YMCA of Cecil County

Negative experience: I have never had any issues with the ymca, however Nora Judd has left so there are no more swim classes available, also no parent days out. This new Director is NOT doing her job. I’ve been a member for 2 years and my children has had consistent swim lessons now NOTHING. We need the old director back or a new aquatic director asap.

Negative experience: first of all this places bathrooms are dirty and never cleaned. It looks like there was food on the floor. Second they made my 13-year-old sister wear a life jacket because she was too young even though she knew how to swim and didn’t let us take the swim test and made us wear a red wristband and made us and made her stay in the kitty pool third of all, there was this old man lifeguard watching us in messing with us and wouldn’t let us do anything. He stared at us the whole time like a creep.

Fantastic experience: The pool and inside smell but outsid it so much better

Negative experience: Yesterday, July 5, I went to your location around 6:00 pm to relax with my kids in the pool, but it was quite the opposite, as I felt marginalized by the lifeguard staff, Greyce, a young, and a woman. They were harassing my 3-year-old daughter and me the entire time we entered the pool. First, because we didn't have a red ribbon on our wrists because we were from another location. Then, my daughter was just holding onto the edge of a ramp because she was afraid of falling, and they approached her to tell her she couldn't hold on. Then, she wanted to play like the other kids and approached a snake in the pool, and they told her she shouldn't be around there. We didn't feel free to be around the pool. Then, my daughter stood in a corner and was also told the same thing, that she couldn't be there. Given all of this, I decided go out with my 8-month-old baby and my 3-year-old daughter. All of this can only be called discrimination, even though you promote inclusivity in your clubs on your website. I'm no longer a member because of this and because every time I go to the pool, there are swimming lessons. Also, once, my daughter went in without a float, and the lifeguard there did nothing to help her. It wasn't until I told him that he gave my daughter the rescue stick that I thought she'd go in the water. Thank God, nothing bad happened.

Negative experience: My mom speaks Spanish and so does my little sister and one day they went to the pool and they were racist and discriminatory, when other children were playing with some toys and my sister came closer to play with the toys too and the lifeguard didn't let her touch anything she pushed her to the side, then the lifeguard at that place kept giving my mom a dirty look, my mom had to leave because of how uncomfortable she was because they didn't let her do anything in that place.

Negative experience: Front desk lady had bad customer service and not helpful. We canceled our membership. No one there seemed to know what room was for the "parents night out". They sent me to room 18(which was a supply closet for Christmas decore) Then when I finally find the room, the lady watching the kids was on the phone outside of the room. No, thank you YMCA do better.

Negative experience: Showed up today Saturday 8 am new in town tried to get a guess pass for the day and the woman at the front desk said that I need a member present to get a pass. That is ridiculous sorry but how are ppl supposed to know what’s inside if you can’t check it out. Waste of my time

Fantastic experience: It's a wonderful place to get training. I met one of the tutors with a student practicing.

Negative experience: My wife and I were finally able to afford the $95 dollars a month for our growing family to use the YMCA. As excited as we were to finally be able to take our family to the Y, it wasn't what we expected. This may be our fault but how can we rate the YMCA when they don't offer exercise rooms for our toddlers. We wanted to work out with our children but were told that it wasn't safe and they could get hurt in the ball room with the fake grass. This was after I had to sign a liability waiver saying I can't sue the Y if anyone gets hurt for any reason. I suppose the Y is fine if you are an adult who don't have kids under the age of 7 but we are not OK with putting our kids in a daycare with people we don't know. I will not trust a stranger with the safety of my children. Plus after 8pm when my kids are full of energy there is no exercise for them at this YMCA. Not only that but the YMCA makes it really hard to cancel your membership. I can find better ways to spend $95 dollars a month on my family.

