

At McGaw YMCA, we are more than just a Y—we are a community built on the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. We remain steadfast in our vision of being a place FOR ALL, where every person matters.

McGaw YMCA will continue to be a safe and welcoming space for our members, staff, residents, and guests, regardless of immigration status. We take seriously our responsibility to ensure everyone has access to the resources, information, and support they need to grow, work, learn, and thrive in a secure environment.

Thank you for joining us in our commitment to making McGaw Y a place where everyone feels safe and valued.

- Monique Parsons, McGaw YMCA President/CEO

Due to predicted extreme cold, the McGaw YMCA 1000 Grove St. building will open at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21. Wind chills are expected to reach -25°F, making travel hazardous.

The McGaw YMCA Children’s Center will be closed all day.

We will monitor conditions and update if a full-day closure becomes necessary. Please check the McGaw YMCA website for updates before traveling to the Y. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe!

MCGAW Y MEMBERS/NU AFFILIATES: Register now for Summer Day Camp! ☀️😎 Get ready for an unforgettable camp experience that includes field trips, swimming, arts & crafts, sports, plus a whole lot more! Breakfast, lunch, and a snack provided daily. Open to kids entering grades 1-6.

Camp runs June 9 - August 15—sign up for 1 week or all 10!

Registration is now open for McGaw Y Members and NU Affiliates. Community-wide registration begins on January 27!

Register now at https://www.mcgawymca.org/camps/summer/

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Ruth Stern, a beloved member of our YMCA family. For over 20 years, Ruth dedicated herself to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment at the McGaw YMCA Children’s Center, leaving a lasting impact on countless children and families. Her warm smile, caring heart, and unwavering compassion embodied everything the Y stands for—community, belonging, and nurturing growth.

To all whose lives Ruth touched, we extend our deepest sympathies. Her legacy of love and kindness will forever inspire us.

Visit our website to learn more: https://www.mcgawymca.org/news/2025/01/in-memoriam-ruth-stern/