Maplewood YMCA Community Center — Local services in Maplewood

My wife took the 3 kids on a Sunday...the following is her review...

I called ahead before leaving my house and to ask about open swimming for the day. I was assured that it was open and the guy said, "Come on in." I always call first because we live a 1 hr and 15 min away and wouldn't want to find out the pools closed after that long a drive. When I got there about 2 hrs after calling, the front desk lady told me that they didn't have enough lifeguards on duty and had paged a 3rd lifeguard to come in but didn't know when he'd be arriving and so now I am put on a "waiting list" to get into the pool. Ok...so i sit and wait with my 3 kids and periodically ask about the status of getting in. After 40 min. of waiting, the 3rd lifeguard finally shows up and I think ok, cool, let's go in. It was at that time that the front desk lady tells me that there's a scheduled b-day party about to start and get in to the pool and I would have to wait another two hours to maybe get it! I explained to her that I called ahead and was told that open swimming was going on and that no one communicated to me that there was a lifeguard shortage and that there might be a limit to how many can get into the pool. If they had told me this when I called I wouldn't have made the 1hr and 15 min drive! No manager came out to apologize and no complimentary passes were given. I ended leaving with nothing. Horrible customer service. Front desk didn't care at all what happened to me. They obviously have huge communication issues between their aquatics manager and whoever is answering the phones and telling people to "come on in." Make sure you call first and ask if anyone called in sick, or the manager failed to schedule enough lifeguards, or if any lifeguards have the sniffles and might go home while you are driving there before you make the trip to their facility and can't get in to swim. Or, you could just go over to the Shoreview Comm. Center, like we did, which always has at least 5 guards on duty, though I've seen more at times, and not worry about being the victim of poor management and poor communication and a don't care attitude at Maplewood...

Do not enroll your child in their summer camp programs! The staff are inept, do not communicate or listen to parents requests, they allow your child to be assaulted and punched by other children without letting you know until you pick them up. The end of the day staff is different than the morning staff and a the 2 do not communicate. Here are the reasons why we pulled our son out of the program:

My son was given an incident report for "bullying" by the afternoon staff for an incident that took place in the morning, my son denied the incident occurring but we believed the staff, to find out that "whoops, wrong child"-staff communication error.

Itinerary for the day said return from park at 3:00 pm, I came to pick up at 3:00pm, waited until 3:45 pm for son to return, building staff could not contact the summer power staff to find out what was going on. No-one knew when they would return or how to contact anyone else who would know what was going on-bus company, program coordinator, etc.

The morning staff was told we would pick up our son at the park early, went to the park, and no-one is there, called Maplewood YMCA-they didn't know where the kids were. To find out, whoops, our son was transferred back to MCC from park in Stillwater and no, the afternoon staff did not know we were picking him up from park.

Our son gets assaulted and punched but we aren't told about it until we pick him up. Later told that, we "would have been told if there was an injury". How being punched in the face is not considered an injury is beyond me.

When Maplewood Community Center was not partnered with the YMCA, the summer programs were excellent. You knew where your kids where at all times, the morning staff was there in the afternoons to keep communication channels open to the parents. There was accountability and never did we experience such screw ups and mishandlings with our son!

The YMCA summer camp staff has no accountability, no direction, and poor leadership. They talked big but delivered a subpar program which is unsafe...

A Welcoming Space for Fitness, Fun, and Community at Maplewood YMCA

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I recently joined the Maplewood YMCA Community Center and couldn't be happier with my decision! This fantastic facility offers a wide variety of programs and amenities for people of all ages and fitness levels, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.

The fitness center at the Maplewood YMCA is top-notch, with a great selection of cardio machines, weightlifting equipment, and a spacious area for stretching and functional training. The staff is always friendly, helpful, and willing to answer any questions or provide guidance when needed.

What truly sets the Maplewood YMCA apart, though, are the diverse programs and activities they offer. From group fitness classes like yoga, Zumba, and spinning to sports leagues, swimming lessons, and even art classes, there's truly something for everyone. The center also offers childcare services and activities for kids, making it a great option for busy families.

One of my favorite aspects of the Maplewood YMCA is the strong sense of community that permeates the entire facility. Members and staff are always happy to lend a helping hand or offer encouragement, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and support. The center also hosts various community events throughout the year, further strengthening its ties to the local neighborhood.

In conclusion, the Maplewood YMCA Community Center is an outstanding resource for anyone looking to improve their fitness, learn new skills, or simply connect with others in the community. I'm so glad I decided to become a member, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a welcoming and well-rounded fitness and...