Positive experience: I like how they remodeled the workout areas and they are not playing the same music over and over. Its a lot more peaceful! What I don't like is the sauna!!! My favorite part of going to the YMCA "was" the sauna that use to be inside the woman's locker room. This YMCA is a huge building and the director could have built a much nice sauna, but instead built a very small co-ed sauna about an 8 by 10 foot that only fits comfortably about 6 people. So now, people are piled on top of each other and men sweating all over the place. It's disgusting and looks so dirty inside. If the EDGE was closer to me, I'd choose the EDGE because they have a clean huge sauna in the lady's locker room. I'm sure they have had many complaints about this as well but choose to not care.

Positive experience: Been coming to this Y for 6yrs and the WiFi still sucks

Negative experience: I have had a membership at the YMCA in Elkton going on 4 years. We signed up for not only being able to have to use of the gym but also to be able to enjoy and make memories for the kids to have fun things to be able to do. Over these last 4 years it has changed so much and gone so down hill. They have finally redone the gym after it needing it for quite sometime now the remodel of the gym with the new equipment is an upgrade but we still need mirrors in the gym. They have started cutting the closing time of the pool. In the summer we had to share times with the other swim classes which meant there was no open swim times at the times of class. The lifeguards and certain staff have such unwelcoming attitudes. My boyfriend and I sometimes don't get to get to the gym until 9pm due to me not getting out of work until 8:30. l would go home and get changed real quick a den we would head over with an hour to spare. Plenty of time to get a good work out in. When we walked in the door one of the staff members threw her hands in the air and shouted WHYYYYY. Like we were bothering because she didn't have to be there until 10 working anyway. Now the new rule is with swimming if you have a red band (which means you haven't taken the swim test on file) then you have to wear a life vest even if you are over 48 inches. 48 inches?! We are talking 3 feet water. With lifeguards on duty that are supposed to be trained in life guarding if something were to happen. The water slide that was in the pool broke but instead of fixing it they just took it out. The whatch and play get to make up their own hours I feel like anytime I got to use this which is available at certain times anyway for parents to be able to go work out they are closed. There aren’t any other fun activities for them to be able to do really anymore and their response to this is "yeah I'm sorry it doesn't fit my families needs anymore. These kids in this area need something fun to do. All while they keep raising the membership but find it ok to keep taking away from what I pay for. Do better.

Positive experience: Cecil County YMCA is a good value and has friendly staff. National Y membership is a nice feature since Bear Glasgow is not far. What’s cool is this YMCA recently renovated the workout rooms. All new equipment, weights and machines. Also, their swim team has great instruction from 8 years old and up. Your child will certainly learn to swim “legal” and improve on this team. I hope the rest of the building and parking lot get similar treatment as lockers and class side is a bit dated.

Fantastic experience: Not sure what happen with the prices but they done up

Positive experience: I think I've got no issues with the Y itself. that is why it's 4. But sauna culture is negative 4. It just sooooo weird! Not only people walking there right after classes, but they are wearing sneakers and gym clothes. It's basic hagine guys! The other thing- the Y staff started Windexing the sauna door while people were inside!!! I just don't get it. Essential oil is not allowed, but you can put chemicas on the door while people are inside?!

Fantastic experience: Great YMCA with wonderful exercise programs.

Positive experience: The basketball court floor is very worn down

Negative experience: I am really disappointed at this ymca!! I have a special needs adult who can’t swim ,but he can get his exercise by walking doing laps in 31/2 foot smaller pool. We got here at 11:30am. I was told the pool was opened when I called. I came a couple days ago and had no idea the pool was closed again for renovation. The only exercise that Robbie gets is in the water. He doesn’t really do anything else. So what am I paying for if he can’t use the pool. Nothing!! I am seriously considering going to the Newark ymca. It’s newer cleaner and you don’t have these problems. I’ll tell you Elkton ymca isn’t the cleanest it the oldest everything. Don’t waste you money. Go to Newark ymca clean and they offer so much more for your money. It’s only 15mn down the road. And you will never have issue like I have had here. I would like to say Eileen, the I assume is manager was very acommadating. The staff is always nice and friendly. But, I question the person who makes these pool decisions. After all there’s not a lot here . Thanks Lisa Steinmetz. Also if you look at the reviews. I doubt they have 4 stars check it out and see yourself. I just want to thank Eilleen she somehow found some more lifeguards and was very kind and saw I was upset. She was very professional!! I also forgot to mention to be fare there was a lifeguard already there. So I didn’t understand why he couldn’t swim , like I was told by a lifeguard who I guess wasn’t on the clock yet? Because they told me they need two lifeguards one for eat side. Robbie is 22 yrs old I told them I would be watching him and that there is 1 lifeguard. So I think the person who is making these ridiculous rules should step down.

