Fergus Falls YMCA

Pledge:

I will strive to exemplify the YMCA mission by acting on the values of caring honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Caring:

To be sensitive to the needs of others and go the extra mile. 

• Understand the members, staff and volunteers are called upon to improve the human condition through a commitment of service to others.
• Care for the YMCA by not damaging, defacing, or stealing property. 
• Support on-going facility updates and mission-driven programs.
• Understand the YMCA is a charity with a mission of inclusiveness and equal access to all community members. 

Honesty:

To tell the truth, have integrity and build trust.

• Give staff honest and timely feedback so the YMCA can continue to grow and improve.
• Maintain appropriate physical boundaries at all times. 
• Keep the YMCA a safe location by ensuring no weapons, alcohol, drugs, or tobacco is on the premises. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the property.  

Respect:

To value the worth of every person and treat others as you would like to be treated.

• Wear appropriate attire. For example, no clothing with inappropriate/vulgar/profane images or writing, and swimsuits only in the pool area.
• Communicate respectfully and courteously, taking our family environment into special consideration.
• Be cooperative and responsive to YMCA staff.
• Respect other member's privacy, especially in the locker rooms. Concealed photography is prohibited within the YMCA, including the use of camera phones. 

Responsibility:

To do what is right and be accountable for my behavior and my obligations. 

• Ensure children under age 10 are actively supervised by a parent/guardian (15 years of age or older) at all times or are enrolled in a supervised/structured YMCA program.
• Consider an annual gift of time, talent, or treasure to ensure the Y has the resources needed to provide financial assistance, program scholarships, and outreach that will promote positive youth development and effective community health initiatives. 

On behalf of the YMCA Board of Directors and YMCA staff, we thank you for becoming a member of the Fergus Falls YMCA! We hope you will enjoy the many benefits that the Fergus Falls Area Family YMCA has to offer. Below please find information and policies specific to the Fergus Falls Area Family YMCA. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask our Membership Service staff who will be happy to help.

New to Group Fitness?

Arrive a few minutes before class start and share with the instructor that you are new to the class. Our Group Fitness instructors will gladly help you with suggestions and extra guidance through your first time. It is the instructor's discretion for the minimum age required for participation in each class.

Attire

The YMCA is a family-friendly facility. Please dress appropriately. Shirts, bottoms, and shoes must be worn in the facility at all times. The YMCA reserves the right to define inappropriate dress when necessary.

Alternative Gym Shoes During Winter

During the rainy, slushy, or snow season, members and guests are asked to bring alternative gym shoes and help us maintain a clean and safe environment for all of our guests.

Equipment Checkout

Equipment is available for use in our facility. Members and guests 15 and older may check out the equipment from the front desk including league basketballs, a youth basketball, a volleyball, a football, a soccer ball, pickle ball items, and racquetball items. Individuals checking out equipment take responsibility for those items.

Lost and Found

The Fergus Falls YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Lost items will be held for one month. Items not claimed after one month will be donated to charity.

Severe Weather

The YMCA follows the Fergus Falls Public School District regarding program cancellation due to severe weather. School Age Child Care will be cancelled if the district closes early or cancels. In the event that the YMCA is closed due to severe weather, notification will be posted on our website, mobile app, Facebook page and area news stations.

Lockers and Towels

Lockers are available for day use. Members using lockers in the Family Changing Room must bring own narrow size lock to secure locker. Adult members and guests must exchange a membership card or other collateral for a locker key. We also offer locker rentals. Inquire at the Front Desk for more information. Members and guests must provide their own towels for use in the facility. The YMCA does not offer a towel service.

Kids Fit Club

Children age 12-14 are eligible to join the Kids Fit Club, a program that teaches children age appropriate and safe use of the cardio machines and walking track. Kids Fit Club members with wristbands are allowed upstairs in the fitness facility. Children not behaving appropriately may have this privilege revoked.

Maintaining a Clean and Healthy Environment

For your health and wellness, please wipe down your machine or equipment after each use. Paper towels and sanitizing spray is available in each fitness area. Please cover any abrasions or open wounds with a clean dry bandage and avoid using shared equipment or the pool. Please return any equipment to its proper storage space after use.

Program Cancellation Policy

Credits/refunds will not be given for individual program days missed. You must cancel at least three business days prior to the start of the SACC/SOC/SDC week or program to receive full credit or refund. If you cancel after the deadline, we are not able to issue a credit or refund. The YMCA reserves the right to change, cancel or combine programs as necessary. If a program is cancelled, a full credit or refund will be issued. There will be no credit/refund due to weather-related cancellations

IN THE BUILDING:

Must be at least 10 to be unaccompanied. Children under 15, here for longer than 3 hours, will have a guardian called or be sent home. All members and guests must follow our member pledge.

DOWNSTAIRS WEIGHT ROOM:

Must be at least 15. See below for options for youth ages 13-14.

INTERACTIVE LEARNING CENTER:

Must be at least 7 to be unsupervised in the ILC. Children 6 and under must supervised by a responsible person at least 12 years of age or older.

RACQUETBALL COURTS:

Must be at least 15 or be accompanied by a responsible adult 18 or older.

GYM SPACES/LOBBY: Must be at least 7 to be unattended but a guardian needs to remain in the building. Children 6 and under must supervised by a responsible person at least 12 years of age or older at all times.

UPSTAIRS FITNESS CENTER:

Must be at least 15 to be unaccompanied, at this age they can use the track or use the weight machines unsupervised. See below for options for youth ages 12-14. Small children must be within arm’s reach of their parent/responsible adult when on the track. Strollers are allowed.

