La Jolla YMCA

The communication amongst the staff is a joke here. Charged me when they shouldn’t have and would not refund me. Take your business elsewhere.

My kids went to this Preschool for about 6 months (new location at the church) and I had to move them to a different preschool. Without getting into the details of the so many wrong things I noticed, I will summarize main flaws of this preschool and why it is not a good place for your children:
1) Good teachers leave within less than a year. Teachers give 2 week notice and Director can’t find a good teacher to replace within reasonable time (less than 2 months). What you see when this happens is temporal substitutes that are not charismatic, and loving; kids who are going through this transition feel angry, don’t sleep their naps and cry a lot…
2) Sports incentive is overrated. They tell you how wonderful it is, but this is the truth, swimming lessons are for all kids coming from the same classroom so if your kid knows something more than the average, expect no advancement. It is more a splashing and moving the body in the water type of activity… ah! Don’t expect your kid to have chlorine be washed out of his body after the class. This brings all kid of skin problems (fungi among others). Gymnastics is the only good one but is still more about jumping and balance.
3) Preschool event participation is on odd days. Parents do not participate in general.
4) Program schedule is always off. I stopped by at different times and there was always something wrong. Several examples but I will leave it for your eyes to see.
5) Spanish is said to be taught in this preschool. Only one spoke it well and left. Director is not fully engaged on the importance of this. Kids learn few Spanish words with wrong pronunciation from teachers who have taken few Spanish classes in their life.
6) Expect to see once in a while kids being yelled at or not understood when crying. Not all teachers are like this but finding 2 doing so makes me feel like this place is not good for any kid.
I want to add that the YMCA is a wonderful place to have your kids involved, but NOT the preschool.

I have been a member for 10 years! My kids have been members 5 years. The coaches really made a difference in building their skills, attitude, commitment, sportsmanship! Added bonus i can work out during their classes the equipment is the best!

Our family made a difficult decision to remove our grandson from the La Jolla YMCA Preschool. He is a 4 year old special needs child with speech delay. This preschool is not geared to support children with special needs. The Directors at this preschool had unrealistic expectations. Their approach to manage behavior issues created tension to the everyday preschool environment. In the end we want our child to spend time where he is wanted, loved and supported. They were unable to manage beyond the norm in childcare needs.

Pool has been closed for over a week. No exercise commitment to get it up and running. The water temperature was very cold even before the heater disaster. For now their excellent water aerobics program has been a disaster on hold waiting for them to get it fixed.

We just became members here and it’s by far the best place we’ve found for a family. My husband and I can work out and the kids can always be involved in something. My son loves the gymnastics so much we had his birthday party here. (Jayden) Great time! So thankful this place is here and so close to our home :)

Super nice facility. Great weight room and everything is modern!

The People working at the kids club are square and rude, my husband and my 2 kids are members at the la Jolla ymca, I sign in my 8 years old son for 30 minutes until his basketball practice … After 3 minutes they came and told me to take him out immediately because I am not a member, I had to go and take my son out, and he ask me why in a very sad face. That got me so sad !!!
What kind a rule and who actually made this rule doesn’t think very well, since my son is a member I think he has the right to use the kids club. I am very disappointed how they handle it and how they treated us !

My son was enrolled in preschool at the Y and attended many summer camps. We have had nothing but positive experiences there and even when my son had his own challenges, all the staff were incredibly friendly and kind when handling each situation. I would highly recommend this why and all of their activities for kids! We are even having my daughters 2^nd birthday there in the gymnastics room, can’t wait!

After almost 4 years of attending this Y, (I volunteered and spent a lot of time here) I come to find out my child was hurt by another child of a prominent member’s child, and then disciplined not to tell by Y staff. My child was pushed out of a chair and then my other child was slapped on the hand by the provider when my child witnessed their sibling being hurt. When I found out what happened the incident was basically hushed and brushed even though I wrote a complaint, one of the attendants shortly after that no longer worked there, the other attendant cried and apologized to me, and the director of child watch quit, then one of my children who attended the preschool started being accused of stealing things from his class mates and I withdrew them completely and let my membership drop. Then the latter director Ms So an So sent me a personal letter thanking me for leaving her Y and opening opportunities for other children. (she wasn’t even the director when the incident happened, the main director in addition to the child watch director all left) It was like a terrible case of hit and run! It is a shame when an organization with a distinguished reputation brushes illegal activity under the rug and ousts community members. I ended up having to file an incident report with the police about their child watch attendant. He no longer works there but that’s not to say the Y didn’t transfer him to another Y and the child who pushed my 4 yr old out of a chair, still attends. Sick.
The sad part about it is many of the staff knew what happened but it would be a liability for their livelihood to speak up, there are many great people and places and sometimes those of us that have an experience like this must say something not to discredit the establishment but to facilitate a response for change.
I wish the La Jolla Y the same kindness they have shown my family and all the other families stories that have been and will be used for charitable donations from community members that don’t stand up for those that they donate for!

The La Jolla YMCA has saved my life. I have Type II diabetes and I must exercise. The lifeguards taught me to swim. The workout room trainers helped me understand how to use the machines. I started out swimming at 225 lbs and now I am consistently at 190 lbs. A lot of those extra pounds is muscle. Now they have Aqua Bootcamp which is a fun way to stretch after swim. My grand daughters attended Summer Camp one year and loved it. My mom (age 90) worked out in the pool with my help. The La Jolla Y is for everyone.

Have gotten to know the other teachers better, including spending the day there watching the kids/​teachers. There are some pretty good teachers in this program. Kids definitely seem happy to go too.