Positive experience: Swim lessons are run by very young inexperienced teachers that struggle to command the class it's very chaotic

Negative experience: Today was my worst visit ever, a lifeguard told me my autistic son shouldn’t be in a pool if it requires me to right by his side and if he needs to be completely y guided n redirected. Lack of sympathy for any persons that is disabled I even went to the extent to inform the lifeguard of my sons neurological disabilities and she stated it doesn’t matter nor does she care if he’s disabled n that if that’s the case he shouldn’t be in a pool. I said to her who should anyone with a disabilities not be aloud to swim and enjoy activities in theyre conmunity. I was heartbroken then she proceeded to get her supervisor as I requested but said I was argumentative but indeed I was advocating for son as my right is to! I shouldn’t have disclose my sons disabilities everyone is allowed to enjoy life and I pay for a membership for what to be discriminated against? I asked the lifeguard does she know what autism is she replied no?! Then I said well are you aware that no one person is the same and you have no right to judge or discriminate against. She said it doesn’t matter all I can say is WOW! The ymca needs to do better.

Fantastic experience: Great day in the sun. Pool was busy with school kids out of school, but all played and swam peacefully. Once again. Great day

Fantastic experience: I love the YMCA great place to relax and release STRESS

Negative experience: 2025: All still relevant. Nothing has changed. Cancelling membership. 2024: Needs work: • The lifeguard staff needs training on how to talk to people. Yelling at children and adults isn’t the way to handle things. • The pool needs better signage regarding the slide. A height restriction is fine, but make that clear. Waiting before the next person goes down makes sense but the sign is not clear for children and is worn out. Make it easier for guests to know what to do so lifeguards don’t need to yell at people all day. • The entrance experience wasn’t great. Apparently the cards/badges pull up the wrong information on occasion which seems odd. • “Adult swim for 10 minutes” is silly. Allow everyone to use the pool all day without adult swims.

Negative experience: I was blocked on their public facebook page for addressing how their faclilities are always closed but memebers still pay full price. I understand, cant have too many people start to realize the scam.

Fantastic experience: The staff takes time to know the regulars & greets everyone with respect . It’s definitely a safe place to bring my adult client with disabilities.

Fantastic experience: They always go above for me and my 5 guest

Negative experience: This is not my home ymca and I am glad it’s not wow this place should be shut down immediately! The amount of mold that has to be in this place is insane my allergies acted up the moment I step foot in this building how do families keep bringing there young ones here take a look at the ceiling tiles they have black mold ! What health inspector has passed this place in the last year facility should be torn down!

Fantastic experience: While there are more update facilities the staff and community and indistinguishable, diverse, and second to none. A wonderful blend of family and comfort. I’m sure there’s a list whereby the equipment and building will be upgraded in time. That wi be welcomed. But until then it’s a great place to get in shape, commune, and grow.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful place.

Fantastic experience: By joining the YMCA, it has helped me reach my fitness goals. The instructors have helped me stay motivated and I have also made some work-out friends. I like that I have a variety of workouts from the weight room, exercise classes to pool time.

Fantastic experience: Various programs and friendly environment.

