Tag: YMCA of Reading and Berks County

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

Deviled Eggs Got a Glow-Up — Meet the Avocado-Filled Upgrade Your Snack-Game Needs

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

You know those moments when your kids ask for a snack 17 seconds after you cleaned the kitchen? These avocado-filled eggs are your new secret weapon. Packed with protein, healthy fats, and a little spicy sass, they’re like deviled eggs — but better, classier, and less likely to stain your couch. Plus, our in-house nutritionist Shawn Borup, aka the Y food whisperer, ensured they’re as nourishing as they are snack-worthy.

Avocado deviled eggs topped with chives and cayenne on a white plate, Healthy avocado-filled eggs with Greek yogurt and jalapeños, YMCA high-protein snack idea with avocado and eggs

Ingredients:

  • 6 hard-boiled eggs
  • 1 cup avocado, diced
  • 1 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • ¼–½ tsp Himalayan salt
  • Cayenne pepper to taste
  • ¼ tbsp black pepper
  • 1–2 tbsp finely chopped jalapeños
  • 1 tbsp green onion
  • Chopped chives (for garnish)

For an extra fresh bite (and bonus mom points), Shawn recommends using organic eggs and avocados when possible — your taste buds and your body will thank you.

Directions:

  1. Cut the eggs in half and pop those yolks into a bowl with the avocado.

  2. Mash until smooth (or until your arm workout feels complete).

  3. Stir in yogurt, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

  4. Add jalapeños and green onion — feel free to adjust heat depending on whether you’re feeding tiny humans or spice lovers.

  5. Spoon into egg whites. Garnish with chives and a little cayenne if you’re feelin’ fancy.

Pro Tips:

  • Fresh local eggs are where it’s at. You could grab a generic dozen at the store, but why not get to know your local farmer and live your best farm-to-fridge life? Plus, your brunch will taste smugly superior.

  • Swap mayo for plain Greek yogurt. It’s creamy, tangy, and doesn’t come with a side of “What’s even in this?” vibes. Bonus points: protein boost, and you can still call it deviled without summoning the food guilt demons.

  • Smash ’em on toast. Avocado toast just got an upgrade, honey. Or skip the bread, throw one of these bad boys next to a green smoothie, and pretend you’re the kind of person who meal preps on Sundays instead of just crying in the Aldi parking lot.

  • Great for meal prepping snacks, perfect for that after-school snack! Your kids may not even notice it’s healthy (your secret’s safe with us)

DIY Nutella

Posted on Updated on by Amber Fox

(That Won’t Make Your Kids Bounce Off the Walls)

As Seen on WFMZ-TV69 on Saturday Sunrise 

Let’s be honest — store-bought Nutella is delicious, but have you seen that sugar content? One spoonful and suddenly your toddler thinks they’re starring in Fast & Furious: Living Room Drift. Enter this dreamy, creamy, dietitian-approved version from YMCA nutritional wizard Shawn Borup. It’s sweetened with dates (nature’s candy), made with hazelnuts (hello healthy fats), and totally customizable with cocoa or carob powder. Spoiler: you’ll be eating it straight off the spoon after bedtime. No judgment.

Homemade Nutella fruit dip with apples on a wooden tray, Healthy chocolate hazelnut spread next to sliced apples, YMCA nutritious homemade Nutella with dates and hazelnuts

Ingredients:

  • ¾–1 cup hazelnuts

  • 1 cup filtered water

  • 2 cups Medjool dates

  • ¼ cup carob powder or cocoa powder

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Shawn suggests going organic with your ingredients when you can — especially those dates and hazelnuts — because better ingredients = better spread (and less mystery in your pantry).

Truth Bombs About the Sweet Stuff (aka why Homemade Nutella is the hero we need):

  • Heads up: Cacao powder is strong stuff. Use a little less than you would with cocoa or carob.

  • Nutella says it’s a “hazelnut spread with cocoa.” Sugar is the first ingredient and not the picture of health. It’s 55% sugar. 

  • Oh and P.S.? Sugar + refined palm oil = a not-so-dreamy duo with known carcinogenic properties. Big yikes.

  • Eating sugar lights up your brain like a Christmas tree. It activates natural opioids — basically, your brain throws a party and forgets to send the eviction notice. Some studies say it can be addictive. (No wonder you can’t stop at one spoonful.)

  • And just for fun: Sugar also messes with your mood, your metabolism, and your waistline. It’s the frenemy of food — sweet on the surface, chaos underneath.

  • Dates to the rescue! Unlike refined sugar, dates bring fiber to the party — helping you feel full and slowing down the sugar spike. They’re nature’s way of saying, “I got you.”

Directions:

  1. Soak dates in warm water for 30 minutes.

  2. While that’s happening, blend the hazelnuts and filtered water in a blender to soften them up.

  3. Drain and pit the dates, then toss ’em in the blender.

  4. Blend for about a minute, or until it looks like creamy dessert magic.

  5. Transfer to a bowl, stir in the vanilla and carob/cocoa powder, and try not to eat it all in one sitting.

How to Use It:

  • As a fruit dip (make apples exciting again!)

  • Swirled into yogurt or oatmeal

  • In smoothie bowls

  • Or straight-up on a slice of whole-grain toast