GOBBLE, WOBBLE & RUN
WITH THE YMCA OF LINCOLN
November 2025
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
For Your Family
Parents Night Out
Out of School Days
Meet Y-Guy!
Craft Fair
Fall Family Festival
Dance & Gymnastics Clinic
For Your Wellness
Chili Cook Off & Pickleball Tournament
Holiday Wellness Challenge
Specialized Training
Teen Fitness Training
Tell Me Something Good
$0 Joining Fee
Winter Coat Drive
Halloween Events
Campbell CLC Soccer Team
Thrive at the Y
On the Blog: Partnership in Action
Reminders
Thanksgiving Hours
Giving Tree
Veteran’s Day at the Y
THE 17TH ANNUAL YMCA OF LINCOLN TURKEY TROT RETURNS THANKSGIVING MORNING!
Lace up your sneakers and grab your flock because the YMCA of Lincoln Turkey Trot presented by Union Bank & Trust is back for its 17th year of Thanksgiving morning fun!
Join hundreds of fellow turkey trotters in the heart of downtown Lincoln at the Railyard for one of the community’s favorite holiday traditions. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just out for a pre-feast stroll, there’s something for everyone!
RACE DAY SCHEDULE
7:45am
8:00am 8:30am 9:00am
Tot Trot for our tiniest turkeys (FREE for 5 & under)
1-Mile Run/Walk for a more relaxed trot ($21)
5K Race for the runners in the family ($36)
Awards Ceremony
Proceeds from the Turkey Trot support the Lincoln YMCA’s Annual Fundraising Campaign, which ensures every child, family, and senior has access to life-changing Y programs . . . no matter their financial situation. So come trot, laugh, and give thanks with us this Thanksgiving!
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Hi, I’m new here!
MEET Y-GUY!
We’ve got a new member of the YMCA of Lincoln family . . . Y-Guy! Catch him at the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning in the Railyard.
GIVE THE GIFT OF THE Y!
With the holidays around the corner, it’s not too early to start shopping! YMCA gift cards are available for purchase at the Front Desk of any Lincoln Y location.
PSSST . . . a week at Camp Kitaki makes the perfect holiday gift!
FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL
Join us at Camp Kitaki for family fun on November 15 from 1:00-5:00pm!
Don’t miss our Fall Family Festival at Camp Kitaki this Sunday! Fall is the perfect opportunity to get outside and spend family time together. Enjoy a combination of classic camp activities and unique fall fun with the opportunity to go at your own pace. Will you explore the archery range, scarecrow decorating, The Fort, fall crafts, or a hike in the fall foliage first? The choice is yours!
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
NEW YEAR’S LIVE CAMPOUT
December 29 – January 1 | Ages 7 – 14
Let Camp Kitaki put the finishing touches on your child’s winter break! This campout features a celebration to ring in the New Year with contests, dancing, and memories.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
COOPER Y CRAFT FAIR
December 6, 9:00am-3:00pm
Join us at the Cooper YMCA and shop for unique gifts, home decor, tasty treats, and MORE, all while supporting small, local businesses! The Craft Fair is FREE to attend.
OUT OF SCHOOL DAYS
Wednesday, November 26
Parents, are you still looking for child care during the kids’ Thanksgiving holiday? The Y offers Out of School Days, a licensed child care program, at all four Lincoln Y branches during Lincoln Public Schools’ off days for youth in Kindergarten through age 13.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
PARENTS NIGHT OUT
November 21, 5:30 – 8:30pm
While you’re enjoying that new movie or relaxing at your favorite restaurant, your kids will be having fun-filled, supervised time at the YMCA. Parents Night Out is for youth 6 weeks to 12 years of age, and offered at the Cooper, Copple Family, and Fallbrook YMCAs.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
YOUTH SPORTS
Upcoming Registration Deadlines
Winter Volleyball Academy Nov 14
Winter Club Volleyball Nov 21
Kindergarten Basketball Clinic Dec 2 (Middle)
Winter Cheer Clinic Dec 2 (Middle)
High School Basketball League Dec 3
Winter Break Basketball Camp Dec 16
Winter Itty Bitty Sports Clinic Dec 19
DANCE & GYMNASTICS CLINIC
Saturday, December 6, 9:00-10:30am
Cooper, Copple Family, Fallbrook, & Northeast YMCA
Join us for a creative and fun morning as we introduce and review skills from our dance and gymnastics programs with a Winter Olympics theme!
