Tag: Summer Camp

YMCA Fall Highlights: Family Activities, Events, and Giving Season Updates

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

YMCA Fall Highlights: Family Activities, Events, and Giving Season Updates

Welcome to Fall at the Y

Fall is in full swing at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County, and we’re bringing the fun, fitness, and family spirit all season long! From Halloween favorites like Trunk or Treat and Dunkin’ for Pumpkins to holiday-inspired workouts including Monster Mash, Turkey Burn, and the kickoff of Run, Run, Rudolph, there’s something for every age to enjoy. Plus, our Black Friday specials make this the perfect time to plan ahead, whether you’re saving on membership, swim lessons, or summer camp registration. Stay connected with your community, celebrate the season with friends and family, and find your next favorite Y event below.

Holiday Fitness: Fun, Festive, and Full of Endorphins

This season, we’re turning up the music, turning on the lights, and getting our hearts pumping! From spooky dance-offs to post-Thanksgiving calorie burns, our holiday fitness lineup is the perfect mix of fun and motivation. Trust us, you won’t want to miss these! Click here for more info on all our seasonal fitness challenges. 

10/29 | 6-7:30 PM | Sinking Spring YMCA
Get ready to dance your heart out at our Halloween-themed fitness bash! Join us for an electrifying workout that doubles as a costume party. Enjoy light refreshments, show off your best costume for a chance to win, and bring a non-member guest to score a free smoothie.

11/28 | 9-1 AM | Adamstown YMCA, Mifflin YMCA, Sinking Spring YMCA, & Tri Valley YMCA

Kick off your Thanksgiving weekend with an energy-packed sweat session that gives back. Bring canned goods for the Reading Y Housing and earn extra Run, Run, Rudolph points while you’re at it.

Turn your workouts into a holiday competition! From November 28 – January 9, join members across Berks County for festive challenges, prizes, and serious motivation to finish the year strong.

Halloween Events at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

Halloween Events at the Y

Get ready for a frightfully fun time at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County! Our Halloween celebrations are packed with treats, costumes, and creative fun for every age. From family-friendly Trunk or Treats to festive pool parties and senior celebrations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this spooky season.

Bring your little goblins and superheroes for a FREE safe, family-friendly night of trick-or-treating from car to car. Each branch will have themed trunks, treats, games, and a whole lot of Y community spirit!

Want to get involved? We’re accepting candy donations and volunteers to host trunks, it’s a fun, easy way to spread Halloween cheer and be part of the excitement.

Join the fun! Find all dates, times, and all other Trunk or Treat info here!

NEW this year, a splashy twist on Halloween fun at the Reading Y Pool! On Friday 10/24 from 6-8:30 PM, kids can jump into the pool and “dunk” for floating pumpkins then decorate their favorite to take home. Stay for games, sweet treats, and festive fun. Registration required |  $7/child

Dive in to register!

Our Mifflin Y Seniors are getting spooky, too! After class, join us for a festive potluck and costume contest, prizes, laughs, and plenty of treats (no tricks) included.

Black Friday Specials at the Y

Save big, feel great, and start your new year strong! The YMCA of Reading & Berks County’s Black Friday specials are here to help you and your family stay active, connected, and confident heading into 2026. From giving the gift of summer adventures to starting new fitness goals, these limited-time offers are too good to miss.

Fall Break, Winter Break… the Y Has Your Back!

Smiling kid playing with sidewalk chalk and having fun at the Y's before and after school programs.

When school’s closed but work isn’t, the Y is here to help! Our School’s Out Half and Full Day Y Care is offered at six YMCA locations across Berks County, giving children in kindergarten through sixth grade a safe, fun place to play, learn, and make friends. With creative activities, games, and caring staff, your kids will make the most of every day off, while you work worry-free.

Learn more or register for School’s Out.

Help Fulfill the Wish of a Child in Your Community

The holiday season is about giving  and you can make a difference right here in Berks County! The YMCA of Reading & Berks County’s Kids Gift Program helps bring joy to local children and families in need.

