Policies

We strive to make the Ridgway YMCA a fun, family friendly environment with easy to follow guidelines that keep our facility clean, our equipment safe and sanitized, and our guests comfortable. We ask that all members and guest adhere to our policies.

Ridgway Area YMCA Membership Guide

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MISSION STATEMENT
To provide a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop to their fullest potential. This is achieved through programs that put Christian principles into practice that challenge us to build a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

THE GOALS
In giving effect to our Purpose, the YMCA seeks to offer to all who participate in its program opportunities for experience that will help them:

• develop self-confidence and self respect
• develop a faith for daily living
• appreciate that health of body and mind is a sacred gift
• recognize the worth of all persons
• develop a sense of world mindedness
• develop capacities for leadership
• never turn anyone away for the inability to pay

Each program of the YMCA should meet at least one of these goals.

WHO WE ARE
The Ridgway Area YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization open to all people regardless of age, sex, religion or income for the purpose of putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy body, mind and spirit for all.

HOW WE OPERATE
You and your fellow members are the Ridgway YMCA, and through volunteer participation on the elected Board of Directors and its various committees, necessary policies and practices are established. A full-time professional YMCA Executive Director is employed by the association to supervise required full-time and part-time staff as well as to administer desired programming and services. We hope you will choose to become involved in your Ridgway YMCA. Please contact the Ridgway YMCA executive director, or any board member, if you are interested in board or committee service.

ABOUT RIDGWAY YMCA FACILITIES
The Ridgway YMCA is a facility that includes a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a fitness center, a racquetball court, a free weight room, adult male and female locker rooms, a state-licensed child care center (found off campus), room and a youth/teen area with air hockey table plus seating and phone charging stations.

RENTALS
Facility rentals may be reserved by calling the YMCA front desk no less than two (2) weeks in advance of the pool party. Pool/Birthday parties will be held on Fridays and Saturdays. Call the YMCA for details.

MEMBERSHIP DESCRIPTION

YMCA membership includes the following to all member classifications:

1. Use of all areas of the facility when not scheduled for programming activities or when available on an open basis.
2. Reservation priority for Racquetball court time.
3. Reduced programming fee.

MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION

1. Family Membership: Open to all families to include husband, wife, and all dependent children 18 years and under or a full-time college student up to age 24.
2. Adult Membership: Open to all men and women 18 years and older
3. Youth Membership: Open to all children 3 to 17 years of age.
4. College Membership: Open to full time college students up to age 24. Proof of full time status required in form of current college schedule.
5. Grants and Assistance Membership: Open to anyone who qualifies based on their income. No one will be denied access to the YMCA because of financial difficulty. All inquiries are to be made to the YMCA Director and Finance Committee. 

REINSTATEMENT FEE
There is a $35.00 added fee to all draft memberships that have been cancelled and then reinstated within 12 months.

HOLIDAYS
The Ridgway Area YMCA will be closed on the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Labor Day (weekend of)           
Easter
Thanksgiving Day
Memorial Day (weekend of)
Christmas Day
Fourth of July

**Additional days may be added depending on calendar.

YOUTH POLICY
Youth 8 and over may use the facility during the open hours.

Youth 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Youth not using the facility for its scheduled or intended purpose must leave the building. Loitering in the lobby, halls, locker rooms, gymnasium or pool deck area is prohibited.

RACQUETBALL RESERVATIONS
Members 14 years of age or older may make reservations by calling or stopping by the YMCA front desk.

FITNESS CENTER USAGE
AGES 16 & up
1. All members 16 years of age and older are permitted to use the fitness room during regular hours.

 AGES 14,15
1. Must bring in a waiver with a physicians signature permitting you to work out in our facility
2. A parent permission slip is also required

AGES 10-13
1. Must bring in a waiver with a physician’s signature permitting you to work out in our facility
2. A parent permission slip is also required
3. A parent MUST accompany AND supervise their child at all times

FREE WEIGHT ROOM POLICY — AGE RESTRICTION
The minimum age to enter the free weight room is 16. All members age 16 must be accompanied by an parent/adult coach at all times. Members age 17 and up may use the weight room without a parent/adult coach. We suggest all members should work out with a partner.

