Fun on Wheels: Roller skating offered at Kishwaukee Family YMCA

March 29 was a day of firsts for Jen Cook of DeKalb and her 3-year-old son John Heffner. It was the first time either of them roller skated.

“I rollerbladed a long time ago when I was younger, but I’ve never tried to roller skate,” Cook said.

“I heard about roller skating being offered at the Y and became a member. I can’t wait for us to learn how to roller skate together.”

Cook and her son attended the Spring Break Skate at Kishwaukee Family YMCA, 2500 W. Bethany Road in Sycamore. The event was part of the YMCA’s new roller skating program, which started in October. The program will continue until May 27, when an End-of-School-Year Skate event will be held.

Heather Dunker, the Y’s marketing and communications director, said the idea of using the sports center as a roller rink came when the temperatures started to get colder last fall.

“We started thinking of how we could utilize the space the best way we can and include family programming,” Dunker said. “We’ve added some lights and music for atmosphere. We wanted kids and their parents to be active and have fun together.”

The Y offers skating from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, with free admission for members and $3 admission for non-members, and from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturdays, with $5 admission for both members and nonmembers. Skate rental is $2, or people can bring their own roller skates and roller blades for free. Only cash will be accepted for admission and skate rentals.

Dunker said that on average, 40 to 50 people come to skate each Wednesday and Saturday.

“People really seem to like the program, since the closest roller skating rink is about an hour away in Dixon, Aurora or Batavia,” Dunker said. “Skating is a great form of exercise. It’s available to the entire community, and it’s something inexpensive the entire family can do together.”

Skating rules include children younger than 10 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian age 16 or older, not picking up or carrying children while skating, food and beverages are not allowed on the skating floor and out-of-control skating, playing tag and cutting across the skating floor are not permitted.

Tim Didier of Buffalo Grove was at the Spring Break Skate event with his 5-year-old daughter Jordyn, his 12-year-old nephew Aidan Didier and 10-year-old niece Sydney Didier, both from Sleepy Hollow.

“We are in town visiting their grandparents in Sycamore for spring break, and we wanted something fun we could all do together,” Tim Didier said. “It’s a lot of fun. We’re making great memories together on spring break.”

Lisa Kammes of DeKalb, her 10-year-old daughter Carly, and one of Carly’s friends from school attended the skate night together.

“When I heard about the skating through Facebook, I thought it was a wonderful idea,” Lisa Kammes said. “It’s nice to see kids skating, having fun and hanging out with a snack and a soda. It’s great for the kids, and we will absolutely come back.”