PHOTO BY ANDREW POTTER The Y’s Healthy Kids Day, free and open to the public, will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 16 with activities and refreshments.

Being healthy and fit is part of the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA’s mission. Every year, it joins with Y’s across the nation to host Healthy Kids Day. This year’s event will take place outdoors at the Y from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 16. Games, sports, inflatables and refreshments will be offered, free to the public.

Soccer, volleyball, lawn games and more will be on hand.

“The goal is to usher in spring and get families together and active. That’s what we promote at the Y: active lifestyles,” said Y Marketing & Communications Director Andrew Potter. “And it’s a way for us to also connect to the community as well, because we want to talk about the Y programs we have for the summer, talk about the benefits of being a Y member. This exposes us to the whole community. We just want to tout the benefits of being active and bring people together.”

Attendees can come and go, drop by any time.

“We’re hoping for a good day. And if not, we’ll pivot and move (things) inside,” he added. “We’ll get the inflatables and everything set up in the gym.”

Potter points out summer is the busiest time at the Y, and with good reason. Once school is out of session, parents rely on the Y to provide a safe and entertaining environment, in the form of day and sports camps.

“Our T-ball season is underway now. Dance has a lot of different programs. It’s pretty busy,” he said. “It helps fill their summer schedules. That’s what we’re here to do.”

Parents Night Out returns May 15 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“It gives parents a time to drop the kids off at the Y. We show them a fun night. Parents can either go out to dinner or finish some shopping, have some time together,” Potter noted. “We started doing that on a monthly basis several months ago, and it’s continued to be popular on Friday nights. Its a parents night out too. That’s been a very cool thing for our community and we’ve had some great response…it’s a win-win.”

Each night has had a different theme. Youngsters can enjoy an evening of crafts, games, pizza, gym play, simulator and a movie.

Pre-registration is required. For ages 6 months to 10 years old. Cost is $15 per child for Y members and $25 per child for non-members (can begin May 6).

The Lazyman Ironman Triathlon challenge will span May 15 through June 12. Registration is $15 for the program only, or $30 for program and t-shirt due at the Member Service Desk. Events don’t have to be completed in traditional order or all at one time. The goal is to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles indoors or outdoors and run or walk 26.2 miles or participate in group exercise class.

Y celebrates 150th in 2026

Generations have attended classes, camps, social events, dance lessons and learned to swim at the Y.

The EGYM program, launched in January 2025, only keeps drawing folks, approximately age 12 and up. A line of 11 machines offers a holistic workout experience that is personalized, tracks all fitness activities and makes progress visible to aid in motivation.

“We originally saw a lot of the older adults using it, but now it has been more 20-somethings, kids. It does appeal to a wide audience,” Potter said. “We’re really proud how that’s led to increased interest in the Y. We’ve reached 1,000 participants.”

Adults can enjoy men’s basketball league, multi-sport simulator, pickleball, coed water volleyball, racquetball plus cycling and running groups. For more information, reach out at: Angie.Paxson@ymca-ywca.org.

Little Campers (for ages 3-6) will span June 8 through August 14. Day Camp for children entering grades first through fifth will go June 8 through August 21. For more information on kids’ summer camps, email: ashley.nelson@ymca-ywca.org.