YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit

Child care and day camp the Ymca offers children and parents a safe and caring place to grow, supporting parents' efforts to nurture their children's healthy development. Trained and certified staff provide affordable, high-quality care for peace of mind and family success. In 2023, over 1,500 children participated in age-appropriate enjoyable child care experiences. Ymca child care, including after-school care, is offered in licensed locations throughout southeast Michigan and includes youth fitness to ensure a healthy lifestyle at the earliest age. One of the best ways to give children a head start in life is through the quality child care programs at the Ymca. But anyone with children knows even the most affordable child care program is a considerable financial responsibility. For some, without the help of the Ymca annual campaign, it wouldn't even be a possibility. That is why the annual campaign helps build strong families of all sizes by offering much needed financial assistance for child care. Summer day camp is also offered at every Ymca of Metropolitan Detroit branch, and enrollment often fills up quickly. But the Ymca provides several different summer camp experiences - camp ohiyesa in holly, camp nissokone in oscoda or multiple day camp locations throughout southeast Michigan. In 2023, over 1,500 children attended camp in the summer. Four of every ten children in Ymca day camp are provided subsidy assistance from our annual campaign. Last year, the association raised over $1 million to support families and children to enable their full participation in nurturing programs.

Health and well-being for all Ymca members are full partners in pursuing the mission of the Ymca and participating in a variety of programs that develop a healthy body, mind and spirit. Membership benefits include access to certain classes, preferred rates for programs, access to facilities, access to Ymca resident camps, Ymca childwatch, and opportunities to volunteer and contribute to community betterment activities. Almost 40,000 people of all ages, ethnicities and abilities are members of the Ymca. The membership is equally divided between male and female and numerous members also serve in a variety of volunteer roles giving back to their respective communities. Like all our programs, scholarship assistance for members that require financial assistance is available through our annual campaign. More than 10 percent of Ymca members receive scholarship or subsidy support in some form.

Aquatics swimming lessons, as we know them today, were invented at the Detroit Ymca in 1910 before spreading throughout the Ymca national movement. Learning to swim at the Ymca is more than stroke development. Trained, certified and sensitive staff gave personal attention to over 8,200 program participants in 2023 to ensure quality and safety. Ymca aquatics programs are available to all ages and skill levels. Through guided discovery activities and creative teaching methods, each level of the Ymca swim lesson program teaches age-appropriate skills. Participants are taught in small groups with others of their own age and skill level. The y's approach to swim lessons provides for more active involvement and a better fundamental understanding of swimming. Ymca of Metropolitan Detroit swim teams also play an important role in building self-esteem, confidence and team spirit. Several Ymca branches support swim teams including the birmingham Ymca team of national reputation.

The Ymca offers affordable programs and services in healthy living, youth development and social responsibility designed to benefit families of all incomes and backgrounds. Fees are based on the actual cost to provide each program. Candidates qualify to receive scholarships for membership and programs if they are low income. The amount they pay is based on a sliding fee scale with the remainder subsidized by the Ymca through either grant funding and/or the Ymca annual campaign.