East Brunswick YMCA Is Back With New Outdoor Spring Programs

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Last March, as businesses began to close across the county, the fitness industry was left grappling with the new reality of the pandemic.

COVID-19 had changed everything overnight. Fitness studios were shut and people were no longer vying for a spot in the spin or yoga class.

But this disruption did not deter the Raritan Valley YMCA in East Brunswick. The facility closed on March 16, 2020 and reopened their wellness center a few months later, on July 6.

During this time, staff came together to train and create a plan for safely operating during the pandemic.

“We spent our time virtually training our employees. We are now prepared to react in different ways and modify schedules according to the situation,” said Gina Stravic, Executive Director.

Last summer, the ‘Y’ conducted outdoor camps and spin classes. Since reopening, they reduced group sizes, divided indoor spaces and created private workout rooms for members.

They also spread out operation hours to accommodate more members safely, in keeping with CDC guidelines.

“Our work has never changed. We are for healthy living, social responsibility and youth development in our community,"said Stravic.

"We’ve had to do things differently, but we are looking forward to getting back to what we’ve done best in the past.”

With more people getting vaccinated across the state, the older members now feel more comfortable coming back, Stravic said.

This spring, the YMCA is bringing back its signature in-person events.

It begins with the Spin-a-thon on April 10. The spin class will be held outdoors and members also have the option to take Zumba classes.

Proceeds from registration go towards supporting YMCA’s summer camp scholarships, drowning prevention efforts, food pantry, and more.

This will be followed by the Healthy Kids Day, to be held on April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event offers various activities for children throughout the day, including an obstacle course, water safety lessons, summer camp activities, and more.

A summer camp open house and tours of the facility will be available to parents.

“We have stuck together and supported each other throughout a tough year,” said Stravic.

“As things start to get better, I believe our community will still come out to support us.”

You can sign up for the programs to held at the YMCA, 144 Tices Lane, East Brunswick. Click here.

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