Frequently Asked Questions

The H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre is a city-owned facility, operated by the YMCA of Southern Interior BC.

National and international access

All YMCA-owned facilities in Canada will recognize and honour your YMCA membership. Similarly, Canadian YMCA memberships are generally recognized and accepted by international Associations. There are some exceptions, so be sure to check with the YMCA you want to visit to confirm their policy.

Access between local centres

H2O is owned by the City of Kelowna and only operated by the YMCA of Southern Interior BC so, due to our current operating agreement, we cannot offer full reciprocity at this time.

The YMCA is a charity. We work hard to ensure that everyone can participate by offering a Financial Assistance Program for those in need, and providing a reduced-rate membership fee to low income individuals and families. In addition to financial assistance, the YMCA and the City of Kelowna will work together to reduce other barriers to access for all citizens through special programs and events.

The YMCA operates for the good of people and communities rather than for profit. That’s why you will find us taking extra steps to accommodate a disabled child in Day Camp, providing financial assistance to make Y programs affordable for everyone, and delivering programs targeting specific groups or neighbourhoods without cost to participants. The YMCA is for everyone.

YMCA funding comes from a variety of sources: Child Care, membership, program fees, our many generous donors, and from services we provide on behalf of partners including governments.

The H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre issues photo card memberships. You must present this card each time you come to use the facility. If you forget your card, please approach our Membership Services staff for admittance. If you have lost your card or have failed to provide it three times, on your fourth visit we will require that you purchase a new card for $2.00

Yes! The YMCA relies on and is thankful to our many volunteers who give their time and talent so we are able to offer more programs and services to meet the needs of everyone in our community.

Volunteer at the YMCA

No. Public swim, fitness classes and our conditioning rooms are also available at public drop-in rates. If you are planning to use the H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre on a regular basis, it may be to your advantage to inquire about the benefits of membership.

Check our Drop-in rates.

We are pleased to provide free lockers in the upstairs conditioning rooms for users of the fitness centre. Locker keys are provided to H2O members for the pool change rooms.

Lockers are available for public use in the pool change rooms (women, men, and universal) at a cost of $0.50 (2 quarters) for a small and medium, and $1 for a large (one loonie). We urge users of the pool to bring exact change.

All children 8 years old and under must be within arm’s reach of a responsible person 16 years or older at all times.

For the safety of children aged 9, a responsible person 16 years or older must stay in the facility at all times. For your convenience life jackets are available at no cost on the pool deck.

The temperature of our pools and features may vary, but we aim to keep them at the following:

• Olympic 50 m pool: 28C  82F
• Wave pool: 30C  86F
• River Run: 30C  86F
• Adult hot tub: 40C  104F
• Family hot tub: 39C  102F
• Steam room: 42-44C  107-111F

• You must be a minimum of 107 cm (42 inches) tall to ride on your stomach or knees and 132 cm (52 inches) tall to stand up on the FlowRider®. Measure yourself against the surfboard in our lobby to see if you are tall enough to ride.
• FlowRiding standing up is an extreme sport and a release waiver must be signed at the time of admission.
• Anyone 19+ years wishing to stand on the FlowRider® must present Government issued photo ID to sign a waiver.
• Riders under the legal age must have a waiver signed by a legal guardian and they must also provide Government issued photo ID.

Yes, the FlowRider® admission is included as part of H2O admission.

Gals—We recommend a one-piece swimsuit. If you choose to wear a two-piece, be sure to wear a t-shirt and we recommend board shorts.

Guys—We recommend shorts with a secure drawstring—if the shorts are too loose you might lose them.

H2O has one 1-meter diving board, and one 3-meter diving board. Swimmers must be at least 12 years old or over 4 feet and 4 inches to use the 3-meter diving board, according to the Lifesaving Society of Canada. Learn more

In order to ride the waterslides, you must be 107 cm (42 inches) or taller. The height regulations are not set by the Y or the City of Kelowna. Waterslides are regulated by the BC Safety Authority and the height regulations have been set to ensure maximum rider safety. 

We do our best to inform patrons of these regulations before entering the facility by posting signs in the front lobby and multiple signs in the Aquatic area. We rely on both the staff and the child’s guardian to be accountable for the safety of all children while in the facility. For more information about the BC Safety Authority, visit www.safetyauthority.ca.

You are welcome to bring in your own PFD, or ask a lifeguard to borrow one of ours for use in the wave pool. For safety reasons, we do not allow blow-up toys or mats in the river.

We start swim lessons for infants (with caregiver) as young as 6 months. If your child has never taken swimming lessons before please feel free to bring them to the H2O Centre and have them evaluated by an instructor. It is highly recommended that you phone first and check on instructor availability.

All fitness centre users must be 10+ years. Ages 10-12 must be within arms reach of an adult. Anyone between the ages of 10-16 years is required to participate in a Fitness Centre orientation on or before their first visit.

This 30-minute orientation can be booked through Member Services. Drop by or call the Fitness Desk at 250-491-9622 ext 426 to sign up.

Learn more about orientations

Children can be 6 weeks to 10 years old.

Be tidy - Place your personal items, including gym bags, in a locker

Share - Only use one piece of equipment at a time and be mindful of others who may be waiting to use it

Give others space - avoid crowding next to others

Wipe down equipment after use - please keep the Y spaces clean and comfortable 

Place weights gently - set weights gently on the floor and avoid dropping them

Put away what you use - putting equipment away ensures everyone can find what they need

Arrive early to group classes - allow yourself and others to get settled without disruptions before class starts

Be scent-free - heavy perfumes or other scented items can be distracting to others and may cause allergic reactions

Focus less on your phone - limit device use while using fitness equipment

Be safe - please ask a YMCA coach to show you how to use an unfamiliar piece of equipment

YMCA staff are here to help - certified YMCA staff are happy to support you through personal coaching and training

Be mindful of facility hours - check our website for up-to-date pool hours and closures

Keep alert - please report any unusual occurrences, suspicious behaviour, theft, or vandalism to a staff member

Hydrate safely - drink water out of non-breakable containers (no glass, please)

Respect privacy - please refrain from using the camera function on personal devices while in the locker room

Use changing stalls - nudity is not permitted in the universal locker room

Respect scheduled programs and classes - check the online schedules for class times and gym availability

Greet one another - the YMCA is an inclusive and safe space. Please make one another feel welcome