Negative experience: There are so many issues that I just don’t know where to begin. The place is literally falling apart. The ceiling leaks into the gym when it rains. The weight room and TRX room are both closed due to plumbing issues. The pools and the hot tub seem to be closed more than open due to constant issues that never get fixed. The building is disgustingly dirty and the bathroom’s always have plumbing issues. For what they charge it’s not worth it. You can go to Planet Fitness and pay $10 a month and enjoy a clean environment with excellent equipment. The YMCA is also in debt in excess of $10 million dollars which will never be dissolved. The best thing they can do is close the doors and hopefully someone else buys it and runs the place as it should be. Their regional director just doesn’t give a dam and that is not about to change.

Fantastic experience: Facility is a bit dated. Offers a lot of different activities including pickleball, swimming, basketball, workout classes (yoga, step, interval training, zumba, strength training, Les Mills bodypump, TRX) exercise rooms (treadmill machines). Worth the price of membership.

Fantastic experience: I love the friendly atmosphere and availability of programs!

Fantastic experience: Great place and great people

Fantastic experience: The staff are wonderful

Fantastic experience: Love the atmosphere

Fantastic experience: Great place and family friendly….. so far

Fantastic experience: Kids had a blast in the pool

Fantastic experience: Better pool and than the DE YMCAs, great classes

Fantastic experience: Amazing staff! Very clean facility. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: There is is great pickleball program at the Y. Great clinics, players, and court availability

Fantastic experience: Nice facility, friendly staff and my son loves the pool.

Fantastic experience: Very helpful staff. Very clean facility. Offers a wide variety of programs to the entire community.

Fantastic experience: Gene at the front desk is amazing! Abigail works her butt off and has the best personality and George is good stuff :)

Fantastic experience: Love the lap pool! Working on achieving a one mile swim. Also find the circuit training to be what I need to maintain good muscle tone.

Negative experience: Lifeguard are rude. they make up their own rules. They are super strict on black family they make black family feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Fantastic experience: Great place to engage at many different levels. King George rules the roost in the weight/fitness center and is a wise ole owl...can't go wrong!

Fantastic experience: We enjoy using the variety of exercise & weights equipment, the pool, & classes they offer. The Y is kept nicely clean, the staff are friendly, & hours are quite convenient. I'm learning new ways of stretching and improving muscles for strength and balance. ☺️️‍♀️

Fantastic experience: My daughter and I loved hanging out at the pool this summer. She is counting down the days until the outdoor pool reopens. We also are currently taking a gymnastics class and she loves it as well. Excited to see that Birthday parties are now being offered again!

Fantastic experience: Love the pool

Fantastic experience: Good

Fantastic experience: Love it here!

Negative experience: Waited 30 min to speak to woman at front desk while she was taking a personal phone call.

Negative experience: Outdoor pool was closed because of a lack of life guards, then it was opened to only be closed again because "the filters aren't pumping". Seems like no who works here has a clue what's going on.

Positive experience: The staff were really nice, friendly and helpful. I was able to join without a fee, am paying less. I get a 30% discount and $100 Y bucks. They have a special until the end of September.

Negative experience: Cecil Soccer has worked with the Elkton YMCA to allow use of the fields for soccer practice. Practice was supposed to start last week but had to be canceled due to poor field conditions, not being mowed & having a large black snake visible because the grass was so tall. This week, the field still hasn’t been mowed and the grass is even taller and patchy. The soccer players are going to practice because they have games to prepare for but are running the risk of injuring themselves on the clumps/mounds of grass. Very disappointing. Do better YMCA do better.

Negative experience: There is no fresh air in basketball area most of the time. They don't run the aircondition in basketball area. You may sometimes smell the sweat in basketball area at YMCA in ELKTON. We kindly asked them to fix this problem. They have not done anything. They have not even pit the sign on the door to keep the door open. Very poor management..