Being a fitness buff, there’s no way I’m going to spend my month in San Diego eating, drinking, and sitting in a lab all day for work! I can’t come back home to my wife 20 pounds heavier and with a pooch belly! Not going to happen! Fortunately for me, the La Jolla YMCA is literally two minutes from the Residence Inn. Better yet, since I’m a Newport County YMCA member in Rhode Island, I can take advantage of their reciprocal program to go to the LA Jolla Y for free. Well, actually the first 14 visits per year are free and only $ 5 a visit after that. I still haven’t reached my limit, so it’s a win-​win situation so far!
The facility is more than adequate, a better than average YMCA. I still like the one in Newport better, but I’m splitting hairs at this point. The fitness center and free weight rooms are away from the children’s areas. Let me tell you, people in California have their kids in everything, and I’m dodging their Y Summer Camp every day. The kids are fine, but I have to tell you I’m amazed at how many old people go to the Y. I’m not talking 60 year olds, I’m talking ELDERLY! Remember, I have to change and shower in the men’s locker room, so you can imagine the sights I’m seeing! Where are the young (er) people? I guess I’ll have to serve as eye candy for the old ladies, whatever. Anyway, I’m able to do double workouts without having to worry about waiting for machines, treadmills, bikes, etc. If you have to travel like me and you’re a YMCA member, take advantage of the reciprocal program; it’ll save you some cash and keep you fit at the same time.

The best in town! Our daughter loves this place

Well, we just got completely screwed by their swimming program.
We had been considering joining for membership because we had been sending our child to the swimming class there for a few sessions now.
Today, after signing up for the class weeks in advance, paid the fees, we cleared our schedule, brought our children to the class, dressed them up and waited by the pool for the class to start… Only to have them tell us that one of the class for our kids have been cancelled.
Apparently, they seem to think it is more convenient to have us do all the prep work, get the kids psyched up for the class, drive over, get ready, then change out of their clothes, wait, change back, and then drive home without swimming… than it is for them to simply pick up the phone and call us in advance.
The staff at the pool did nothing to help us. I asked if we can get the kids in the water just for today since they are the ones that failed to notify us in advance and the kids have been looking forward to the class. But all they did was pass the buck and refused. (One claimed that the alternate class is full, but I counted only 4 kids in her class today (they can have up to 6)).
So basically they just said «Screw You, Not gonna help you… not my fault so not my problem».
In the end, we were left to deal with the consequence of their negligence and failure and a couple of disappointed kids.
Nothing we can do, we were the little guys left to fight a losing battle with the big faceless organization with no accountability and detached employees.
(YEA… AND I USED TO BE ON THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE YMCA YFS IN SAN DIEGO EVEN).
I care about my kids, so I guess I will look for a different program elsewhere where their childrens swimming program seems to care a bit about their students also.

Our child caught scabies from the child care center. Two dermatologists confirmed it. There is no A/​C in the front area of the building where the child care center is located so it stays hot and steamy in the summer. The staff is friendly and nice to the kids, but if they can’t keep it clean, it doesn’t matter. The constant membership drives and outreach to low income families has resulted in an overcrowded facility. To add insult to injury, some of our child’s gear was «misappropriated.» Apparently this is common. We were satisfied with the LJ YMCA when we first joined three years ago, but it has really gone down hill in the past year. Beware!

Thank GOD for LJYMCA. The childcare alone is worth the membership fee and has allowed me to get back into shape and feel great while I’m assured my kids are in great hands. My two and four-​year-​olds love going to the playcare while I workout.
As for the facilities, I rarely have trouble getting to the equipment in the gym. There is usually a vacant treadmill or spin machine and lots of stair climbers. The weight room is great and usually pretty empty in the mornings. Children’s swim, ballet and gymnastics programs are fabulous, too.

I might be slightly (okay, incredibly) biased because this YMCA served as a home away from home throughout most of my childhood, but maybe that also gives me some firsthand insight into what it’s like for the little tykes?
The gymnastic program is top notch. Childcare is too. The fitness aspect offers something that I’ve yet find anywhere else– familiarity. Especially if I’m going to get all sweaty and gross in front of people, it’s helpful when they make me feel comfortable and welcomed =)
Love this Y.

I don’t know what I would do without the La Jolla YMCA. The LJ YMCA provides two hours of free childcare while you work out and a has no-​nonsense fitness staff (no hard sales pitches here).
I’ve also sent my kids to the preschool and the summer camps and have been very happy with those experiences.
The facilities are nothing fancy but they are well-​maintained and they are in the process of remodeling parts of the center. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly and no one is ever turned away for inability to pay.
The previous poster who complained about the fundraising calls that volunteers make on behalf of the Y (but only in February) was dead wrong. The LJYMCA serves not just La Jolla, but University City, Pacific Beach, Clairemont, and UCSD, where there are many families living in student family housing surviving on very little.
My family LOVE LOVE LOVES the La Jolla YMCA.

I signed up when we first moved to the area to utilize the swim lessons. I consider myself a fitness fanatic, attending the gym regularly four times a week before we moved. At this Y, I never used the place for working out. There were not enough classes offered (good variety, but not enough frequency to maintain a routine) and too strict of childcare policy– must make reservation day head of time and cancel if you don’t use it– too much effort for a busy mom! Good grief.
The locker room by the pool was crowded and antiquated– and it wasn’t even peak summer season!
I am now just running by the beach, trying to «work off» my unused membership & initiation fee ($ 150/​family + $ 70/​mo! Crazy! What was I thinking!?) with free summer activities. Hopefully my search for a new place in the Fall turns out better. Argh.
And if you want to take advantage of the kid programs, just pay the «non-​member» fee… lot less hassle and same as pricey membership.