Membership Handbook

Welcome to the Skagit Valley Family YMCA! We're excited you've joined our Y community.

Here at the Y, we believe a strong community can be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health, and our neighbors. Our programs, services, and initiatives enable youth to realize their potential; offer families ways to have fun together; empower people to be healthier in mind, body, and spirit; welcome and embrace newcomers; and help foster social responsibility.

Permissions, Policies, and Agreements

What all members and drop-ins agree to

Members

In consideration of being permitted to utilize the facilities, services, and programs of the Skagit Valley Family YMCA (“YMCA”) for any purpose including, but not limited to, observation or use of facilities and equipment, participation in any program, or receipt of any service affiliated with the YMCA without respect to location, I, on behalf of myself and my family members, hereby agree to the following:

  1. Medical Treatment:
    1. I give permission for YMCA staff or volunteers to provide me and my dependents with emergency first aid until EMS arrives to transport to an emergency center for medical treatment.
  2. Photo Release:
    1. For my participation in activities to be conducted by the YMCA, and collaborating third parties, I consent, now and for all time, to the making, reproduction, editing, broadcasting, or rebroadcasting of video film or footage of me, soundtrack recordings of me, photo reproductions of me, and any narrative account of my experience.
    2. My consent includes a perpetual license to the YMCA and collaborating third parties for the use of the materials for publication, display, sale or exhibition in promotions, advertising, education, and commercial uses.
    3. I agree that my consent is irrevocable. I hereby release and discharge the YMCA and collaborating third parties, from all claims, actions, lawsuits or demands of any kind arising out of my consent, license grants, uses, or the shared uses of any works or materials referenced herein.
  3. Property Loss
    1. I understand that the YMCA is not responsible for personal property lost, damaged or stolen while using YMCA facilities, including parking lots, or while participating in YMCA programs.
  4. Insurance
    1. I understand that the YMCA carries no health and accident insurance for its members or participants and further understand it is my responsibility to provide such coverage.
  5. Liability Release
    1. I am an adult age 18 or older and wish to participate in YMCA activities. In addition, if applicable, I give permission for my minor dependents to participate in YMCA activities. I understand accidents can sometimes happen. Therefore, in exchange for the YMCA allowing me, and if applicable, other adults and youth on my membership to participate in YMCA activities, I understand and expressly acknowledge that I release the YMCA, its employees, its board members, volunteers or guests from all liability for any injury or illness to myself or my children, loss or damage connected in any way whatsoever to participate in YMCA activities whether on or off the YMCA premises, including virtual programming. I understand that this release includes any claims based on ordinary negligence, action or inaction of the YMCA, its employees, board members, volunteers or guests.

The Skagit Valley Family YMCA is committed to providing a positive atmosphere that is safe and inclusive to all in our community. The YMCA has adopted the following policies to as guidelines and expectations for all members and guests who visit YMCA spaces or participate in YMCA programs.

Code of Conduct

The YMCA is committed to providing a welcoming, safe, and enjoyable experience to everyone who enters our doors, regardless of age, color, religion, sexual orientation, language, gender expression, or nationality. Therefore, we ask all members and guests to exhibit behavior that follows our values of care, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Individuals who experience or observe negative or dangerous behavior are encouraged to promptly report their concerns to YMCA staff. Every effort will be made to ensure that reports are investigated and resolved promptly, confidentially, and effectively.

The actions listed below are behaviors considered inappropriate in our facilities or programs and will not be tolerated:

  • Using or possessing alcohol or illegal chemicals on YMCA property
  • Smoking and vaping in the YMCA facility
  • Carrying or concealing a weapon or any device or object that may be used as a weapon
  • Use of any video/picture-taking equipment (including cell phones) in YMCA’s shower rooms, locker rooms
  • Harassment or intimidation by words, gestures, body language, or any type of menacing behavior
  • Physical contact with another person in an angry, aggressive, or threatening way
  • Verbally abusive behavior, including angry or vulgar language, swearing, name-calling, or shouting
  • Sexually explicit conversation or behavior: any sexual contact with another person
  • Inappropriate or sexually revealing attire
  • Theft or behavior that results in the destruction or loss of property
  • Loitering within or on the grounds of the YMCA
  • Not adhering to YMCA staff requests to follow the rules

The YMCA conducts regular sex offender screenings on all members, participants, and guests. If a sex offender match occurs, the YMCA reserves the right to cancel membership, end program participation, and remove visitation access.

