Policies

Annual Membership Renewals

A renewal notice will be mailed to you approximately one month prior to your renewal date. Note that memberships paid for by monthly bank draft will not require a renewal notice and are continuous until cancellation.

Annual Maintenance Fee

To help us make consistent investments in our facilities – and maintain an affordable monthly membership rate – we are implementing an Annual Maintenance Fee of $25 per membership (not per member). This fee will go into effect for all membership types in 2025 — replacing the Joiner Fee — and allow us to enhance the atmospheres within each of our locations: think pools, locker rooms, gyms, and more. We promise to be transparent with how that income is being used and provide updates on the projects it will fund. The Maintenance Fee will be drawn each year on March 20. Memberships placed on hold during that time will still be charged the maintenance fee.

Program Refund Policy

All registration and enrollment fees are non-refundable. If you have an extenuating circumstance, you may provide a written request at least 1 week prior to the start of the program. The Program Director may issue an account credit to be used for a future program or fee.

Membership Cancellations

Members who pay their monthly membership fee through a monthly automatic withdrawal need to cancel their membership by the 20th of the month in order to stop the draft that occurs on the first of the month. To cancel a membership, members must do so in person by filling out a cancellation form at the Membership Desk.

Membership Identification

Upon joining the Y, Membership Staff will take your digital photograph and you will be given a membership tag. Your tag is valid at all Erie Y branches if you are a Metro member. Should you lose your tag, there is a $5/tag replacement fee. You may “skip” the tag and check-in using the Y’s Mobile App.

Membership Holds

Holds will be granted for medical and seasonal reasons only. Your membership can be put on hold by bringing in a note from your doctor. Holds must be requested prior to the absence and before the 20th of the month in order to stop the automatic withdrawal for the next month. Holds are limited to 120 days and are not required to be taken consecutively. The annual maintenance fee will be processed even if your membership is on hold at the time.

Returned Payments

For checks or automatic drafts returned, members will be assessed a $5 fee. Please ensure that all your personal information is current in our system, this includes current bank account information and expiration dates if applicable on your membership.

Personal Items

The Y does not guarantee the security of personal belongings. Therefore we ask that you leave valuables at home. If you feel you must bring valuables, secure banks of lockers are available. Locks are encouraged to be used in the locker rooms but may not be left on lockers overnight. The Y is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us. Click here for our privacy policy. 

Safety & Protection

The YMCA of Greater Erie conducts regular sex offender screenings on all members. If a sex offender match occurs, the YMCA reserves the right to cancel membership, end program participation and remove visitation access. The YMCA of Greater Erie utilizes video surveillance technology throughout Y property.

Locker Rooms

The YMCA of Greater Erie is an inclusive organization open to all. We welcome all people regardless of ability, age, background, ethnicity/race, faith, gender, self-reported gender identity and/or expression or sexual orientation. In keeping with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to ensure everyone feels welcome at the Y, we give transgender individuals the opportunity to choose the locker room they are most comfortable with. The policy of the YMCA of Greater Erie is to allow each individual to self-identify their gender. Alternative facilities are available for all members desiring more privacy. We do ask if pre-operation, transgender individuals use a bathroom stall or enclosed shower to change.

Breastfeeding

In accordance with Pennsylvania state law, mothers are welcome to breastfeed at the YMCA.

Service Animals

In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, the YMCA of Greater Erie welcomes service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. Please see Y staff upon entrance to the facility.

Odor-Free Environment

Our YMCA strives to create a pleasant and healthy environment for all. The Y encourages members, guests and staff to be mindful of their use of scented products including lotions, oils, colognes, perfumes, sprays and products intended to be smoked or inhaled. These products may be irritants to others and create health issues for people with allergies or respiratory issues.

The Y can refuse access to anyone whose added scents are overpowering or irritating to others. This includes odors of tobacco products and marijuana use. The Y is tobacco-free and drug-free campus.

Program Refund Policy

All registration and enrollment fees are non-refundable. If you have an extenuating circumstance, you may provide a written request at least 1 week prior to the start of the program. The Program Director may issue an account credit to be used for a future program or fee.

The YMCA reserves the right to cancel classes or programs at any time due to scheduling conflicts or insufficient enrollment. Should the YMCA cancel a class or program, we will make every attempt to schedule a make-up time and date. If the YMCA cancels a class or program without a make-up time and date, then a credit or refund will be issued in the original form of payment.

Credits or Refunds will not be given to participants who fail to attend programs or classes.

Some programs offer a multi-child discount. The first child will be charged the full rate and each additional child receives the discount, if applicable. This is for multiple children of the same family enrolled in the same session of the same program.

Only one discount per program registration applies, if applicable (i.e. if receiving a scholarship discount, a multi-child discount will not apply).

Financial assistance is available for some programs; see a member service associate for more information.