Fantastic experience: I enjoy the stories my son tells me about being there at camp for the summer!! He ALWAYS has a great time, tons of activities, learning, making friends and all the “kid” things you could imagine! 99% of the staff are very helpful, kind, and always smiling or joking when I am there. It’s def worth it! My son also does before and after va re with the YMCA right at his school! They have been a life saver with this and I always enjoy seeing the staff there as well!! Go to the Y this one in particular!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Negative experience: Update: I was accommodated thanks to George. I have my eight classes for 115 per person and me and my children officially started our first swim class lessons our instructor Tracy is wonderful . Even though this location still has its issues with staff not being properly trained and informed of the correct information to pass along to their members, is still an issue but they are doing much better in other areas. Bounce room no longer available. Pool slide and Hot tube are out of order. Gym area is useful pools are nice. Its an ok place for the middle of nowhere. But they can still keep the 1⭐ its a trash YMCA. Do Better

Fantastic experience: I enjoy the stories my son tells me about being there at camp for the summer!! He ALWAYS has a great time, tons of activities, learning, making friends and all the “kid” things you could imagine! 99% of the staff are very helpful, kind, and always smiling or joking when I am there. It’s def worth it! My son also does before and after va re with the YMCA right at his school! They have been a life saver with this and I always enjoy seeing the staff there as well!! Go to the Y this one in particular!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Fantastic experience: An old fashioned YMCA in the best sense. Complete facilities including two pools, a gym, weight room, hot tub, sauna, and a complete range of classes and organized activities. There's nothing fancy about the place, and its unpretentious style adds to its charm. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the clientele is a diverse mix of races, economic backgrounds, and ages. A great place to get some exercise and enjoy social contact.

Fantastic experience: New member here. So much fun in the outdoor pool! Looking forward to trying the indoor too. Clean place and friendly staff.

Fantastic experience: Mr Cory and the rest of his Camp crew are amazing! The transition from Before/After care to Summer Camp was absolutely seamless for my daughter because she had Mr Cory and a similar structure to what she was used to all throughout the school year. The variety of activities also keeps her engaged and excited to go back the next day. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Camp staff is fantastic and really care about thr well being of my child

Fantastic experience: I love my spin classes! Great variety of instructors and times and excellent equipment!

Fantastic experience: Family oriented and staff is friendly! I love all the amenities that this ymca offers. Fitness classes, weight and cardio room, sauna, swimming pool and hot tub is nice. It almost feels like second home! I only wish they would open up stretch space a little more in weight room.

Fantastic experience: Hours are great, staff is fantastic and I always love how great me and my kids feel after working out or going for a swim.

Fantastic experience: I have health issues and am overweight. I’m trying to get more mobile and improve my strength. I am very happy to say that I am improving because of the pool exercise programs in the morning at the Y. I also enjoyed being there, meeting new people, and taking the classes.

Fantastic experience: Staff very polite and helpful

Fantastic experience: The facility is clean, well kept, and quiet in the evenings when I like to workout. The staff is always friendly too, overall a good value for the money.

Fantastic experience: I go to the Cecil County YMCA for the hot tub and pool to relieve my pain.. I take my granddaughter to the pool, also. The staff is always pleasant and helpful. They need a “family locker room” where young boys can go with their mommy instead of the Women locker room

Fantastic experience: The Cecil County Family YMCA offers activities for all age groups from swimming lessons for children to aquatics classes for the elderly. There is a wide variety of classes and members can drop into a class without signing up for it. The cardio and weight rooms have updated equipment and are always clean and in working condition. Personal training is available with top quality trainers. The indoor pool is open year round and lap lanes are always available. A new co-ed sauna is located in the pool area, as well as a hot tub. Front desk personnel is welcoming and helpful with making sure you get registered in the way that works for you.

Fantastic experience: The Y is very comfortable. Everyone keeps to themselves and working out at your own pace is easy. Hours are great.

Fantastic experience: I appreciate the positive response from the staff to the quote below and reiterate my endorsement. "The pool is a pleasure. Jennifer keeps it clean and in control. Her lifeguards are attentive and on time. Jackie is always friendly and efficient. The hours are convenient Halls doors and locker room are clean. A few suggestions on Maintenance: roof leaks in Men's locker room above ( did note dramatic improvement in pool to Men's locker room leakage, some still persists. Men's locker room clock is broken. Floor drain cover is loose on the "sauna" side of lockers."