All members and community members are expected to treat our staff with respect. Each member of our staff is thoroughly trained and skilled at their work. It is a safety concern when members ignore or disregard directions from employees, particularly those given by our lifeguards. In order to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone at the Y, we ask that you please listen carefully and abide by any rules or instructions given to you by our staff. Please be aware that we take harassment of our staff seriously and hold the right to take disciplinary action.

The YMCA conducts regular sex offender screenings on all members, participants, and guests through the Background Investigations Bureau. If a sex offender match occurs, the YMCA reserves the right to terminate membership, end program participation, and remove visitation access. 

  • All staff and volunteers are required to participate in prevention of child abuse training, which includes identifying the signs of abuse and reporting suspected abuse incidents. Members and guests can help keep an eye out for suspected abuse incidents, too. The four major categories of abuse are:
    • Physical (non-accidental physical injury inflected by another person with intent to hurt)
    • Sexual (when an adult uses a youth for sexual stimulation or gratification)
    • Neglect (neglect of treatment, lack of treatment, or maltreatment of the child by the person responsible for their welfare)
    • Psychological or Emotional (any abuse that is not physical or sexual) 
  • Reporting abuse and neglect is very important and can help:
    • Prevent further harm to the child
    • Save other children from abuse or neglect
    • Contribute to the safety of our community
    • Bring policy and practice gaps to attention
    • Avoid civil litigation and criminal charges 

Members and guests should report suspected abuse to YMCA staff immediately. 

  • Be considerate of others.
  • Use of any electronic device with a camera or recording capabilities is prohibited in the locker rooms. Failure to follow this rule could result in suspension or termination of your membership.
  • Children 6 and over must use gender-specific locker rooms or the Universal/Gender Neutral locker rooms with a parent/guardian.
  • The YMCA prohibits any inappropriate behavior as referenced in the Code of Conduct. Please report any such behavior to a staff person.
  • Please dry off in the shower area to prevent tracking water through the rest of the locker room.
  • Secure all items in a locker with a lock. The YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
  • Lockers are for day use only. Items left in lockers overnight may be removed and donated to charity.
  • Please alert a staff member if the locker room needs attention.

The policy of the Skagit Y is to allow each individual to self-identify their gender.

I understand that my membership will be billed as part of an ongoing payment plan, and I must pay by automatic draft by using an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or by credit/debit card. I authorize the Skagit Valley Family YMCA to initiate payment transfers each month. Draft days are typically on the 1st and 15th of each month. Memberships in good standing (and not owing a balance) automatically renew at the end of the 30-day membership cycle. 

I understand that it is my responsibility to provide the YMCA with correct credit card/bank information throughout the term of my membership. Should the YMCA be unable to process my monthly payment, it could result in the termination of my membership.

If your payment fails to process on your draft day, we will re-draft one additional time within 30 days of the first failed payment. If the re-draft fails to clear our system, your membership will be terminated prior to your next draft date. If the re-draft clears the system, your membership will continue as normal. See below for examples:

  • If Draft Day is 1st of the month:
    • Payment draft on January 1 (fails) –> Payment re-draft attempt (fails) –> Termination Set for January 31
  • If Draft Day is 15th of the month:
    • Payment draft on January 15 (fails) –> Payment re-draft attempt (fails) –> Termination Set for February 14

Drop-Ins

In consideration of being permitted to utilize the facilities, services, and programs of the Skagit Valley Family YMCA (“YMCA”) for any purpose including, but not limited to, observation or use of facilities and equipment, participation in any program, or receipt of any service affiliated with the YMCA without respect to location, I, on behalf of myself and my family members, hereby agree to the following:

