About Us

The original Fond du Lac YMCA was built on First Street in 1904. The building included bowling alleys, meeting rooms, residence for men, and a gymnasium that was described as “the largest in the state outside the great armory in Madison.” The first renovation was completed in 1913 with the addition of a swimming pool, but the YMCA eventually outgrew this location and began construction on a new facility in 1963.

In 1964, the new YMCA opened its doors at 90 W. Second Street. Major additions and renovations took place throughout the years, with the addition of tennis courts and an indoor track in 1979. And in 1994, the second major renovation added a youth gym, aerobics room, men’s and women’s fitness centers, a special needs/family locker room and a whirlpool area. The child care center and lobby were also remodeled and the main entrance was moved to the west end of the building.

Our most exciting renovation yet started with just a dream in 2006, and through a collaborative effort between the Fond du Lac Family YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac, the vision of serving children and families in one location became reality and construction of a new state-of-the-art community center in downtown Fond du Lac began in May of 2009.

The central focus of this project is to provide a combined facility with more space for fitness, education and community services that will benefit the entire community. But the project is much more than just a new building. It is a community center where families, children and individuals will have the opportunity to gather and participate in safe, healthy activities. A center the Fond du Lac community will be proud to call their own.

The new YMCA will consist of:

• Aquatic Center with two swimming pools: (a) a family recreation pool featuring a water slide, play structure, two lap lanes, current channel and water exercise area, and (b) a designated four-lane lap pool
• Whirlpool and Steam Room
• Life Management Center, nearly double in size, offering new treadmills, cross-trainers, free weight center and a stretching area
• Two full-size Gymnasium courts
• Two Racquetball courts
• Workout studios for group exercise classes
• Multi-purpose space for after-school program space
• Five locker room areas for adults, youth, and a family/special needs area
• Family Adventure Center and Child Watch areas
• Licensed Child Care and Early Learning Center, including 4K and ADVOCAP Head Start programs

In addition, the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac will occupy approximately 20,000 square feet of the newly constructed space, complete with a Teen Center offering recreational activities, homework help and tutoring, and enrichment programming. Their club entrance will be off Second Street.

Addressing the needs of our growing community remains our top priority. No one will be turned away because of the inability to pay. The YMCA offers financial assistance for memberships based on a sliding fee scale, made possible through the Strong Kids scholarship program which is supported through annual contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Also, financial assistance for the YMCA Child Care Center is provided in part by the Fond du Lac Area United Way.

The YMCA mission is to put Christian principals into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. By upholding our core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring, the YMCAs goal is to build strong kids, strong families, and a strong community.