• Together, the nation's more than 2,500 YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. Ys are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay.

  Because all communities have different needs, all YMCAs are different. Every Y makes its own decisions on what programs to offer and how to operate.

  YMCAs stretch beyond the United States. YMCAs are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 45 million people. About 230 U.S. YMCAs maintain relationships with Ys in other countries.

All YMCA programs are tools YMCAs use to accomplish their mission, achieve their vision of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities, and reinforce the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. YMCAs also use an asset-building approach in their work. Each association is different, reflecting the needs of the local community. Your YMCA may or may not offer a particular kind of program. These programs may, but will not necessarily, include:

• Adventure Guides -strengthening the relationships between parents and children
• Aquatics - swim lessons, scuba, water fitness, national competitive swimming and many others
• Arts and humanities - writing, performing, visual and more
• Camping - day, overnight, outdoor education and more
• Child Care - infant, toddler, preschool, school-age and other combinations
• Community Development - job training; drug abuse prevention; economic development programs and more
• Family - family nights, support groups and programs, and more
• Health and Fitness - group exercise, strength training, walking, yoga, personal fitness and more
• Older Adults - health and fitness, social clubs, volunteering, and more
• SCUBA - the history of national dive training in the U S began with the development of the YMCA SCUBA Program.
• Sports - for youth and adults in basketball, soccer, baseball/T-ball and more
• Teen Leadership - clubs, adventure programs, Black Achievers, Earth Service Corps, Leader Clubs, Hi-Y, Youth and Government, Model United Nations, middle school programs and more