  1. Medical Treatment:
    1. I give permission for YMCA staff or volunteers to provide me and my dependents with emergency first aid until EMS arrives to transport to an emergency center for medical treatment.
  2. Photo Release:
    1. For my participation in activities to be conducted by the YMCA, and collaborating third parties, I consent, now and for all time, to the making, reproduction, editing, broadcasting, or rebroadcasting of video film or footage of me, soundtrack recordings of me, photo reproductions of me, and any narrative account of my experience.
    2. My consent includes a perpetual license to the YMCA and collaborating third parties for the use of the materials for publication, display, sale or exhibition in promotions, advertising, education, and commercial uses.
    3. I agree that my consent is irrevocable. I hereby release and discharge the YMCA and collaborating third parties, from all claims, actions, lawsuits or demands of any kind arising out of my consent, license grants, uses, or the shared uses of any works or materials referenced herein.
  3. Property Loss
    1. I understand that the YMCA is not responsible for personal property lost, damaged or stolen while using YMCA facilities, including parking lots, or while participating in YMCA programs.
  4. Insurance
    1. I understand that the YMCA carries no health and accident insurance for its members or participants and further understand it is my responsibility to provide such coverage.
  5. Liability Release
    1. I am an adult age 18 or older and wish to participate in YMCA activities. In addition, if applicable, I give permission for my minor dependents to participate in YMCA activities. I understand accidents can sometimes happen. Therefore, in exchange for the YMCA allowing me, and if applicable, other adults and youth on my membership to participate in YMCA activities, I understand and expressly acknowledge that I release the YMCA, its employees, its board members, volunteers or guests from all liability for any injury or illness to myself or my children, loss or damage connected in any way whatsoever to participate in YMCA activities whether on or off the YMCA premises, including virtual programming. I understand that this release includes any claims based on ordinary negligence, action or inaction of the YMCA, its employees, board members, volunteers or guests.

The Skagit Valley Family YMCA is committed to providing a positive atmosphere that is safe and inclusive to all in our community. The YMCA has adopted the following policies to as guidelines and expectations for all members and guests who visit YMCA spaces or participate in YMCA programs.

Code of Conduct

The YMCA is committed to providing a welcoming, safe, and enjoyable experience to everyone who enters our doors, regardless of age, color, religion, sexual orientation, language, gender expression, or nationality. Therefore, we ask all members and guests to exhibit behavior that follows our values of care, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Individuals who experience or observe negative or dangerous behavior are encouraged to promptly report their concerns to YMCA staff. Every effort will be made to ensure that reports are investigated and resolved promptly, confidentially, and effectively.

The actions listed below are behaviors considered inappropriate in our facilities or programs and will not be tolerated

  • Using or possessing alcohol or illegal chemicals on YMCA property
  • Smoking and vaping in the YMCA facility
  • Carrying or concealing a weapon or any device or object that may be used as a weapon
  • Use of any video/picture-taking equipment (including cell phones) in YMCA’s shower rooms, locker rooms
  • Harassment or intimidation by words, gestures, body language, or any type of menacing behavior
  • Physical contact with another person in an angry, aggressive, or threatening way
  • Verbally abusive behavior, including angry or vulgar language, swearing, name-calling, or shouting
  • Sexually explicit conversation or behavior: any sexual contact with another person
  • Inappropriate or sexually revealing attire
  • Theft or behavior that results in the destruction or loss of property
  • Loitering within or on the grounds of the YMCA
  • Not adhering to YMCA staff requests to follow the rules

The YMCA conducts regular sex offender screenings on all members, participants, and guests. If a sex offender match occurs, the YMCA reserves the right to cancel membership, end program participation, and remove visitation access.

All members and community members are expected to treat our staff with respect. Each member of our staff is thoroughly trained and skilled at their work. It is a safety concern when members ignore or disregard directions from employees, particularly those given by our lifeguards. In order to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone at the Y, we ask that you please listen carefully and abide by any rules or instructions given to you by our staff. Please be aware that we take harassment of our staff seriously and hold the right to take disciplinary action.

The YMCA conducts regular sex offender screenings on all members, participants, and guests through the Background Investigations Bureau. If a sex offender match occurs, the YMCA reserves the right to terminate membership, end program participation, and remove visitation access. 

