There’s No Place like the First Coast YMCA
Read on St. Johns Mag
July 6, 2026
If all you see when you drive past your local YMCA is a place to run on a treadmill, you’re missing out. If you think it’s only for older adults, you’d be mistaken. At all our St. Johns County locations and throughout the First Coast, the YMCA is a place for people of all ages to build community. We have programming that helps people live a healthy life through body, mind, and spirit, and we know that means something different for everyone. If you want to start doing life with people around you, your first step this summer should be to come to the First Coast YMCA.
That first step is something we see every day, especially as families are moving to St. Johns County by the droves. Many of them want to put down roots and find meaningful resources, and the First Coast YMCA has that. Obviously, summer is filled with activities for kids who are out of school, and the Y always has camps running at our branches. We have such a variety of camps and locations that chances are, there’s one nearby where you live. Camp isn’t just a place to drop your child off for a couple of hours – we really want to help them grow, and youth development is one of our key pillars that we focus on every day.
Beyond the summer camps, we have programming for the entire family, including activities that don’t involve any technology. We call it Families Unplugged, and it allows parents and their children to connect and participate in fun activities. We recently did a family paint night at our Brown Family YMCA, where both the kids and adults painted an otter. If you want to see some of the most adorable photos and paintings ever, just head to the Brown Family YMCA group on Facebook to check them out. So cute! We also offer a Parents’ Night Out, where we will watch your kids for a couple of hours while you get to relax or have a date night with your spouse. Both the Families Unplugged and Parents’ Night Out events are free for families that have a membership with the Y, as we’re constantly looking for ways to add value for our members.
We do know that membership at the YMCA isn’t free, and that many families are searching for ways to save money during uncertain economic times. That’s why we recently set up a new rate scale based on your income. If you go to our website – fcymca.org – and click on Join the Y, you can see what family membership options would look like based on your household income. There are additional financial benefits that families can enjoy, like free swim lessons through insurance. We never want finances to get in the way of people living a healthy life, and we’re always willing to discuss a flexible payment plan that works for you.
So here’s a plan if you’re looking to take the next step: if you have kids, consider signing them up for one of our summer day camps. While they’re there, head to your local YMCA branch and chat with our welcome staff. They’ll be happy to give you a tour and show you all the resources that the Y has to offer. Hopefully, that’ll be the beginning of you finding a new family at the First Coast YMCA, as there really is no place like this place.