POOL:

Children 9 and under must have a parent or guardian (aged 16+) in the pool unless they are able to pass a shallow water swim test, in which case the parent must be nearby in the pool observation area. All children 6 and under must be within arm’s reach of an adult 16+ at all times while in the pool regardless of passing a swim test. Children 10+ may be unattended in the pool but may be asked to pass a swim test or wear a lifejacket at the lifeguard’s discretion.

FITNESS CLASSES:

This will be left to the class instructor’s discretion and nature of the class.

MEN’S LOCKER ROOM:

This locker room is ONLY for men ages 18 and up.

WOMEN’S LOCKER ROOM:

This locker room is ONLY for women ages 18 and up.

FAMILY CHANGING ROOM*:

The Family Changing Room is an ADA-accessible changing space for families and those with accessibility needs or care providers. This is also the designated changing space for males under the age of 18. Clothing or swimsuit is mandatory in all open spaces of this room including showers. All clothes changing must occur in changing rooms.

FEMALE LOCKER ROOM*:

This locker room is for females of any age.

INFANT CHANGING STATIONS:

*The FAMILY CHANGING ROOM, front lobby bathrooms, child watch bathrooms, and FEMALE locker room are equipped with changing stations for your convenience.

YOUTH OPTIONS:

Youth ages 12-14 are eligible to participate in the Smart Start: Cardio Training which allows access to the upstairs cardio equipment. Youth ages 13-14 are eligible to receive the Smart Start: Weight-Room Training which allows access to the free weight-room and upstairs weight machines. Youth participants in these trainings must follow the member pledge. Parents and youth must sign the Weight Room Agreement. Access will be revoked if member pledge expectations are not met.

Locker & Changing Room Guidelines

• Keep your children close by when using locker & changing rooms.
• Please keep strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers clear of walking isles when not in use.
• Please be respectful. Keep the locker room clean and use appropriate language and behavior.
• Cell phone use is prohibited in the locker rooms.

We would like to provide the opportunity for everyone to be active at the Y. Service Animals are an important part of the life of some of our members and guests. The Fergus Falls YMCA welcomes service animals that have been trained to assist a member or guest.

The following are the guidelines for members/guests of the YMCA with Service Animals:

• The animal must be properly leashed.
• You will be asked to leave the Y if the animal poses a direct threat to health and safety (such as aggressively barking or snapping at people), is not housebroken, or is not under control of the handler.
• We do not allow emotional support animals or companion animals in the Y.

Thank you for your attention to the guidelines the Fergus Falls YMCA has set forth regarding Service Animals

• Obey the lifeguard at all times.
• No Glass, gum, candy, food, or street shoes are allowed in the pool area.
• Only Coast Guard-approved personal floatation devices (PFDs) are allowed.
• Walk while on the pool deck.
• All swimmers must shower before entering the pool. 
• All swimmers must behave per the YMCA Core Values. Horseplay & foul language are not allowed in the pool or locker rooms. Sitting on shoulders, throwing others, sitting on or hanging from/under pool ladders, lane lines, safety lines, stairs, and chair lift is not allowed.
• There is no diving of any kind. Dives, spins, and flips from the edge are strictly prohibited.
• Members must always walk while in the pool or locker rooms. Running is prohibited.
• Swimsuits must be worn at all times.
• Members and guests of all ages must change clothes in the designated locker rooms.
• Persons with a contagious disease, open sores, infectious conditions, abrasions, or diarrhea within the last two weeks are prohibited from using the pool.
• No personal rafts, floatation devices that are not Coast Guard-approved, or floatation toys are allowed.
• YMCA-issued goggles, toys, kickboards, pull buoys, fitness noodles, and water weights are for lap swim and YMCA program use only.

Kids:

• Kids ages 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 16+ years in the water and remain within arm's length at all times.
• Kids ages 7-9 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 16+ at all times. Parent/Guardian must be within arm's reach at all times unless the child can pass an appropriate YMCA swim test. Children who pass the swim test must still have a parent nearby in the pool observation area if they are not in the water.
• Kids ages 10-14 do not need to have a parent or guardian present. They must pass the Deep-Water Swim Test to be in water over their armpits.

The Fergus Falls Area Family YMCA reserves the right to alter this list or limit activities to protect members and guests. For your safety and the safety of others, please obey all verbal instructions from YMCA staff. Pool closures: YMCA staff may close the pool at any time for safety reasons, including but not limited to chemical imbalance, mechanical issues, water clarity, pool contamination, and natural dangers. Lightning within 10 miles will constitute immediate closure. The Y follows the Weatherbug app for guidance on weather-related closures

Swim Tests

Swim tests are administered by lifeguards at their discretion and availability. If a child 7-14 years passes the swim test, they may be given a one-time swim bracelet that signifies they passed the test. All children 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in the water that is 16+ years old at all times and remains within arm's length.

Shallow Water Swim Test

To swim without an adult in water shallower than the swimmer’s chin or the designated shallow end, the swimmer must pass the Shallow Water Swim Test. Enter water to armpit depth, Front float for 5 seconds, the transition from floating to standing, Back float for 5 seconds, and return to standing. If the swimmer passes, they may be given an orange wristband to wear for the day.

Deep Water Swim Test

To swim in water deeper than the swimmer’s armpits, the swimmer must pass the Deep-Water Swim Test: Jump into deep water and submerge over the swimmer's head, right themselves, tread water for 45 seconds, swim the length of the pool to the stairs. The swimmer can use a combination of freestyle, breaststroke, or backstroke (for backstroke the swimmer must demonstrate rolling from front to back and then continue swimming). If the swimmer passes, they may be given a green wristband to wear for the day.

The Fergus Falls Area YMCA reserves the right to alter this list or limit activities to protect members and guests. For your safety and the safety of others, please obey all verbal instructions from YMCA staff.