  • All staff and volunteers are required to participate in prevention of child abuse training, which includes identifying the signs of abuse and reporting suspected abuse incidents. Members and guests can help keep an eye out for suspected abuse incidents, too. The four major categories of abuse are:
    • Physical (non-accidental physical injury inflected by another person with intent to hurt)
    • Sexual (when an adult uses a youth for sexual stimulation or gratification)
    • Neglect (neglect of treatment, lack of treatment, or maltreatment of the child by the person responsible for their welfare)
    • Psychological or Emotional (any abuse that is not physical or sexual) 
  • Reporting abuse and neglect is very important and can help:
    • Prevent further harm to the child
    • Save other children from abuse or neglect
    • Contribute to the safety of our community
    • Bring policy and practice gaps to attention
    • Avoid civil litigation and criminal charges 

Members and guests should report suspected abuse to YMCA staff immediately. 

  • Be considerate of others.
  • Use of any electronic device with a camera or recording capabilities is prohibited in the locker rooms. Failure to follow this rule could result in suspension or termination of your membership.
  • Children 6 and over must use gender-specific locker rooms or the Universal/Gender Neutral locker rooms with a parent/guardian.
  • The YMCA prohibits any inappropriate behavior as referenced in the Code of Conduct. Please report any such behavior to a staff person.
  • Please dry off in the shower area to prevent tracking water through the rest of the locker room.
  • Secure all items in a locker with a lock. The YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
  • Lockers are for day use only. Items left in lockers overnight may be removed and donated to charity.
  • Please alert a staff member if the locker room needs attention.

The policy of the Skagit Y is to allow each individual to self-identify their gender.

 

I understand that by paying for a drop-in fee, I’m paying for day use only and that I’ll need to pay for an additional drop-in fee on any subsequent days myself or my family members visit the YMCA.

I understand that I may pay for a drop-in session by cash, check, or credit card. In the event my drop-in session at the YMCA were to be cut short due to unforeseen circumstances, I understand that I will not be refunded; rather, I’ll receive credits to apply towards a future visit.

MEMBERSHIP ESSENTIALS

Information regarding your YMCA membership

If you’d like to make adjustments to your membership, please connect with our Welcome Center team. Examples of things we can help with include:

  • Adding additional family members to your account
  • Removing family members from your account
  • Changing your membership type
  • Update your billing information

You can connect with our team by stopping by the Welcome Center in person, emailing [email protected], or calling 360-336-9622. (Please do not call to update your billing information – this should be done online or in-person)

I understand that I can change my payment and account information myself via my online account or in person at the Welcome Center. Please do not call the Y to make adjustments to your payment method.

The Y may, at its discretion, adjust the monthly rate applicable to my membership category. I understand that I will receive at least 30 days’ notice prior to such change.

When you join the Y, you will receive a single scan card that must be scanned every time you visit the Y. If you would like to be issued a digital scan card, our Welcome Center team can help set you up. (Apple, Android, and Email compatibility.) If you forget your scan card, please have photo ID with you. Replacement scan cards are $5.

All new members/visitors are required to show a hard copy of their ID to be entered into our system. Have a physical ID handy when you first arrive.

Refunds are only permitted when there are extenuating circumstances that prevented you from notifying the YMCA of your termination request. Refund requests will need to be accompanied by proper documentation (i.e. doctor’s note).

  • For membership refunds, a full refund will only be given if there is zero attendance within the first 30 days of membership and an email is sent to the Y requesting a membership termination. After the first month, refunds will not be given for lack of facility use.
  • Barring extenuating circumstances, if you’ve been a member for one month or longer, no refunds are given if you decide to terminate your membership.

We understand that life happens, and you may need to withdraw yourself or someone in your membership from programming at the Y (ex. youth sports, swim lessons, etc.). If you need to withdraw from a Y program, please contact the Welcome Center.

Below is our policy for refunds should you need to remove your participant from programming: 

  • If you decide to withdraw/cancel while registration for the program is still open, you will receive a 100% refund to your original payment method. 
  • If you decide to withdraw/cancel during the timeframe between when registration closes and 48 hours before the program starts, you will receive a 100% credit refund to your YMCA account that you can put towards future membership fees, program dues, etc. 
  • If you decide to withdraw/cancel within 48 hours of the program starting, you will receive a 50% credit refund to your YMCA account that you can put towards future membership fees, program dues, etc. 
  • If you decide to withdraw/cancel after the program has started, you will not receive any refund. 

Please note that to receive member rates for programs, your membership must be obtained before the program start date and remain current throughout the entire program session.  

