Health is now a priority in our household because of the Y. And as a single mom living in New York City, it’s wonderful to know my kids are in a safe, enriching place learning new skills. Most impactful have been the friendships we’ve formed. Now, when we see the Y sign, we see family.

Summer camp is a big time for the Y. We hire more than 1,000 new employees to serve more than 13,000 campers every year. The best part is many of our staff were once campers themselves, or have children in our camps. We asked staff to share their best experiences.

Many associate seniors at the Y with Silver Sneakers and water aerobics classes. But older adults at New York City’s YMCA participate in a wide array of activities, including dance parties, holiday potlucks, healthy living seminars, and more.