The Family YMCA: About us

About us...
YMCA History...
Local History Facts...
Los Alamos Historical Time Line...

About us:

The Family YMCA offers a wide range of facilities and programs for members and participants, including:

Use of 18,000+ square foot YMCA facility
Free Child Watch-Child care while you work out at the Y
Free Member Fitness Classes: SilverSneakers®, ZUMBA®, Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, Y-Ride-(“spinning”-type classes), Step, Conditioning, Exercise Lite, led by experienced, nationally certified fitness instructors, over 40 classes per week
2 Strength Training Rooms-Free Weight and Circuit
Cardio Fitness Room: Treadmills, Upright and Recumbent Bikes, Step Machines, Elliptical Trainers, Rower
Free Orientations to Strength/Cardio Rooms w/a nationally certified trainer
Free Fitness Consultations
Climbing Wall
Squash/Racquetball/Handball Courts
Whirlpool/Steam Room
Basketball/Volleyball Gymnasium
Discounts on programs: Youth Sports, Climbing, Red Cross Babysitting, Dance, Martial Arts, Youth Yoga and more...
AWAY (Always Welcome At the Y) Program-Use your YMCA membership to obtain reduced or free admittance to participating YMCA’s across the nation and throughout the world
Guest Passes

Guests and visitors are always welcome!

YMCA History:

The parent organization of The Family YMCA is over 150 years old.

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in 1844 by George Williams of England who sought to offer Christian social and fitness alternatives to the vices he perceived during the Industrial Revolution.
Thomas Sullivan, a sea captain, brought the movement to the United States in 1851.
The YMCA has played a significant role in history: basketball, volleyball, racquetball, group camping and group swimming were invented by YMCA directors.
YMCAs helped found the USO, Boy Scouts of America and Camp Fire girls.
Today, the YMCA is inclusive of all individuals regardless of gender and religious beliefs.
The national organization consists of more than 2,686 chapters in the United States, each charged with defining its own mission.
In America in 2007, YMCA’s engaged 21 million people
YMCAs had total revenue of $4.6 billion (in 2003) from the following sources:

30% program fees
33% membership dues
15% charitable contributions
5% resident camping and quarters fees
12% government contracts and foundation grants
5% miscellaneous

YMCAs are collectively the largest not-for-profit community service organization in the U.S.
YMCAs are for people of all faiths, races, ages, abilities and incomes--everyone is welcome.
YMCAs are at the heart of community life in America: 42 million families and 72 million household are located within three miles of a YMCA
YMCAs have international scope.

YMCAs are established in more than 124 countries, serving over 45 million people with programs.
Approximately 230 local United States YMCAs maintain more than 370 relationships with YMCAs in other countries.

Local History Facts:

The Family YMCA is a charitable, social, health and well-being institution that started in Los Alamos in 1955.

Due to the relative isolation of the community, people felt there was a need for a place where families could do things together. Subsequently, through an Act of Congress, the Los Alamos chapter became the first "Family" YMCA. Subsequently, our complete and proper business name, registered at the national level, is The Family YMCA. We are proud to have that unique name.
We are led by a volunteer board of directors and an executive director.
Our mission is to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities in spirit, mind and body.
Our driving vision is to provide the best facilities and programs that will support total community wellness.
Our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility are stressed in all programming and interactions.
Our main facility is housed in an 18,000 square foot building.
We serve 2,300 facility members and 3,200 program members.
Our annual budget is $1.7 million dollars.

Los Alamos Historical Time Line:

1954

First organizing committee met and a temporary board of directors was named.

1955

An organizing board was established.
The YMCA accreditation application was sent.
AEC provided use of T-18 building to the YMCA at the price of $1.00 per year (with utilities included) as long as the YMCA would maintain and repair the building as needed.
Created by an “Act of Congress” the Los Alamos YMCA became the first YMCA in the nation to be chartered as a “Family” YMCA
10/1/55 was Ray Catan’s first day on the job as YMCA Executive Director.
10/30/55 was the first official YMCA board meeting in which Jesse Rose was elected as YMCA Board President.

1956

The YMCA was moved from T-18 to the Gamma Building at 15th Street and Central Avenue.

1963

The YMCA was moved to a dorm building at 15th Street and Iris Street under an AEC lease.

1964

Planning for the first capital campaign was begun. By the beginning of the campaign the YMCA had three phases of development in mind:

Phase I: $180,000- For a Youth & Community Site
Phase II: $ 300,000- For an Adult Health Club
Phase III: $450,000- For a Swimming Pool Facility

1965

Phase I was scaled down and produced approximately $88,000.
The concept of the Swimming Pool was passed to Los Alamos County in hopes that the construction occur on YMCA property.