Fantastic experience: Cecil Y is a great place- the staff is super helpful and always greet you with a smile. The classes are nice and facility is kept clean. Love their kiddies pool as well. All in all, totally recommend.

Fantastic experience: Love the atmosphere, equipment, and pool!

Fantastic experience: Good place for familys

Fantastic experience: People are very friendly and helpful they make you feel welcome the place is always clean

Fantastic experience: Very Clean place

Fantastic experience: Front Desk lady named Jackie is the absolute best. Our world need more people like her.

Fantastic experience: Best place to go friendly people n can't go wrong on a hot day in a nice cool pool

Fantastic experience: The YMCA in Elkton MD is one of the best places to exercise. It has all the possible amenities you can think of. Right from the get go- the cardio area is amazing, with new cycling equipment, then comes the weights and floor exercises that one can do -all at ease with absolutely no distractions etc. The circuit too is a super experience at the YMCA. In addition, they have child care facilities -watch your kid/s while you work out! The heated swimming pool is a beauty with the kids area on the left-shallow and floats on the water for the kids to enjoy. There is also a hot tub as well-so comforting and relaxing, especially if you want to get in after a swim. Then comes the Sauna in the ladies locker room, the men have it too. Try these sometime! Personnel at the Y are the most pleasant and accommodating individuals I have ever met-right from the Director, Michelle, Karen -front desk personnel , the children's director Jenn and almost anyone I have met at the Y are the nicest of people in Elkton MD. There are the basketball courts and in addition you can have your pool parties here at a very reasonable price. No where you would have this comfort and have the BEST of all worlds! I keep hearing Planet fitness-but no, I have been a member with the Y for the last 15 years and LOVE it here! Just give it a try and you'll love every moment you spend at the YMCA, Elkton MD

Fantastic experience: Very friendly atmosphere and helpful staff. It is amazing that they can offer such a wide variety of resources for such a small membership fee.

Fantastic experience: Staff was very nice and accommodating even though I wasn't a member. Will definitely go back and become a member once I am ready!

Fantastic experience: I love this place I can work out or swim any time I want and the membership is cheap

Negative experience: Find another place to take your kids.

Negative experience: They need to make sure people follow the mask rules. People are maskless while not working out, and just walking around.

Positive experience: Great price, nice pools, good staff. They could use some updating in the cardio area would be the only complaint

Positive experience: Compared to the YMCA in Ambler, PA and Bel Air MD this one is very run down. They try to keep it clean at least. Water aerobics instructors do the same program w no change in music or exercise routine at this one, compared to other Ys. Youth swim team is important but impacts when lap lanes are open. Should prohibit lifeguards from having phones when on the stand. Very few classes offered, which may be due to Covid.

Positive experience: The work out machines are well maintained. The staff keep the place clean. The pool was reasonably warm (December) . The locker room was cold. The staff are helpful and friendly. Social distance measures are in place. Every other machine is closed off. The lighting is good. There is plenty of parking.

Fantastic experience: Great Y and my kids and I enjoy all of their programs available.

Fantastic experience: We really enjoy swimming at the Y! The staff is very friendly.

Fantastic experience: Love the noon cycling class ..thanks for joining me!!!

Fantastic experience: Open till 9 saturday

Fantastic experience: Even with COVID restrictions still feel welcome, comfortable and most of all safe!

Fantastic experience: Great refreshing fun

Fantastic experience: Very nice staff, opens at 5:30 a.m., has decent weight Room

Positive experience: We are a big family, and the pool accommodations for both kids and adults are fulfilling.

Negative experience: Woman on the phone was extremely rude and very short with me. I was going to sign up for a new membership but I'll just go to planet fitness at least their friendly.