What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
The YMCA of the Northwoods isn’t just where Rhinelander residents break a sweat. It’s where families find childcare, where kids learn to swim, and where neighbors who can’t afford a gym membership still get access to health and wellness programs.
On March 3, the Rhinelander Y joined YMCAs across the country for its first-ever Day of Giving, raising money for scholarships that keep the doors open to everyone. It’s a cause that matters more than you might think in a community where over 12% of Oneida County residents live below the poverty line.
Last year alone, the YMCA of the Northwoods distributed nearly $250,000 in financial assistance. That’s not small change — it’s hundreds of families staying active through Wisconsin winters, kids in summer camps, and seniors keeping up with strength training.
“We have a large amount of community members that are in the poverty threshold or under the median income,” said Abbie Cline, Mission Advancement Director for YMCA of the Northwoods. When people see the price of a full membership with pool access, fitness classes, and childcare, the cost can feel out of reach.
That’s where the scholarship fund comes in. The Y operates on a simple principle: no one gets turned away because they can’t afford it.
Unlike private gyms focused on profit margins, the YMCA is a nonprofit with a 25-year charter history in Rhinelander. The organization has expanded beyond its home base on East Winnebago Street to serve Park Falls, Eagle River, Land O’Lakes, and Lakeland — bringing wellness programs deeper into rural Northwoods communities where options are limited.
The March 3 fundraiser marked a new chapter for Rhinelander’s Y. While they’ve collected donations year-round, this was their first time participating in the national Day of Giving campaign.
“It’s exciting to participate in this year,” Cline said. “It’s giving us an opportunity to really talk about how the Y is a nonprofit and is here for everybody.”
The Y didn’t set a specific dollar goal for the day. Instead, they focused on education and awareness — helping the community understand that their local gym is actually a mission-driven organization investing hundreds of thousands back into Oneida County residents.
“Every year, we raise over $270,000 to be able to provide scholarships.”
That money funds memberships, youth sports leagues, swim lessons, and programs like the free 6th-grade memberships offered for the 2025-26 school year. It’s about building habits early and making wellness accessible before kids age out of interest.
Walk into the YMCA on a weekday morning and you’ll find regulars on the treadmills, retirees playing Mahjong, and toddlers in dance classes. The facility at 2003 E. Winnebago St. serves as a genuine community hub in a region where harsh winters limit outdoor activity for months at a time.
Here’s what scholarship dollars support:
The Y’s reach extends beyond Rhinelander’s 8,000 residents. With recent expansions into neighboring communities, the organization touches lives across multiple Northwoods counties where private fitness options are scarce.
The Northwoods economy runs on tourism, manufacturing, and healthcare. Median household income in Oneida County hovers around $55,000 — comfortable for some, tight for many, especially families with multiple kids wanting to stay active year-round.
When you’re living on a seasonal tourism paycheck or working in manufacturing, a $50-70 monthly gym membership can feel like a luxury. The YMCA’s scholarship program removes that barrier, recognizing that health shouldn’t depend on your tax bracket.
The organization operates as a nonprofit guided by Christian principles of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. That mission shows up in practice: nearly a quarter-million dollars given back to the community last year alone.
Day of Giving has passed, but the YMCA accepts donations year-round. Every dollar goes directly toward keeping memberships affordable and programs accessible.
You can contribute online at northwoodsymca.org, by email, or in person at the Rhinelander facility. Even small donations add up when you’re trying to hit that $270,000 annual goal.
For folks who’ve never needed a scholarship themselves, it’s easy to overlook how much these programs matter. But talk to a single parent whose kid learned to swim at the Y, or a retiree who finally got their blood pressure under control through fitness classes, and the value becomes crystal clear.
The YMCA of the Northwoods has spent 25 years proving that community wellness isn’t just about treadmills and weight racks. It’s about making sure everyone — regardless of income — has a place to stay healthy, connect with neighbors, and build habits that last a lifetime.
As Rhinelander and the surrounding Northwoods communities continue to grow and evolve, that mission matters more than ever. Ya know, in a region defined by rugged outdoor living, having an indoor space that welcomes everyone makes all the difference when January temps hit single digits and summer tourists pack the lakes.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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