Y Members $24 | Community Members $48
LEARN MORE REGISTER
UPCOMING SPECIALIZED TRAINING
• Intro to Pilates
• Moving for Better Balance
• Strength Training for Women
• Strength Training for Teens
• Youth Sports Conditioning, and MORE!
Specialized training is offered at all four branches throughout the year, with schedules varying at each location.
VIEW ALL CLASSES
NORTHEAST YMCA NOVEMBER 14 -15
PICKLEBALL TOURNEY (NOVEMBER 14)
$60/team (ages 14+)
CHILI COOK OFF / CUPCAKE WARS (NOVEMBER 15) FREE to enter!
CHILI COOK OFF / CUPCAKE WARS TASTING & VOTING
$5 per person | Pay day of event
TEEN FITNESS TRAINING
Cooper
HOLIDAY WELLNESS CHALLENGE
November 10 – December 31
It’s not too late to register for this year’s Holiday Wellness Challenge! This is a great way to stay motivated with your workouts throughout the holidays. All participants will receive an “Ugly” Christmas Sweatshirt!
Y Members $34 | Community Members $70
REGISTER
LIFEGUARD & CPR CERTIFICATION
2026 Dates Available Now
Whether you’re looking to become Red Cross certified or if your certification is expiring soon, we offer both certification and recertification courses in CPR, First Aid, AED, and Lifeguarding.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
Mondays/Wednesdays, Dec 22-30, 9:00-11:00am
Copple Family Inquire for availability by emailing kguretzky@ymcalincoln.org
Fallbrook
Mondays/Wednesdays, Nov 10-Dec 3, 6:30-7:30pm Mondays/Tuesdays, Dec 22-30, 9:00-11:00am
Northeast Monday-Thursday, Dec 8-18, 4:00-5:00pm Monday-Thursday, Dec 8-18, 6:00-7:00pm
For ages 12-14 years.
TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD
TRUNK OR TREATS
In October, we celebrated Halloween at each branch with costumes, candy, and loads of fun!
CAMPBELL CLC SOCCER TEAM
Congratulations to the Campbell CLC soccer team for winning the 2025 Soccer Championship in a bracket with over 24 other Lincoln Public Schools! We are so proud of this team for their hard work, effort, and dedication!
WINTER COAT DRIVE
We collected nearly 2,000 coats during our 5th Annual Winter Coat Drive benefitting People’s City Mission! Coats were distributed on November 7 at PCM’s Help Center by YMCA staff and volunteers. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who donated this year. Congratulations to Copple Family Y Member Greg G. – winner of the free 1-year YMCA membership!
$0 JOINING FEE IN NOVEMBER
Tell a friend to tell a friend! All month long we’re offering $0 Joining Fee for new members joining us in November! It’s never been easier to join the Y . . . get started by visiting the Front Desk of any branch or click HERE to join online.
THRIVE AT THE Y
Big smiles, bold goals, and bright futures ahead! Our staff is all in on our new 5-year strategic plan because when our community thrives, we all thrive. Click HERE to learn more about our strategic plan.
PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION
At the Copple Family YMCA, community isn’t just something that’s talked about. It is something built together every day. This fall, that sense of togetherness has grown even stronger thanks to a partnership with The Independence Academy, a Lincoln Public Schools program for students with disabilities that helps them gain real-world educational, social, and career experience. Click HERE to read more about this amazing partnership on our blog!
REMINDERS
Thank you, Veterans!
YMCA Giving Tree
We invite all veterans and their immediate families to Try the Y (for FREE) between November 11-18 at any YMCA of Lincoln branch. Please present a valid military ID at the Front Desk to get started!
Did you know? The Lincoln YMCA offers a 5% discount on all monthly memberships for military members and veterans.
LEARN MORE
Thanksgiving Hours
November 27 | Thanksgiving Day
7:00-11:00am
• Child Watch closed at all locations
November 28 | Black Friday 5:00am-9:00pm
• Child Watch open 9:00-11:00am at the Cooper, Copple Family, and Northeast Y
• Child Watch open 8:30-10:30am at the Fallbrook Y
Now through December 4, we are collecting gifts for students at Elliott and Pershing Elementary during our annual Giving Tree. Each year, the Giving Tree touches over 700 students, and it truly takes all of us (and more) to pull it off!
WAYS TO SUPPORT
“I enjoy so many things about my membership! The price is affordable, and we utilize the member discount for programs like Out of School Days, Summer Camp, and Youth Sports. Plus, I take advantage of the free Child Watch regularly!”
Member, Copple Family YMCA 2025 Member Survey