Here’s how to take part:
1. Select an ornament from the Kids Gift Tree in any YMCA lobby or scan the QR code to see our list of gift options.
2. Purchase one of the listed items.
3. Return your unwrapped gift with the attached ornament tag by December 5th.

It’s a small act that makes a huge impact for a child this holiday season.

Spread the joy! Learn more about the Kids Gift Program.

Headlines, Highlights & Spotlights

Community spotlights, news, and stories from our Y association. Read media features and blog posts that spotlight local impact.

Mifflin YMCA Members Mike and Karen Derr, playing pickleball

Local Y Members Mike & Karen Derr Are Living Their Best Retirement Life

Mike and Karen Derr are proof that retirement doesn’t mean slowing down. From traveling to community involvement, these local Y members are living life to the fullest, earning a spotlight in Berks County Living’s “Living Their Best Retirement Lives” feature.

Click here to read their story.

Written by Jon Fassnacht, photos by Heidi Reuter, originally published in Berks County Living, 9/29/25.

Navigating Change & Uncertainty. The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Article on the YMCA of Reading and Berks County.

Navigating Change & Uncertainty

For 167 years, the Y has been the backdrop for countless firsts, first steps into the pool, first friendships at summer camp, first safe nights for families in crisis, and first chances at recovery. What began in 1858 as a modest reading room has evolved through countless adaptations to meet the changing needs of the times.

Click here to read the full story from the Greater Chamber Alliance.

The Y is more than a gym. It’s your place to connect, grow, and belong. Stay close, stay active, and stay part of something bigger.

Find your connection. Find your Y.
Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin Youtube Tiktok Link

Table of Contents

Save the Date

10/24 

Trunk or Treat at Richmond Program Center

10/24

Dunkin' for Pumpkins at Reading Y

10/26

Racquet Sports Open House at Sinking Spring Y

10/27

Trunk or Treat at Adamstown Y

10/29

Trunk or Treat at Mifflin Y

10/29 

Monster Mash Fitness Dance Party at Sinking Spring Y

10/30

Mifflin Y Senior's Spooky Soiree

11/1

Trunk or Treat at Sinking Spring Y

11/7

Kids' Night Out at Mifflin Y

11/14

Kids' Night Out at Sinking Spring Y

11/21

Kids' Night Out at Tri Valley

11/28

Turkey Burn at Sinking Spring Y

11/30

Run, Run, Rudolph Fitness Challenge Begins

Recent Posts

Follow Us

More Than A Place. A Purpose

Stay Connected to the Y

Get YMCA of Reading & Berks County updates, events, and community stories delivered right to your inbox each month.

Sign Me Up

YMCA Summer Day Camp & Playground Programs: A Transformative Experience for Kids Treasure New Experiences. Build Confidence. Make Memories.

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox
Sign Up for Summer Fun

Summer’s calling! It’s time to start planning for a summer camp bursting with weekly adventures, unforgettable trips, and lifelong memories. You’ll give the kids something to look forward to and you’ll stay ahead of the game when summer finally arrives. 

Summer Day Camps offer children much more than just a break from school—they provide a holistic developmental experience that nurtures physical, social, and emotional growth. The Summer Day Camp & Playground programs at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County are designed to create memorable and enriching summer adventures for children. They create new memories and friendships, explore new things, and gain independence all while trying new, fun activities!

Day Camp (full-day, 8 AM – 4 PM) is offered at all five locations of YMCA of Reading & Berks County: Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley. For families who need to accommodate their work schedules and want to extend the day for their kids, the Y also offers options for wrap-around care for mornings and/or afternoons.  The Y also manages numerous Playground Programs (half-day, 9 AM – 1 PM) at multiple locations throughout Berks County. 

Some of the most popular features of YMCA Summer Camp (included in the cost of camp) include:

  • Weekly themes, spanning different interests from sports and superheroes to music, art and traditions from around the world
  • Top-notch weekly field trips, Top Flight Golf, Reading Fightins baseball, and Laser Tag
  • Weekly trips to the swimming pool and/or water games
  • Food art with our on-staff nutritional chef
  • Activities, games and challenges are age appropriate

Summer Camps Provide Life-Long Benefits

The YMCA Summer Camp is more than just entertainment. It’s a structured program designed to provide life-long benefits. Children gain increased self-esteem, enhanced social skills, and memories that last a lifetime!