1966

The YMCA offices were moved again to the Miles Building, rent free, for the duration of the construction of the new facility.
Four acres of land were purchased at 15th and Iris streets from AEC for $5600.

1967

The new all-purpose YMCA facility was dedicated and opened. The total cost of the project was $51,358.

1968

6/11/68 was opening day for the new health club facility.
New handball and squash courts were opened along with the new lobby area.

1969

The YMCA officially went from being 10% self staining in 1961, to 100% self sustaining.

1972

Swimming classes were held at Bob Waterman’s Condominiums pool across the street from the YMCA at 15th St. and Iris St.
The YMCA became a United Way organization as recipients.
A temporary building was placed on YMCA property to house the Los Alamos Family Council.

1975

The YMCA declined offers to lease or buy the playing field at the east end of the post office.

1979

The YMCA began keeping $650,000, 10 7/8% from a 30 year loan, to build a swimming pool.

1980

The YMCA continued to try and finance $1,015,000 for a new building and a swimming pool.

1982

The main YMCA opened a satellite branch in White Rock.

1983

The swimming pool project was dropped and remodeling projects began to be discussed.

1987-88

The YMCA was completely renovated and expanded. New locker rooms, a whirlpool, a new racquetball court, and an aerobics room were all added to the facility.

1988

The first YMCA membership cards issued. They were laminated and include the members name and a bar code.
The YMCA replaced the “old” vans with new ones.

1989

April: At the request of LAPS, a trade agreement was made between them and the YMCA to provide aerobics classes for school employees in exchange for usage of space for Before/After School programming.
October: A request by the schools was made to extend usage of the YMCA to the entire facility, not just for aerobics classes.

1990

The First Annual YMCA Family Fun Run was held during Red Ribbon Week.
The First Annual YMCA Bench Press Contest was held.

1991

The first shipment of “bench steps” was received for the first and ever popular Step Aerobics class.
A new trade agreement was made with LAPS that granted them access to the entire facility.
The YMCA before/after school programs became recognized licensed care providers by the State of New Mexico.

1992

The Family YMCA's story was featured in the national magazine, Discovery YMCA.

1993-94

Plans began being proposed for a new YMCA facility or to update with renovations on the existing facility. One of the proposed ideas was that of a “climbing wall.”

1995

The first photo I.D.’s were issued to members.
The finalization processes of the “climbing wall” plans were being made.
The YMCA launches a capital campaign with an aggressive goal of $500,000 to build a gymnasium addition on site.

1996

In May, a 3,000 sq. ft. annex was rented from the Netuschil’s in Central Park Square to expand programming and free up space. The move provided an expanded cardio and weight room at the main facility.

1997

The Climbing Wall has a grand opening in August.

1999

A special use permit is turned down for the Y gymnasium construction to be east of the building. The gym is moved north of the main facility causing cost to increase.

2000

The first Red and Black Ball was held to help raise funds for the gymnasium.

2001

The YMCA stops leasing the Annex space in May, in preparation for a move to the new gym.

2002

The gymnasium is completed in October.

2005

A 28-passenger activity bus is purchased for expanded programming with the help of annual campaign funds and a generous gift from the Washington Group.

2007

The Family YMCA operates a summer camp at James Rodriguez elementary school in Española.
The Y enters a partnership with the City of Española to operate a Teen Technology and Recreation Center that opened on October 15, 2007.

2009/10

Awarded a grant from New Mexico's Youth Conservation Corps to employ 18 youth from Española and Los Alamos to improve fireline trails, address wildfire erosion problems, create new trails and build friendships among these neighboring youth.

2011

Strong Kids Golf Classic held in June.

Hours of Operation:

M, T, W, Th: 5:30 am - 10 pm
Friday: 5:30 am - 9 pm
Saturday: 8 am - 7 pm
Sunday: 9 am - 6 pm
Most Holidays: 10 am - 6 pm (or 3 pm)
Closed: New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas

Climbing Gym Hours with Scheduled Monitors:

Mondays, Wednesdays: 11:45 - 1:15 pm; 5:30 - 10 pm
Tuesdays, Thursdays: 5:45 - 7:15 am; 11:45 - 1:15 pm; 5:30 - 10 pm
Fridays: 3:30 - 5 pm

The Wall is kept open strictly through volunteer monitors. Active monitors may open the climbing gym additional hours if it is not booked for use. Call the YMCA for availability.

The Family YMCA W-9 form (294 KB)