Put Your Y-Bucks to Use!
Fall II registration is here! Explore upcoming swim lessons and youth sports, and make the most of your Y membership this fall.
Facility Closure FAQs
As we prepare for the Downtown YMCA at the MX to close at the end of 2026, we’re committed to keeping our members informed and making this transition as smooth as possible. Find answers to frequently asked questions below.
The Downtown St. Louis YMCA at the MX will close at the end of the day on Thursday, December 31, 2026. Members can continue to use the Downtown Y and all of its available services through that date.
As always, Downtown St. Louis Y members can also visit any of our 24 Gateway Region YMCA locations at any time.
Our lease at the Downtown St. Louis Y location is expiring, and after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to renew the lease.
This was not an easy choice. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Downtown St. Louis Y has unfortunately seen a steady decline in members. This drop in attendance has led to ongoing annual financial losses that we can no longer sustain, preventing us from making the investments needed to provide the high-quality experience our members deserve.
We recommend the South City YMCA for its proximity to downtown and wide range of programs and amenities.
The Gateway Region YMCA also has three additional locations in the City of St. Louis:
Remember, your Gateway Region YMCA membership gives you access to all of our 24 other locations throughout Missouri and Illinois. Click here to browse all locations.
Any time! You do not need to wait until the Downtown St. Louis YMCA closes.
Your Gateway Region YMCA membership gives you access to all of our locations throughout Missouri and Illinois. We encourage you to visit other Y locations and find the one that works best for you.
No. There is no immediate action required regarding your Amilia membership account.
Your membership will continue to be billed monthly at your current rate through March 2027, regardless of which Gateway Region YMCA locations you choose to visit. This helps ensure a seamless and uninterrupted service experience without any need for adjustments on your end.
Your membership will remain active, and you can continue visiting any Gateway Region YMCA location.
In March 2027, you will receive an email asking you to select your preferred new home branch. Beginning in April 2027, your monthly membership rate will be based on the location you select.
Your current monthly rate will remain in place through March 2027.
Beginning in April 2027, your membership rate will be based on the standard rate at the YMCA you select as your new home branch. We will contact you in March with more information and ask you to confirm your preferred location.
Absolutely! You can use any Gateway Region YMCA location at any time.
Our 24 locations offer a variety of amenities and programs, including swimming pools, walking tracks, pickleball, group exercise, and more. Amenities vary by location. Click here to browse all locations by amenity.
Your SilverSneakers access will continue at participating Gateway Region YMCA locations. Simply scan your access card when visiting another Y location.
You will continue to be eligible for the Gateway Region YMCA's Financial Assistance program.
Your current membership rate will remain in place through March 2027. Beginning in April 2027, your financial assistance percentage will be applied to the full membership rate at the location you select as your new home branch.
We will provide more information before this change takes effect.
Yes. Your eligible corporate or military discount will continue to apply when your membership transitions to the rate at your new home branch.
We hope you'll continue your Y membership at another Gateway Region YMCA location, but we understand that another location may not work for everyone.
If you would like to cancel your membership, please visit the Downtown St. Louis YMCA Welcome Center to complete a termination form. If you are unable to visit in person, you may submit your cancellation request in writing by emailing downtown.stlouis@gwrymca.org.
Explore Every Corner of Trout Lodge
Planning your stay just got easier. Explore YMCA Trout Lodge & Camp Lakewood with our new interactive property map.
Wondering Where Everything Is?
Find activities, lodging, amenities and more with our interactive Trout Lodge property map.
📍 Interactive Property Map
Find It on the Map
See where activities, lodging, amenities and more are located across YMCA Trout Lodge & Camp Lakewood.
Explore the MapFind Jobs at a Y Near You
Select a YMCA location below to view current job opportunities at that location.
Meet the CEO
Tim Helm
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tim Helm currently serves as the 12th President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gateway Region YMCA, one of the region’s leading nonprofits serving more than a quarter-million individuals annually through programs and services that nurture the potential of children and teens, promote health and well-being, and encourage positive social change.
