Membership Policies

At the Downtown Berkeley YMCA, everyone is treated in a manner consistent with our character values: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.  

Bank Fees

Bringing a Guest to the Y

Putting Your Membership On Hold

Lost & Found

Transferring Your Membership

Locker Rentals

Canceling Your Membership

Facility Guidelines

Code Of Conduct

Bank Fees  

There is a $15 service fee for returned bank drafts and checks. (This is in addition to any fee your bank may charge you.)

Bringing a A Guest to the Y

Adult Full-Service Members are allowed three free guests per calendar year. Full-Service Couple and Family Members are allowed six free guests per calendar year. Once your annual passes are used, your additional guests will pay a guest rate of $12 per visit. ($5 if the guest belongs to another YMCA.)

• Members must be present with guests in the facility. 
• Photo ID is required for all guests. 
• All guests must complete a guest form.
• Guests must be age 18 or older, except members may bring their 14- to 17-year-old children as guests.
• High School Members may not bring guests.
• Program Members may not bring guests.

Putting Your Membership On Hold

Going on vacation or unable to work out for a month or more? You can freeze your membership for up to 4 months for a monthly administrative fee. Come to the Welcome Desk to let us know how long you'll be gone and authorize a change to your bank draft. Your membership and bank draft will be automatically re-started, saving you a second trip to the Welcome Desk.

Freeze fees:
A membership freeze due to illness or injury with a doctor's note is free.
Adult & Teen Memberships:  $10 per month
Family Memberships:  $15 per month

Lost & Found

Items found will be put in the Lost & Found behind the Welcome Desk and held for 2 weeks.  Unclaimed items will be donated to a local charitable organization. The YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items, so please lock up your belongings while you're in the building and make sure you have everything when you leave.

Transferring Your Membership

If you're leaving another YMCA to come to Berkeley, or you're moving away and plan to join a YMCA in your new town, be sure to ask the Welcome Desk for a transfer letter before you leave. Bring that letter to your new YMCA when you go to enroll, and your enrollment fee will be waived. (The letter is good for 30 days for members joining the Downtown Berkeley YMCA. When transferring from Berkeley to another YMCA, you should check with that YMCA for their policy.)

AWAY Program (Always Welcome at YMCAs!)
If you have a current full-service membership ID card from any other YMCA in the world, please pay us a visit! $5 day-use fee. We're also happy to give you a tour of the building.

If you're a Downtown Berkeley YMCA member who is traveling, be sure to take your YMCA ID with you and check with the YMCAs you'd like to visit about their AWAY policies. At most Ys, you'll be welcome to use the facility for a low day-use fee. To find a YMCA anywhere in the world, visit www.ymca.net.  

Lockers & Locker Rentals

The long lockers in the mens' and womens' locker rooms are for day-use only. Never leave anything in a day-use locker overnight: the lock will be cut and the contents removed.

Long-term kit lockers can be rented for $7.00 per month, subject to availability. If no lockers are available, you can be put on the waiting list. Never leave anything in a kit locker that has not been assigned to you: the lock will be cut and the contents removed.

If you have a lock cut, check with the Welcome Desk for your belongings. 

Always lock your locker with a strong lock! Valuables may be kept in the quarter lock boxes by the membership office or in the co-ed strength training center. The YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items, or for items we remove from lockers used without authorization.

Canceling Your Membership

To cancel your membership, please come to the Welcome Desk (or give written notice via registered mail, email, or fax) at least 40 days prior to your last day. You must return your membership card upon cancellation. Enrollment fees and bank drafts that have already been processed are non-refundable. For your protection, we cannot accept cancellations over the phone. If you have questions about canceling please send an email to dtcancellations@baymca.org.

We are sorry to see you go and are very interested in your reason for canceling. When you come in or write to cancel, please tell us why you are leaving so we can continually improve our programs and services. You can also email your comments or suggestions to dtberkeley@baymca.org.

Facility Guidelines

• Consult your physician before beginning an exercise program, especially if you smoke, have an existing medical condition, or are new to exercising, seriously overweight or pregnant.
• Please place used towels in the towel bins located throughout the building.
• Only personal trainers, fitness staff and swim instructors employed by the Downtown Berkeley YMCA are permitted to train or teach members in the facility.
• All classes and other scheduled activities are based on minimum enrollments and are subject to change. Classes can be cancelled or combined due to low enrollment; members who have signed up for cancelled classes will be notified.
• No food or drink is allowed beyond the lobby area except for non-breakable water bottles.
• In consideration of members who are sensitive to chemicals, please refrain from using scented products anywhere in the building - including the fitness areas, locker rooms, steam rooms and sauna.
• No children under age 14 are permitted in the fitness centers. High School Members are allowed in the fitness centers only during teen hours.
• Children age 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times, unless signed in with Childwatch, Kids' Zone (parents may not leave the building while their children are in these programs), swimming lessons, camp or youth sports programs. Parents are responsible for the actions of their children.
  

Code of Conduct

Adopted by the Downtown Berkeley YMCA Board of Managers on January 24, 2007

1. The Downtown Berkeley YMCA is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all members and guests. To promote safety and comfort for all, the YMCA asks individuals to act appropriately at all times when they are in the facility or participating in YMCA programs.

2. The Downtown Berkeley YMCA expects persons using the YMCA to behave in a mature and responsible way, and to respect the rights and dignity of others. The Downtown Berkeley YMCA Code of Conduct does not permit language or any action that could hurt or frighten another person, or that falls below a generally accepted standard of social conduct.

3. Prohibited actions specifically include
a. Inappropriate attire. Appropriate attire must be worn at all times. (Please wear activity-appropriate attire at all times. Shirts and toe-covering athletic shoes are always required in the health and fitness areas)
b. Angry or vulgar language includes swearing, name-calling, or shouting.
c. Physical conduct with another person in any angry or threatening way.
d. Any demonstration of sexual activity or sexual contact with another person.
e. Harassment or intimidation by word(s), gesture(s), body language, or any menacing behavior.
f. Theft, or behavior that results in the destruction of property.
g. Carrying or concealing any weapons or devices or objects that may be used as weapons.
h. Using or possessing illegal chemicals or narcotics on YMCA property, in YMCA vehicles, or at YMCA sponsored programs.
i. Using or possessing alcohol on YMCA property, in YMCA vehicles, or at YMCA programs, with the exception of Board of Managers approved community events.
j. Any other conduct of any inappropriate, threatening, or offensive nature.

4. Loitering is not permitted on YMCA property.

5. Smoking is not permitted on YMCA property as the YMCA maintains a smoke free environment in its facilities and on its property.

6. Members and guests are encouraged to be responsible for their personal comfort and safety, and to ask any person whose behavior threatens their comfort to refrain from such behavior. If a member or guest feels uncomfortable in confronting the person directly, they should report the behavior to a staff person or the staff director on duty.

7. Members and guests should immediately notify a staff member if assistance is needed.

8. In order to carry out these policies, members and guests are required to identify themselves to staff when asked.

The Executive Director will investigate all reported incidents. Suspension or termination of YMCA membership privileges may result from a determination by the Executive Director if in his/her sole discretion a violation of the YMCA Member Code of Conduct has occurred.