I hope this email finds you healthy and safe.

Updates this week include: Opening of Summer Camp Registration, Short-term Olympic Pool closure for repair Thursday morning, Restriction Update/Aquatic Competitions, and International Women’s Day.

Summer Camp Registration – with the break in our recent all-too-frequent snow cycle, it is a reminder that warmer weather is around the corner and it is time to start thinking about summer camp. Our program offers daily swim lessons, weekly themes as well as specialized programming such as sports, dance, martial arts, and kid’s fitness. Summer Camp Registration opens on Monday, March 1^st for Members and Monday, March 8^th for Non-Members. To register, please click here or contact Diana Gonzalez at dgonzalez@gwymca.org.

Short-term Olympic Pool Repair Thursday Morning – due to defects in some of our life-safety sensors, we need to initiate an immediate repair to eliminate any potential false alarms in our fire system. We will be closing the Olympic Pool from 10 AM – 12 PM on Thursday, March 4. I recognize that swim lanes are in high demand but we selected this timing as it is our least active time period. Please plan accordingly and sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Restriction Update/Aquatic Competitions – with the improvement of the important metrics (e.g., positivity at 2+%, COVID-19 hospitalizations below 500), the Governor “announced” the easing of occupancy restrictions as well as permitting athletic competitions between two teams to cross state lines. Although these announcements need to be converted to the rules and guidelines that govern our operation in order for us to implement, it is a good sign that we are trending in the proper direction. Further, my conversations with Greenwich Department of Health indicate that additional easing should be expected in coming weeks if the trends continue. I ask specifically about the easing of 1 swimmer per lane but did not receive any further insight. I continue to be hopeful that the lifting of this restriction is forthcoming in the near term.

With that as background, two points I would like to highlight:

• Until we receive further guidance and updates, we are going to maintain one reservation per day restrictions. We are doing so to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 across multiple portions of the facility as well as balancing utilization across the Membership. Reminder that these restrictions apply to all aspects of Y activity. For example:
  • If one participates in the paid program such as an Aquatic team on a day, they cannot reserve additional time that day.
  • If you are participating in one activity (say Wellness Reservation), you cannot make another reservation in another activity (say Swim lane or Group Exercise class).
• Aquatic Competitions – we are reinitiating our aquatic competitions with the Swim team having its first event in two weeks (weekend of March 12) and, presuming formalization of rules, the Water Polo team next weekend (potentially Saturday, March 6 late morning to mid-afternoon.)
  • As always, we will be managing these events in accordance with all guidelines and rules.
  • That said, I recognize that Members have different comfort levels with the guidelines and their implementation during these Aquatic events. If you have concerns with increased flow within the building that are in accordance with our occupancy levels, you should plan your workout schedule accordingly.
  • We will post more details as they are finalized and we get closer to the events.

International Women’s Day (Monday, March 8) – A global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The 2021 theme is “Choose to Challenge.” In recognition of this day, the Y will be providing gift bags for women at the Front Desk on a first come/first serve basis.

Stay healthy and safe!

Michael Kelly,

Chief Operating Officer,

Greenwich YMCA