If your membership expires during the program session and you do not renew, the YMCA will bill your payment method on file the amount difference between the member and the non-member rate. If this payment is not made, you may be dropped from the program. 

  • Example Scenario: A member signs their child up for swim lessons, paying $80, but decides to cancel their membership after two weeks of lessons. They will be charged $40 upon terminating their membership, the difference between the member rate and the non-member rate ($120). 

All schedules, activities, class fees and staff may be changed or cancelled by the YMCA without notice. If the YMCA cancels an entire fee-based class or program, a credit valid for 12 months toward any Skagit Valley Family YMCA program or service will be issued automatically. Credits will be applied to any past due or future scheduled payments. Upon written request, a donation receipt can be issued. If the credit isn’t used within the 12 months, it will be applied to any outstanding account balances or cleared from your account.

When the Y closes a facility or program temporarily due to events outside of the Y’s control (ex. weather, environmental hazard, civil emergency, government shutdown order, etc.) the Y will issue a prorated program credit for each class or session missed, valid for 12 months toward any Skagit Valley Family YMCA program or service. Credits will be applied to any past due or future scheduled payments. Alternatively, the credit may be donated back to the Y and a donation receipt will be provided. If the credit isn’t used within the 12 months, it will be applied to any outstanding account balances or cleared from your account.

Memberships in good standing (no missed payments or outstanding dues) will have the ability to put their account on hold once per calendar year, for a time span of up to three months. Holds may not be extended longer than the 3 months and billing will automatically resume at the end of the requested hold period.  

For example, if you have a vacation taking place in June and July, you could start a two month hold on your account so that you aren’t billed in June or July. When billing automatically resumes in August, you would not have the ability to put your account on hold for the remainder of the year. The same rings true if you only wanted to put your account on hold for 1 month – once you’ve used your hold (even though it’s just the one month), you’re done for the year. 

If you are interested in putting your account on hold at any point, please contact the Welcome Center. 

The Skagit Valley Family YMCA does not impose contracts on our members; members are free to cancel their membership at any time.

If you would like to cancel your membership, please let our Welcome Center know by emailing [email protected], calling 360-336-9622, or stopping by the Welcome Center. Membership cancellations can only be initiated by the primary member on the account.

If you choose to cancel your membership, you must notify the YMCA at least two weeks prior to your next draft date so that we can process your request. If you ask to cancel your membership under 14 days before your draft date, you may be charged for an additional month. 

As noted in the Program Refunds section of our Membership Handbook, if you cancel your membership while enrolled in paid programming, you must pay the difference between the member and community member fee.

If emailing to cancel, please send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

  • Subject line: Termination, Primary Member’s First Name and Last Name
  • Email: Please include names and dates of birth for all members on the account and the month you wish to cancel your membership

If you decide to cancel your membership but return at a later time, you will need to pay a $100 rejoiner fee if returning within 2 years of cancelling your membership. Even if there is a $0 Joiner promo going on, you will need to pay the rejoiner fee since you were a previous member. ($0 Joiner promos are for new members only or those rejoining after being away for 2+ years). 

For example, if you were to cancel your membership in March 2024 but then decide to come back in October of 2024, you would need to pay a $100 rejoiner fee when restarting your membership since you are coming back in under 2 years. If you were to cancel your membership in June of 2024 and decide to rejoin in August of 2026, you could rejoin without a joining fee if returning during a $0 Joiner promo month because you are coming back over 2 years since leaving.

Hoag Road + Bakerview

The safety of our members and staff is a top priority at the Y. While we make every effort to keep the Y open and programs running, we may cancel programs, delay opening, or close the facility because of severe weather, unsafe driving conditions, or power outages. 

When determining whether to cancel, delay, or close, we consider weather conditions, school delays and closures, road conditions, and if Y staff can safely commute to and from our facilities. Because our staff commute into the Y from beyond just Skagit County, even if roads are clear in Mount Vernon, we may still cancel, delay or close if staff are unable to safely travel to and from the Y.

  • Power Outages: It is the YMCA’s policy to suspend facility activities if power is out for a period of 30 minutes or more without sign of restoration.
  • Thunder and Lightning:  If thunder or lightning is seen/heard, all pools, showers, steam rooms, and saunas will close until 30 minutes after the last reported strike. Outdoor activities may be relocated, delayed, or cancelled due to nearby lightning strikes.

