Swim, Sports & Play
Our youth programs build self-confidence and give kids the opportunity to discover what they can achieve.
Birthday Parties
From swimming to floor hockey to basketball (or all three!) we’re here to make sure your child has a party to remember. You bring decorations, paper goods, food & drinks and we take care of the FUN. Make it a Deluxe Party and we’ll take care of the pizza & cake. Parties are available on Saturdays from 12:00-2:00PM & 3:00-5:00PM and Sundays from 12:00-2:00PM. Contact Garrett Stancuna for more information about birthday parties at the YMCA.
Wallingford Dolphins Swim Team
The Wallingford Family YMCA Dolphins Swim Team is a year round competitive program serving those in the town of Wallingford and its surrounding communities by helping swimmers of all abilities reach their highest potential. WFYD applies the four YMCA Core Values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility to all aspects of the sport. Every member of the team develops commitment, dedication, teamwork & a love of swimming. Through this, we build a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy fitness habits. For more information, visit the team website.
Youth & Teen Recreation
Through our Recreation programs, kids are able to be kids in a safe & fun environment, enjoying exciting activities and opportunities to try new things.
Parents, are you looking for a chance to have a date night? Why scramble for a sitter when you can bring your kids to the YMCA for Friday Night Out! This event is a great way for your kids to have fun and make new friends through a variety of age-appropriate, themed activities. FNO is for children in grades K-5 and Pre-registration is required at least 24 hours in advance, as space is limited.
Grades K-5
Come in costume and enjoy Halloween crafts, fun games and a dance party! Our party goers will also be swimming in our Teaching Pool! Please do not apply makeup for costumes as we will have to wash it off before going in the pool. Snacks & peanut-free candy will be provided. We can’t wait to have a spooktacular time. Party is DROP OFF ONLY.
Grades K-5
Hang out with your friends at the Teen Center! Play video & board games, listen to music, and lounge. Due to limited space, pre-registration is required for Friday nights.
TUE | 6:30-9:00PM | Grades 6-8
WED | 6:30-9:00PM | Grades 9-12
FRI* | 6:30-9:00PM | Grades 6-8
FREE to Wallingford Residents | *Pre-registration Required
Youth Sports
Not only do sports teach the importance of good sportsmanship, but they also allow children to socialize and build friendships with peers. From gymnastics to soccer, basketball to tennis, here at the Y we have a sports program for anyone. Youth of all ages, from toddlers to teens, can learn the importance of teamwork.
3-5 Years
This class is designed to teach the basics of basketball with emphasis put on dribbling, passing and shooting. We introduce basic rules of the game and develop teamwork.
3-5 Years
This class is designed to teach the basics of soccer with emphasis put on dribbling, passing, and shooting. Basic rules of the game will be introduced and teamwork will be developed.
Munchkin: 3-5 Years
Youth: 6+ Years
A weekly dose of fun and exercise! Super Sports is a chance for your kids to experience new sports and activities in an organized pressure free environment. Activities include Soccer, Basketball, Tag Games, Dodgeball, Kickball, Gaga Ball and a participant choice week.
6+ Years
Each week we learn and play a version of your favorite game, ultimate style. This class will consist of various games like handball, kickball, gaga ball, tag and much more!
6+ Years
This class will introduce children to some of the popular backyard games and build some skills to compete with one another in an organized and pressure free environment.
5-8 Years
Designed to build basic basketball skills and develop a sense of teamwork & game awareness, new skills will be introduced weekly as players build up to game playing situations.
8-10 Years
A fun game for kids to play in teams, dodgeball helps kids learn how to work together while burning up lots of energy. This class will consist of various dodgeball games such as poison ball, doctor dodgeball, medic, and much more. We use kid-friendly gator skin dodgeballs for fun & safe play. Rules will be enforced that encourage chest & below hits and prohibit head shots.
6+ Years
This class is designed to teach the basics of floor hockey with emphasis put on passing and shooting. Basic rules of the game will be introduced and teamwork will be developed.
6+ Years
This class will focus improving eye-hand & foot-eye coordination, agility, balance, strength and endurance. Students learn proper stroke production and the rules of the game.
5-10 Years
Teaches the basics and lets children develop the skills they need to play the game. Proper strokes, volleying, serving and rules of the game will be learned. Players need to bring their own racquet.
Youth Swim Lessons
Swimming is an important life skill for anyone at any age. We offer classes for everyone and our trained instructors do their best to make sure everyone feels safe and successful in our program.
Parents accompany children in this stage, which introduces infants & toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water. Parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety & aquatic skills.
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming. This class is available for Preschool & Youth.
In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This class is available for Preschool & Youth.
In stage 3, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action. This class is available for Preschool & Youth.
Students in stage 4 develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke. This class is available for Youth.
Students in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke. This class is available for Youth.
In stage 6, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. This class is available for Youth.
Lessons with an instructor to a student ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 can be requested and scheduled with the Aquatics Department.
These lessons are perfect for those teens who want to learn how to swim with their peers.
Community Resources
We work with partners in the Wallingford community to address chronic & emergent needs for youth & teens by providing free programs that give them life skills, create stability and inspire hope.
In response to the growing youth health crisis, the Wallingford Family YMCA is proud to offer the Fit to Go program. Elementary and middle school youth learn about healthy living and nutrition, develop a focused and realistic workout program that they can stick with, have tons of fun doing healthy activities, make new friends and feel better about themselves. Parents are invited to join us for monthly healthy meals, where healthy lifestyle tips are offered by a health professional. Fit to Go is supported by the Town of Wallingford Department of Public Health. For more information about this program, contact Connor Terry.
Drowning can happen nearly anywhere with standing water. But, as a parent or caregiver, you can’t keep your kids sidelined. You need to equip your children with the tools they need to be confident in and around water so they don’t lose out on the health benefits of exercise, the opportunities to bond with family and friends and the sense of accomplishment when they learn new skills. Teaching children how to be safe around water is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The YMCA’s Safety Around Water program can help you make sure they learn essential water safety skills, which can open up a world of possibilities for them. This 7-session course teaches kids water safety skills that help reduce the risk of drowning and builds confidence in and around water. We have partnered with the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club and the Spanish Community of Wallingford to provide this program to youth in our area. For more information about this program, contact Meg O’Connor.
Upward Bound is a free program designed for Wallingford students in grades four through twelve and aims to prevent social alienation in youth & teens who function outside the typical range of behavior and have difficulty with societal norms. The program allows them to form connections with peers & positive adult role models, feel confident trying new experiences and build a strong support system that they might not have otherwise. Youth are challenged to reach past their limitations with decision-making opportunities, recreational activities, and positive self-expression. The goal of the program is to develop social skills, analytical thinking and self-esteem by creating an atmosphere where youth & teens feel safe, valued and free to express themselves. Upward Bound is supported by the United Way of Meriden & Wallingford, the Napier Foundation and the Ion Bank Foundation. For more information about this program, contact Kim Clini.