The Y Beyond Walls
The Y Mission: Bigger Than a Building!
For over 150 years, the Y has delivered on our mission to build a strong community. What this has looked like has changed as the Y adapted to meet the needs of those we serve. While today’s realities may impact how we deliver on this mission, we remain committed to our community. Together, WE ARE Y STRONG!
Allow us to share resources and information you can use at home while we all do our part to curb the spread of this virus. It’s our way to help you to stay active, engaged, and connected.
Vermont COVID-19 Resources
- Click here for important information for all Vermonters, in both English and multiple languages for new Americans.
- While the State of Vermont is still under a Stay at Home order, learn how to safely connect with friends and family by clicking here.
Fitness Resources
Reserve a Time in the Aquatic Center
We are glad to welcome members back to our Aquatic Center! Vermont is reopening businesses at a modest pace and with restrictions to keep everyone healthy and safe. Learn what you can expect with this reopening AND reserve a lane by clicking here.
Greater Burlington YMCA On-Site and Virtual Classes
Check out our schedule below and join one of 30 classes offered weekly. Participants must register for classes. Reminder, members must bring their own mats, sweat towels, yoga props, and resistance bands to any classes using such equipment. Registration opens 24 hours before the start time of the class.
YMCA 360
Virtual exercise programs for all levels available for free to Y members and community. Click here to access.
YMCA @ HOME
YMCA of Greater New York has also created workout videos. Click here to access.
GBYMCA mobile app
Download our app in the App Store or Google Play Store. You can sync other fitness apps with it, and manually enter your workouts as well. Set some goals!
Click here to go to the App Store. Click here to go to the Google Play Store.
Fitness for Kids & Families Together
12Bursts. Stay active with 5-minute bursts of daily physical activity kids and families can do anytime, anywhere!
Fresh air and sunshine
Try to get outside every day! If you are not feeling well, please stay home. If you go for a walk, hike, or bike, go alone or with members of your household — and maintain the safe distance of at least six feet from others.
Local Resources
- Virtual Vermont: Your guide to museums, farms, history, art, music, comedy, products, and more!
- Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library: Check out all the offerings Fletcher Free Library has on their virtual events calendar. Plus, movies, e-books, audiobooks, etc.
- Audubon Vermont: Audubon from Home nature lessons for kids.
- FourScienceVT: Four great resources — ECHO, Fairbanks Museum, Montshire Museum, and VINS — all in one easy place to find! Visit and find at-home learning opportunities, virtual wonders, and other online resources.
Staying Safe & Managing Stress
For resources in many different languages intended to support non-English speaking members of our community, click here.
From the CDC: things you can do to support yourself and manage stress.
Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Some tips:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
COVID-19 and Our Y
On June 8th, the doors to our new facility reopened under a set of protocols and safety measures we are referring to as Phase 1. To read about what you should expect upon your return to the Y, including some resources that remain closed at this time, click here.
The Y Response
The Greater Burlington Y responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by:
- Providing early child care for our region’s health care professionals so that they could do their crucial work. As of June 1st, all Y early child care programs reopened.
- Worked with two area school districts to provide staffing for school-age child care for our region’s essential workers.
- We have provided a library of online workouts and other resources free for the community (see above).
- Offered creative solutions to keep the community together such as live-streaming Dynamo Swim Team activities, Camp Abnaki’s virtual campfires, frequent check-ins with child care families, and more.
- We continue to plan for future phases of our gradual return to traditional Y programs and offerings. This work helps us to re-launch our range of services to improve health, and to give children the best start in life.
The challenge
For several months, our Y’s major sources of income — fees for membership, programs, and child care — all but stopped. Across the nation, Ys and other non-profit organizations are in a struggle to survive.
We have created a special fund — THE Y STRONG FUND — to support the areas of greatest need for our organization at this stressful time. To support this fund, click the button below.
