Founded in 1844 in London, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), also known as the Y, serves the community by offering programs that are intended to help people build healthy spirits, minds, and bodies. By instilling Christian ideas in its programs, the YMCA strives to develop and practice the principles of faith, hope, love, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Located at 800 Village Road, Lancaster, the Lampeter-Strasburg YMCA branch opened in 2007. "We don't like to really see ourselves as a 'gym and swim,'" said executive director Rick Wagner. "We want to be a pillar of the community, so we like to offer community-based programming." The Lampeter-Strasburg YMCA offers programs such as swim lessons, summer camp, youth and adult basketball, diabetes prevention, personal training, adult volleyball, CPR and first aid training, e-sports, and more. In addition, the Y does not turn people away based on ability to pay. It offers financial assistance for those who are unable to afford membership rates.

"We have such a great diversity," noted Wagner. "We have people of different ages, races, and backgrounds. It's like a community inside of a building, which is really nice."

Due to COVID-19, the Lampeter-Strasburg YMCA was closed during part of 2020. Since reopening, the branch has welcomed back 80% of its members and wants that number to grow. Moving forward, Wagner said he wants to build community partnerships and be viewed as an organization on which the community can rely.

Wagner explained that the Y was able to gain much of its membership back faster than anticipated in part due to the merger of the Lancaster Family YMCA and the YMCA of York and York County. The two entities merged into a single YMCA association, now known as the YMCA of the Roses, on Dec. 1, 2021. The grand opening of Village Park on April 10, 2021, offered the branch a little boost, too. "I kind of think of it as free advertising because so many families pass by our building on their way to sports practices," stated Wagner.

The Lampeter-Strasburg YMCA as some new events in the works. On Saturday, April 2, there will be a Splish-Splash Easter Egg Bash where participants will hunt for Easter eggs in the pool, and Healthy Kids Day will return on Saturday, April 30. More details on these events will come soon.

"If you want to feel welcome, if you want no judgments, if you want that community aspect where you're not just coming to a gym but you're coming to a family, then come here," noted Wagner. "The YMCA is here not just for membership but any type of community-based relationship or community-based need."

For more information about the Lampeter-Strasburg YMCA, visit http://www.rosesymca.org or call 717-464-4000.