Preventing Summer Learning Loss

Academic experts recognize the challenge of summer learning loss. In fact, the summer learning slide can add up to equivalent of three years of reading loss by the end of fifth grade. Our YMCA camps address this by incorporating educational elements into fun activities. By keeping children mentally stimulated through problem-solving, team-building, and creative challenges, camps help maintain academic readiness.

Social and Emotional Development

Camps provide a unique environment for children to develop crucial social skills. More than 75% of families report that their children feel a sense of belonging during camp, and over 73% note that their kids make new friends. The camp experience helps children build self-confidence, learn teamwork, develop leadership skills, explore social interactions, and create a sense of belonging and community.

Personal Growth and Skill Building

Through so many learning experiences and activities with their peers, campers can navigate challenges in a nurturing, low-pressure environment with our counselors and mentors. Through incremental personal experiences, they build their confidence as they try new challenges and acquiring new skills through the activities – from STEM to arts and crafts, to swimming and sports.

A Lasting Impact

YMCA Summer Day Camp is not just a summer program—it’s a transformative experience that supports children’s holistic development. By combining fun, learning, and personal growth, Y camps provide an invaluable opportunity for children to explore, learn, and thrive during their summer break.

Summer Camp Kids at the pool

10 Things to Do at the Y

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

When you have fun options, prioritizing your health and wellness feels anything but “routine.” Putting self-care first helps enhance your sense of joy and contributes to a better quality of life.

The YMCA of Reading & Berks County offers something for every age. Here’s a top 10 list of activities to keep your mind, body and spirit strong.

  1. Health & Wellness. Exercise in one of five fitness centers outfitted with new free weights and cardio equipment that streams your devices so you can track your progress or catch up on your shows. Have little ones? Check the times for supervised childcare in the Kids Court while you work out or get a massage at New Beginnings in Sinking Spring Y. With fitness and nutrition orientations and cooking classes, the Y helps you improve your lifestyle choices.
  2. Fitness Classes. Find your fun in fitness classes including Zumba®, yoga, spin, aquacise, LesMills™ BodyPump and many more that cater to different fitness levels and interests.
  3. Get a day pass or membership to have a ball playing racquet sports year-round. To keep beginners and practiced players moving, the Y has indoor pickleball courts. You also can shoot hoops in, or maybe even rent, the gym.
  4. Head to the indoor swimming pool at the Reading YMCA branch where you can enjoy lap swimming, recreational swimming and swim lessons for all ages.
  5. Certifications and Classes. Take CPR, AED and lifeguarding classes in life-saving procedures offered through American Red Cross.
  6. Summer Camps. Enroll your children in summer day camp and playground programs! Every week features amazing field trips within and beyond Berks, fun weekly themes, pool/water days, sports, arts and crafts, and educational programming for fun camp challenges. Campers will learn new skills, preventing summer learning loss. They’ll make new friends and life-long memories!
  7. Celebrate a Birthday. At the Sinking Spring Y, make the day special with exclusive access to the Kids Court (Play Port, bounce house and climbing wall) and dedicated party staff. There are also options for Nerf parties and Gaga Pits.
  8. Kids Night Out. Parents can take the night off and drop their kids (grades K-6) off for an evening of fun and games, crafts, snacks and movies. This monthly event rotates among the Y’s five branches.
  9. Enrichment Programs. In addition to early learning centers, the Y offers Before & After School Care and School’s Out programs for school-aged children. Homework help, games and nutritious snacks are a few of the things you can expect.
  10. Participating in community events offers a special sense of connection, camaraderie and purpose. Save these dates:
  • Take the plunge on March 15 at Blue Marsh for the Y’s Annual Marsh Madness Polar Plunge event to benefit youth.
  • Come to Healthy Kids Day, a free family fun day hosted by the YMCA and Berks County Parks & Recreation on April 26 featuring a color run for kids, food trucks, smoothy-making bikes, crafts, fitness activities and local vendors.
  • Pick your partner and register online (beginning March 30) for the Annual Cornhole Tournament on June 13. This family-friendly event will have brackets for adults (12+) and families (ages 6-12 can team up with an adult), food trucks and prizes.