LOCKER ROOMS
Male and Female Family Locker Rooms: These lockers will be available to all general members. Lockers are for daily use on a first come, first serve basis. Some lockers will be available for rental. The YMCA staff will remove any lock left on a locker overnight; that is not properly rented through the front desk. Cooperation of all members will help to assure a clean, well- kept locker area for all. Towels, gym clothing, etc. will not be permitted to be left in lockers.

 Locker Rentals:  Lockers are available to rent by paid in full or bank draft members ONLY. Yearly members can rent a locker for $24.00 a year. Draft members may also rent a locker. There are two options for this type of rental:

1. Add $2.00 a month per locker rental (up to 2 per family…father & mother)
2. Pay for locker in full at time draft is started (if you cancel your draft before the year is up, you lose the locker and remaining money will not be refunded)

Lockers are NOT available to anyone under the age of 18
THERE ARE NO RFUNDS ON LOCKERS

Physical contact of any kind is NOT permitted in the YMCA locker rooms. The lockers are a very private area and our members’ privacy will not be violated.

POOL RULES

• NO RUNNING
• NO DIVING, BACK DIVING, OR FLIPS FROM THE SIDE 
• NO EXCESSIVE HORSEPLAY
• FLOATING DEVICES MAY ONLY BE USED UNDER DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE PARENT/ADULT

PLEASE REFER TO POOL SCHEDULE FOR DESIGNATED ADULT AND OPEN SWIM TIMES.

RULE VIOLATION
Any member or guest not following the established rules will be reprimanded in the following manner:

1. Given a verbal warning.
2. Written Warning.
3. After consultation with the YMCA Executive Director termination of YMCA membership will follow.

VANDALISM & THEFT
Anyone caught stealing or vandalizing any property of the YMCA facility will have their membership revoked immediately. There is NO tolerance for this type of behavior.

FOUL LANGUAGE
No violation of rules including, but not limited to, smoking, spitting, fighting, foul language, drinking of alcoholic, chewing tobacco and use of drugs will be permitted anywhere within the Ridgway YMCA or on the surrounding property.

FIREARMS, KNIVES, ETC.
Firearms, knives, etc. of any kind are NOT permitted anywhere within the Ridgway YMCA.

FOOD AND DRINK
Food and drink will not be permitted in any locker room, the gym, pool, or shower areas. Drinks will be permitted in other areas so long as members cooperate and are able to keep these areas litter free. Take-out food is permitted to be delivered or eaten at the YMCA.

PAGING
The YMCA does not have an intercom system. We are not able to locate anyone unless we walk around the building and we are not able to leave the front desk area. We will help out in emergency situations to the best of our capabilities.

PARKING
YMCA parking is available to its members across the street in front of the building. Please do not drop any individual off in front of the building while on route 219. This creates a safety problem. On the side of the building there is a Handicap Accessible parking space, and a ramp; please drop off and pick up in this area. As always, please do not park at the Fire Department or in Elk County Food’s parking lot.

LOST AND FOUND
All articles found in lockers, locker rooms, pool, gym, etc. will be removed and placed in our lost and found box. Members should make every effort to claim their articles as soon as they discover they are missing. The YMCA is not responsible for lost and found articles.

YMCA PROGRAMS
“Y” programs are available to “Y” members and non-members. YMCA members receive substantial discounts on program fees. Inability to afford fees due to financial hardship should not prevent participation in “Y” programs. Consult “Y” staff for special circumstances and exceptions. For more information contact the front desk. Fitness classes are for members and non-members 16 years of age and older, unless otherwise specified.

REFUND POLICY
Memberships – There will be NO refunds or credit on membership fees. Memberships are non-transferable. 

Programs – The fees will be refunded if the YMCA must cancel because of insufficient enrollment. Once the program begins, there will be NO refunds or credit on program fees.

VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are an important part of the YMCA program. Anyone with a special skill or interest should call the “Y” Executive Director. 

ENJOY YOUR MEMBERSHIP AT THE RIDGWAY AREA YMCA!

PLEASE NOTE: Rules and hours are subject to change. Please feel free to contact the staff with comments, suggestions, or concerns relative to the YMCA and the services it provides.