Project Overview
Missouri Valley Family YMCA approached ITCare with a clear mission: to modernize and optimize their YMCA website and migrate to the ITCare Cloud Hosting platform. The goal was to not only redesign the site using the Small Y but also improve content structure, simplify maintenance, and integrate YMCA360 real-time schedules.
During this partnership, Missouri Valley Family YMCA and ITCare successfully transformed the digital experience, ensuring the site is now faster, cleaner, and easier to manage.
Timeline
- November – December 2024: Project kickoff, discovery sessions.
- January 2025: Initial website structure was built using the Open Y Layout Builder.
- February – April 2025: Collaborative redesign of the site, based on Small Y. Amber led the content migration with hands-on training and guidance from ITCare, who provided support on page creation, media management, and menu organization.
- May 1, 2025: Official Launch of the NEW Missouri Valley Family YMCA website on the ITCare Cloud Hosting platform.
- May 2025: Post-launch support phase, including YMCA360 schedule integration, bug fixes, improvements to schedule displays, and the addition of features like “My Bookings” and advanced filtering.
Challenges and Requirements
- Outdated legacy website with limited mobile support, a huge menu, and difficult content management.
- Missing or hard-to-navigate schedules for pools, gyms, and fitness classes.
- No analytics tools to track user behavior or performance.
- Limited internal web expertise — requiring a CMS that’s simple and intuitive.
- Desire to maintain brand consistency while simplifying the site for a single-branch association.
Solution
ITCare proposed a complete rebuild using Open Y’s Layout Builder with the Small Y template, perfectly suited to YMCA brand guidelines and the organization’s size.
Here's how it was done:
- Collaborative Pre-Live Environment: A staging site was created to co-develop and fine-tune the site with Amber.
- Hands-On Training: ITCare provided multiple working sessions showing how to use Layout Builder, migrate content, build pages, insert links, and manage media.
- Empowered Content Ownership: Amber personally migrated about 70% of the content, with ITCare offering technical support and guidance when needed.
- Streamlined Navigation & Menu Optimization: Outdated pages were removed and program menus were simplified.
- YMCA360 Integration: Real-time schedules for gyms, pools, and classes were fully synced using the Open Y YMCA360 module.
Website Cleanup & Optimization
Using the Accordion component in the Layout Builder allowed us to include all the important text content from those 16 pages on a single page without overwhelming the reader.
Benefits Delivered
- Modern, mobile-first website with clean navigation and improved user experience
- Fully integrated YMCA360 schedules, including pool, gym, and fitness class views
- Streamlined content management via Layout Builder —empowering staff to update independently
- Optimized performance and security through ITCare Cloud Hosting
- Efficient project delivery — from strategy to launch within one quarter
- Post-launch enhancements including updates, alert scheduling, and media library support.
Testimonial
Working with the ITCare team has been a wonderful experience. Our website is being completely revolutionized and will serve our YMCA and community very well.
— Amber Rae Bernhardt - Marketing & Annual Support Campaign Director at Missouri Valley Family YMCA
I would recommend ITCare to anyone who asks! YMCA leaders, reach out to me if you want a testimonial!
— Amber Rae Bernhardt - Marketing & Annual Support Campaign Director at Missouri Valley Family YMCA
Conclusion
The Missouri Valley Family YMCA now benefits from a modern, easy-to-navigate website that truly reflects the needs of their community and the spirit of the YMCA brand. This transformation was made possible through a strong partnership between ITCare and the dedicated leadership of Amber Rae Bernhardt.
Amber’s hands-on approach, attention to detail, and deep understanding of her organization’s goals played a pivotal role in the project’s success. With her initiative and ITCare’s technical guidance, the YMCA was able to take ownership of its digital presence while relying on expert support where needed.
This collaboration is a great example of how even smaller YMCA associations can successfully achieve meaningful digital transformation — thoughtfully, efficiently, and as a team.
