Door County YMCA Sturgeon Bay Program Center — Local services in Sturgeon Bay

On a weekend trip to Sturgeon Bay, I tried to use this Y on August 1. (YMCA members have reciprocal privileges at any Y under “AWAY”, the Always Welcome at YMCA program.)

Well, that’s a bit of a misnomer, because I was definitely NOT welcome.

I was singled out from the moment I arrived. Before checking in, I stopped to look around the lobby a bit. This was met by an antagonistic “greeting” by a front desk attendant, inquiring snidely what I was doing, rather than politely asking if I needed help locating anything or if she could help me. Then this attendant visibly frowned when I said I was from out of town and was here to use the facility as an AWAY member.

Fine. That didn’t affect my ability to work out. So I get changed and do a few sets, and then moved on to a back extension machine, when a second woman told me that I was using the machine wrong. In thirty years of going to YMCA’s, I never heard that before. This woman continued, saying that I was using the machine too aggressively (I was not jerking or slamming the weight stack) and that I was going to hit the person on the machine behind me (which was not possible given how far apart the machines were and that the machine has a stop that limits how far you can move back when using it).

I hadn’t noticed it before, but this second woman was also actually a YMCA EMPLOYEE, too. After harassing me, she went to the front desk, so I decided to follow her and ask what I was supposed to be doing differently. She had no response – all she could do was repeat that I was using the machine too aggressively and that I might hit somebody on an adjacent machine. I defended myself, saying I was using the machine properly, that it wasn’t possible to interfere with adjacent machines given where the machine I was using was located, and besides, they were the ones who located the machine where it was. I also pointed out that I did not appreciate being singled out for harassment when people on adjacent machines were just sitting on them using their phones, and not wiping the machines off when they finally decided to get up, which are violations at any YMCA. At this point, the first woman who checked me in made the snotty comment “I am sorry you are having a bad day.” So, it was clear that I had run into two miserable people whose only satisfaction in life was their ability to go off on power trips in their own little corner of the world. I knew if I stayed, I was going to continue being singled out and harassed. So I left.

Many Door County residents have contempt for outsiders – they’ll take your money, but they really don’t want you here. My experience was more evidence of that, as well as of a Y where at least some of the employees are out of control. I rate it as 2 stars, because it is a nice facility, and if the staff recognizes you as a regular, I am sure that you will have a much better experience than I had. But as a visitor, it was clear they did not...

Lovely facility, can’t say enough about that. Unfortunately, they have a monopoly in Door County as there is no other aquatic center or large gym. As a result, single people may have to pay close to $700 a year to use the facility. Many of the users are large families and get a deal as well as seniors who get the silver sneakers benefit on their insurance. A senior couple, without this benefit, who are drawing a modest income/social security will pay $890. Classes cost extra as well. Scholarships are based on income on who is in your “household” but then when you go to buy the membership, you are paying for two or more household memberships, seemingly a double standard but if you feel the Y is too expensive, they really encourage them to come in and talk to them; The Membership Specialists do all they can to make sure each person gets the best membership deal possible. At the end of the day, they want to do all they can to make sure that anyone that wants to be part of the Y can and to keep the...

I moved to a different state a year ago, before which i was a member of this ymca. I brought my 7 year old and 1 year old their while visiting my parents to burn some energy. Yep still same facility however my family couldn't find thier visitors pass and nope they wouldn't give them any for us. At checking in the receptionist started taking pic of me and insisting my baby needed her pic taking for document purpose's.. Wow just wow i understand adults and older kids but a 1 year old?? Remind me again why you think my 1 year old is a threat. As she was screaming and my 7 year old was out of sight. We ended up paying $20 for my 2 girls to run around the gymnastic room for maybe 20 min and less than 30 min of swimming as our baby was so cold. We should of went to the rec center for half that. Just ridiculous mind you i am not rich and they had all my info as i was a previous member.....