Tim came to the Gateway Region YMCA in 2014, and in his first year, led the successful merger of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis and the YMCA of Southwest Illinois to become the Gateway Region YMCA. Tim also launched the Association’s long-term strategic planning process that guides organizational excellence, cultural improvement, and social responsibility to most effectively respond to growing community needs and position the Y for continued growth in the region. Tim has grown the Association from just over 38,000 membership units with an annual budget of $52 million, to more than 48,000 membership units on a budget of $75 million, which includes significant growth after recovering from the impacts of the COVID pandemic.
The Gateway Region Y is celebrating the recent completion of its five-year, comprehensive “Opportunity for All” capital campaign, launched in 2018. Under Tim’s leadership, the Y raised more than $59 million on a goal of $55 million, with the campaign focused on three primary strategies – bridging the opportunity gap, connecting communities and cultivating health equity in order to help those most in need in our region.
Before 2002, Tim held several other positions with the Dayton Y, including Branch Executive, Vice President of Operations and Senior Vice President. Before joining the Dayton Y in 1996, Tim served a variety of roles for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati from 1989-1996. Tim has also assumed leadership positions on a number of national committees, including as the Chair of the YMCA Mid-Majors Group and as the Vice Chair for the National Board of Directors for the Association of YMCA Professionals. Tim currently serves on the YMCA Employee Benefits Committee, and is the past Chair of the YMCA Champions for Child Protection and for the Missouri State Alliance of YMCAs.
Tim is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Tim is married to Heather May, and between the two of them, they have seven children and five grandchildren.
Meet the COO
Jared Beard
Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer
Jared Beard is the Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Gateway Region YMCA. In this role, Jared provides executive leadership for all of the Y's operating units and program areas, including health & well-being, camp, before and after school enrichment, and early childhood development.
Previously, Jared led the YMCA of Southwest Illinois as the interim President and CEO through a 2015 merger with the YMCA of Greater St Louis. In that role, he worked directly with volunteers and staff on the final phase of a strategic alliance to form the Gateway Region YMCA. The combined association now serves 13 counties, provides $6.3 million in financial assistance, relies on 7,000 volunteers and serves nearly 300,000 individuals through 24 branches across diverse communities in Missouri and Illinois.
Over the last ten years as the EVP and COO, Jared has built the reputation of the Y into one known for service and community throughout the region. Through strategic planning and execution, the organization has embraced a more inclusive and diverse culture. During the COVID-pandemic, the Y led vital programs to help communities recover and when met with social challenges, all levels of staff pulled together to deliver the Y’s mission.
As an advocate for lifelong learning, Jared holds a PhD in Nonprofit Management, a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science/Sports Management and a Certificate in Fund Raising Management. He is also a Certified Fund-Raising Executive through CFRE International.
He and his wife Rachael, who is a researcher for the VA Health Care System, live in the Metro East with their son, Cole.
Meet the Board
Volunteer Board of Directors
The Gateway Region YMCA Board of Directors is composed of civic leaders who generously volunteer their time to support the mission of the YMCA and work to strengthen the communities we serve.
Officers
Board Chair: Steve Hanley
Vice-Chair: Greg Dart
Treasurer: Steve Rasche
Secretary: Suzan McDaniel
Immediate Past Chair: Jon Rosenstengel
At Large Members
Michael Gibbons
Steve Hanley
Brent Jackson
Joe King
Melissa Lackey
David Layton
Mark Leeker
Suzan McDaniel
Jennifer O'Neal
Jane Overall
Dave Randolph
Steve Rasche
Susan Ratz
Jon Rosenstengel
Amy Smith
Cary Stalnecker
Julie Stupp
Jacques Thro
Suzanne Lyons
Matt Whiting
Jim Zeck
Joe Barnard
Julie Tang
Rodney Malone
District Branch Board Chair Representatives
Southeast District
Southwest District
City District
Northwest District
East District
Leadership Team
Executive Team
Judy Abrams
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Wendy Cornett-Marquitz, CFRE
Senior Vice President of Philanthropy & Chief Development Officer
Deborah Tallo
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
Cathie Degler
Vice President, Human Resources
Steve Mastorakos
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Melissa Lickert
Vice President, Accounting and Controller
Paul Schermesser
Vice President, Property Management
District Operations
Erin Abercrombie
District Vice President, East District
Ken Strawbridge
District Vice President, West District
Matt Clark
District Vice President, South District
Matt Thompson
District Vice President, City District
Tom Verheyen
District Vice President, Southwest District