Delays and closures will be communicated via updates to the website, social media posts, and/or emails to the Y’s email list.

ELCs + School-Age Programs

Our Early Learning Centers and School-Age programs make decisions on delays and closures in alignment with the school district in which they lie. If a school district is closed, then the ELC and School-Age programs in that district will also be closed. The same rings true for delayed starts or early releases.

For example, if the Mount Vernon School District were to cancel school, the Laventure and Washington ELCs would be closed and the School-Age programs in the Mount Vernon School District (Harriet Rowley, Jefferson, and Centennial) would also close. The same logic applies to our childcare programs in Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, and Anacortes.

The Y will communicate with families via Brightwheel about delays or closures.

As a perk of membership, each active membership unit receives 3 guest passes per year that can be used to bring in non-YMCA friends and family members ages 18+.

FACILITY GUIDELINES

Rules for our spaces

  • Athletic footwear required. No flip flops, sandals, or dress shoes! 
  • Keep your shirt and shoes on. Please follow the Y dress code of no inappropriate clothing. 
  • Must be 16 or older to use the Assault Runner and Stair Stepper machines. 
  • No staring at, crowding, or touching others. 
  • Use your cell phone away from equipment and take calls to the lobby. 
  • No videoing of photographing others working out. 
  • Use one machine or piece of equipment at a time and allow others to work in between your sets. 
  • Wipe down and put away equipment when finished. 
  • Don’t drop or slam weights. 
  • Alert staff of any broken equipment or hazardous conditions and don’t use equipment that appears broken. Safety first! 
  • Ask for assistance from Fitness Staff if you are unfamiliar with the equipment. 
  • Keep bags, personal items, and loose equipment off walkways and in designated areas. 
  • No food or drinks besides bottled water. No unprotected glass. 
  • Be courteous and considerate of others!
  • Lift or leave: no loitering in the Weight Room area. 
  • Must be 16 or older to use the Weight Room. 
  • Athletic footwear required. No flip flops, sandals, or dress shoes! 
  • Keep your shirt and shoes on. Please follow the Y dress code of no inappropriate clothing. 
  • No staring at, crowding, or touching others. 
  • Use your cell phone away from equipment and take calls to the lobby. 
  • No videoing of photographing others working out. 
  • Use one machine or piece of equipment at a time and allow others to work in between your sets. 
  • Do not exercise directly in front of the dumbbell racks. Take your weights and move back so others can access the racks. 
  • Don’t drop or slam weights, unless using the Olympic lifting platform. 
  • Wipe down and put away equipment when finished. 
  • Don’t lift heavy without a spotter. 
  • Alert staff of any broken equipment or hazardous conditions and don’t use equipment that appears broken. Safety first! 
  • Keep bags, personal items, and loose equipment off walkways and in designated areas.  
  • Be courteous and considerate of others! 