For 166 years, the YMCA of Reading and Berks County has worked to strengthen our community by building healthier families, empowering youth, fostering inclusivity and providing a foundation for connection and belonging. The Y has five fitness/wellness centers, two early learning centers, and is one of the few in the nation to offer residential housing programs. In addition to its physical branches in Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley (Fleetwood, Oley and Schuylkill Valley), the Y provides enrichment programs and community activities with several organizations and schools throughout the county. ymcarbc.org

Level Up Your Summer Camp Experience

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

YMCA Summer Day Camp & Playground Programs

 By: Shelley Eppihimer, VP of Youth Development, YMCA of Reading & Berks County

 

With summer around the corner, parents are seeking fun, engaging, and affordable ways to keep their children active and entertained. The YMCA of Reading & Berks County offers an exceptional array of Summer Day Camp & Playground programs that provide a safe, structured, and fun environment for kids. At Y camps, kids create new memories and friendships, explore new things, and gain independence all while trying new, fun activities!

1. Comprehensive Summer Day Camps & Playground Programs

Summer Day Camps run from 8 AM – 4 PM with optional Wrap-Around & Extended Care to accommodate working parents. Day Camp is offered at all five YMCA of Reading & Berks County locations: Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley. Campers enjoy weekly field trips, take part in specialty days, and have access to the YMCA pool once per week. These activities offer an exciting mix of adventure and learning, helping children make life-long memories.

Additionally, Playground Programs run from 9 AM – 1 PM, which is perfect for younger children or those with shorter schedules. The Y manages Summer Playground Programs in multiple locations throughout the county.

2.Exciting Days & Engaging Field Trips

Amazing field trips are one of the standout hallmarks of YMCA Summer Camp! They keep the summer packed with unique, educational experiences kids look forward to, such as:

  • Laser Tag for thrilling competitive fun
  • Top Golf for those looking to try a new sport
  • A day at the Reading Fightins’ for baseball game experience
  • Outdoor adventures that encourage exploration and physical activity
  • Nutrition and cooking opportunities that teach healthy habits in a fun, hands-on way

Each day, Y camps offer a wide variety of activities, sports, crafts and more to give children opportunities to explore new interests and develop new skills. Specialty days, such as themed events and project-based activities, keep the days fun.

3.Safe, Supportive Environment

The YMCA provides a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where children can grow and thrive. All programs are supervised by qualified, trained staff who are dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of every child.

 

4.Affordable Options with Open Door Scholarships

Because affordability can be a concern for many families, the YMCA of Reading & Berks County offers Open Door Scholarships. It ensures children from all backgrounds have access to quality enrichment programs regardless of a family’s financial situation.

5.Prevent Summer Learning Loss

The YMCA offers a wide variety of summer programming for enrichment, preventing summer learning loss. By keeping children mentally stimulated through problem-solving, team-building, and creative challenges, YMCA camps help maintain academic readiness.

6.Promoting Personal Growth and Social Skills

YMCA summer programs are about more than just fun—they help children develop essential social and life skills. By working in teams, engaging in new activities, and meeting new friends, kids gain confidence, improve communication, and learn the values of teamwork and responsibility. These experiences play a key role in fostering a sense of community and belonging.

7.A Summer of Fun, Friendship, and Learning

The YMCA’s summer programs provide a well-rounded experience that combines fun, physical activity, learning, and personal development. Kids leave the programs with cherished memories, new skills, and lasting friendships, making the YMCA a top choice for parents looking to enrich their children’s summer.

Enroll Your Child to Level Up this Summer’s Fun

This summer, let your child experience a summer like no other—full of adventure, new friends, and exciting opportunities. Early registrations are encouraged to secure a spot in these popular Y Summer Camp & Playground programs. For more information about the offerings at the Reading, Mifflin, Adamstown, Sinking Spring, and Tri Valley YMCAs, visit www.YMCArbc.org/summer-day-camp  or call your local branch today.