Peak Hours Guidelines 

  • During peak hours, work out in groups of 3 people or less 
  • Large groups (4+ more people) hovering around equipment may be asked to split up. 
  • During peak hours, use of multiple machines at once is not permitted. 
  • During peak hours, share equipment/benches with others while resting between sets. 
  • No food, gum, or unprotected glass products allowed on the court. 
  • Proper closed-toe athletic footwear required (no sandals, heels, or floor-marking shoes). 
  • Sign out all equipment used and return in the same condition. 
  • Y activities & scheduled events have priority over other use. 
  • To prevent loss, damage, or personal injury, jewelry is prohibited.
  • The Y is not responsible for lost or stolen items. 
  • Report all losses, injuries, or issues to Y staff.
  • Please bring your own towel. The Y doesn’t have laundry facilities and as such doesn’t provide towels.
  • Participants are required to take a cleansing shower before entering the pool.  
  • Pool use is permitted only under the supervision of a YMCA Lifeguard.  
  • The Lifeguard has full authority for interpreting and enforcing these guidelines. Failure to abide by pool guidelines may result in the loss of pool use privileges.  
  • Individuals under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal drugs are not permitted to use the pool or to be on the pool premises.  
  • Appropriate swimwear/swimsuits required for all participants. Shirts and tank tops are not allowed unless they are made of polyester, nylon, or spandex. Jeans and cotton clothing are prohibited.  
  • Any person wearing a diaper must have a protective covering (swim diaper) to prevent contamination. Please change diapers at designated diaper changing areas in the locker rooms only.  
  • Individuals with open sores, communicable disease, infections, or who have been ill with vomiting or diarrhea within the last two weeks are not permitted in the pool.  
  • Participants with a history of seizures, heart, or circulatory problems should swim with a buddy if at all possible. Please alert a staff person if you have a specific condition of which they should be aware.  
  • Pool noodles may be used with certain hours at the permission of the lifeguard.  
  • In an effort to keep the pool deck as clean as possible, the use of street shoes is strongly discouraged. Likewise, food, gum, beverages, and tobacco products are not permitted in the pool area.  
  • Running, dunking, diving, and horseplay are prohibited.  
  • Participants must use feet-first entries or ladder-entries when entering the pool.
  • Prolonged underwater swimming or breath holding is prohibited.
  • In the event of an emergency please follow the directions of the Lifeguard on duty.  
  • In an Emergency, press the red alarm panels or call 911  
  • An emergency phone is located in the lifeguard office at the south side of the pool area.  
  • A First-Aid Kit is located in the lifeguard office at the south side of the pool area.  
  • No glass  
  • No food or gum
  • Youth ages 13 and older may the hot tub and steam rooms
  • Please shower before using the hot tub.  
  • Use of body lotions, oils or suntan lotions is not permitted.  
  • Swimsuits must be worn at all times.  
  • Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.  
  • No cell phone use in the steam rooms.  
  • No diving or jumping into the hot tub.  
  • Do not submerge to the bottom of the hot tub.  
  • Cool down at least five minutes after exercising prior to use.  
  • Aerobic exercise in the hot tub or steam rooms is not allowed.  
  • Please do not use the hot tub or steam rooms if you are under the influence of alcohol, anticoagulants, antihistamines, vasoconstrictors, vasodilators, stimulants, hypnotics, or tranquilizers.  
  • Maximum hot tub occupancy is 9 patrons.  

Y Kids @ Hoag is available for both members and community members. This is a FREE service for Family Memberships and is available for $15 per session/child for other membership types and community members. (If you have a non-Family Membership, you’ll pay the fee at the Y Kids Corner, not at the Welcome Center.) Pre-registration is going away, so Y Kids is now drop-in only. If you arrive and our Y Kids Corner is at capacity, you may be asked to wait until a space opens up so that our staff can ensure safety for all the young ones.

  • Available for youth ages 1-10.
  • Y Kids’ is not a state licensed program and has an exemption from childcare licensing. Therefore, there is a 2-hour time limit per child per visit for a maximum of 12 hours per week. Because we are not licensed child care, we are also unable to change diapers. If we suspect a child needs a diaper change, a staff member will locate the parent in the building to notify them. Children using the Kid Zone bathroom must be able to go to the bathroom independently. Staff are unable to assist a child.
  • Children must be signed in and out by a guardian, and that guardian must remain in the building.
  • Children must wear appropriate clothing/shoes.
  • No outside food or drink (water bottles are fine).
  • Y Kids is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
  • If your child is showing signs of illness, please keep them home.

The Skagit Valley Family YMCA Teen Center provides youth, teens, and families with a safe and fun environment where they can develop healthy relationships with both their peers and Y staff while engaging in a wide variety of activities. 

In order to ensure a positive experience for all who enter the Teen Center, we first and foremost expect all people in the space to always act respectfully. Teen Center users are to behave in a mature, responsible way encompassing the YMCA core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and care. The following rules are non-negotiable:

  • Aggressive behavior such as physical violence of any kind, including verbal put downs, inappropriate language, bullying, roughhousing, and disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. 
  • Users will follow directions given by Teen Center staff regarding safety, rules and activities.
  • The Skagit Valley Family YMCA has authority to terminate and/or dismiss any person in the space whose behavior doesn’t comply with YMCA guidelines.
  • No food or drink is allowed in the space
  • During peak times, please share the games with others in the space.

For kids ages 0-7, a parent/guardian must remain with the child while in the Teen Center. For kids ages 8-12, they may be in the Teen Center alone as long as a parent/guardian is in the building. Teens ages 13 and older can be in the space on their own. 

YOUTH GUIDELINES

What youth can participate in at the Y

In order to provide a safe and positive experience for the youth of our community, the following guidelines related to facility use by YMCA members and guests alike will apply to all youth who are not participating in a supervised, structured program while in the facility. Youth are expected to act well-behaved, safe, and courteous towards other members and guests and follow the rules of the space. Those acting differently may be asked by Y staff to leave.

  • A “supervising individual” is defined as the following:
    • If you’re caregiving for an adult, the supervising individual must be 18 or older.
    • If you’re supervising a minor (ages 12 and under), the supervising individual must be 16 or older.
      • Example: I’m a 15-year-old babysitter for a family with two 10-year-olds. Can I bring them to the Y?
        • No, you must be 16 years old to bring kids 12 and under to the Y.
  • Youth must be 13 years or older to visit/use the Y without a “supervising individual”
    • A parent or legal guardian must sign a waiver for each youth (13-17) before they are allowed to be in the building without supervision.
    • Youth aged 13-17 must have a legal guardian inactive on their membership for emergency contact purposes.
 
  • Wellness Center: May not use any Wellness Center equipment and must be well behaved if accompanying parent/guardian; youth must be within arm’s reach of supervising individual
  • Weight Room: Off limits
  • Track: Supervising individual must be with youth on track at all times
  • Gymnasium: Supervising individual must be with youth in gymnasium at all times
  • Teen Center: Supervising individual must be with youth in Teen Center at all times
  • Aquatics Center: Please see Aquatics Center Guidelines

Infants are welcome to accompany their parents/guardians while in a car seat or stroller. A stroller or car seat should not be left in walkways or block access to equipment and may not be in the free weight area. Please place strollers or car seats in a place where nothing could fall on top of them. We recommend using the studios when classes are not in session or finding an open carpeted area so they can be within arm’s reach.

  • Wellness Center: Wellness Center: Encouraged to take Wellness 101 before using the space; youth not using equipment safely may be required by staff to take a Wellness 101
    • Youth must be within arm’s reach of supervising individual
    • Stairmaster and assault runner are off limits
  • Weight Room: Off limits
  • Track: Supervising individual must be in the building
  • Gymnasium: Supervising individual must be in the building
  • Teen Center: Supervising individual must be in the building
  • Aquatics Center: Please see Aquatics Center Guidelines
  • Wellness Center: Encouraged to take Wellness 101 (if under age 16) before using the space; teens not using equipment safely may be required by staff to take a Wellness 101
    • Stairmaster and assault runner are off limits until age 16
  • Weight Room: Must be 16 or older to use
  • Track: No restrictions
  • Gymnasium: No restrictions
  • Teen Center: No restrictions
  • Aquatics Center: Please see Aquatics Center Guidelines

AQUATICS CENTER GUIDELINES

Rules for the pool

  • Parents must accompany non-swimming children and children in flotation devices. If a child has a flotation device on, the child must be within arm’s reach.
  • Swimmers must be at least 48″ to use the Teaching Pool by themselves.
  • Anyone under the age of 13 will have to pass a swim test to swim in the lap pool. See swim test toggle below for details. Anyone may be asked to pass the swim test if the lifeguard on duty feels it is warranted out of safety concerns.

A swim test is required for any swimmer ages 13 and under and any individual the lifeguard does not feel comfortable with in the lap pool or in the deep end during open swim. Anyone may be asked to pass the swim test if the lifeguard on duty feels it is warranted out of safety concerns. There may be times when the pool is busy enough that a lifeguard may not be able to immediately conduct a swim test, in which case you’ll need to wait until one is available.

  • Swim Test Requirements: The swim test will consist of jumping feet first into the deep end, treading water for 1 minute, and swimming 25 yards using a face in the water/side breathing freestyle technique. If a swimmer needs to stop or grab the lap lanes, they do not pass the swim test and are not allowed in the deep end of the lap pool.
  • Once passed, a wrist band will be given to the swimmer which allows them to swim in the lap pool. On the way out, the swimmer should stop by the Welcome Center to have staff update their account. Welcome Center Staff will give the swimmer a stamp on their hand at all future visits and they will not have to complete the swim test again.