For Chris Exstrom, stepping into the Youth & Family Director role at the YMCA at Gothenburg Health is more than a new job—it’s a chance to return to a community that has been a part of his story for years. Chris grew up in Valley, Nebraska, attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and spent the early part of his career working with kids and families through aquatics and community programming. With family ties to Gothenburg and memories of spending time at Jeffery Lake with his grandparents, returning to a smaller community felt like coming home. Now, Chris is bringing the experience he has gained along the way to the YMCA, where he is excited about what that can mean for local kids and families. “I wanted to come back to a smaller town and put everything I’ve learned to work here,” Chris shared. “Since I had a connection to Gothenburg, coming to the YMCA felt like the right choice for me.”
Finding His Way to The Y
After spending most of his childhood in Valley, Nebraska, Chris attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he studied secondary education with a concentration in Child, Youth, and Family. Although he initially thought the classroom might be his path, Chris knew he wanted to work with kids in some way. While attending college, Chris began working at Goldfish Swim School in Omaha as a swim instructor. He continued to work his way up, serving as a Pool Operations Manager, Assistant General Manager, and eventually General Manager at Goldfish.
His experience in management eventually helped him realize the direction he wanted his professional career to take. Chris shared, “I started down the path toward a secondary education degree because I knew I wanted to work with kids, but the longer I spent in management, the more I realized the classroom wasn’t quite the right fit for me.” Through his experiences, Chris discovered what fueled his passion for working with kids. “What I loved was the community and service side of things, and that is essentially about reaching kids through community programming instead of a classroom.”
That distinction between simply providing an activity and creating a place where a child feels connected is the heart of how Chris approaches youth programming. Now, he is excited to bring that experience into a broader youth and family role at the YMCA at Gothenburg Health.
More than a program
Chris’s personal philosophy is that every child is different and has different interests. “Not every kid needs five activities,” Chris said. “But every kid should at least have one program they are excited for. And that is different for everyone.” That philosophy aligns naturally with the YMCA’s approach to youth programming. Not every child will be drawn to traditional sports, which is why the YMCA offers a variety of programs ranging from Esports and Summer Camp to youth sports and more. Sharing his heart behind the matter, Chris said, “The kid who’d never sign up for a sport might sign up for Esports or another youth program. And once they are in the building, they are a part of something. Those kids now have a team, a coach, and somewhere to be on Tuesdays.”
But for Chris, the impact of youth programs goes even deeper than the activities themselves. The adults leading those programs have a unique opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life. “More than that, every program puts another caring adult in a kid’s life. A coach, a camp counselor, or somebody at the Front Desk who notices when they’re having a rough day. Kids need a handful of those adults that just care about them,” he shared. For Chris, that sense of connection starts with showing up. In his first few weeks at the YMCA, he’s already putting that idea into practice.
Showing Up, Building Connections
When describing the kind of energy he hopes to bring to the YMCA, Chris’s three words were consistent, approachable, and enthusiastic. “If a parent or a kid has a question or a concern, I want them to feel like they can just come and find me,” Chris explained. And his enthusiasm is certainly part of the equation. “If I bring the energy, they bring energy!”
The YMCA at Gothenburg Health Branch Director, Julie Czochara, says communication with both kids and parents is one of the most important qualities in a Youth & Family Director. When asked about what stood out about Chris, Julie shared, “His experience with the pool and his experience teaching kids! He also worked with parents and was proactive in building relationships.” In the short six weeks that Chris has been in his current role, he has already made connections in the community and started building relationships with local families. Julie shared, “He is also already teaching several swim lesson classes with kids from both Gothenburg and Lexington.”
Those early connections are just the beginning of what Chris hopes to bring to the Gothenburg community. Julie believes his presence will bring new ideas and opportunities to the YMCA at Gothenburg Health. “It’s all about connection and communication, and Chris does this well, making our YMCA continue to be the hub of the community,” Julie shared. She also sees Chris bringing a fresh perspective to the branch, saying, “Chris has great ideas he is bringing to the table. This will bring a fresh look to the YMCA at Gothenburg Health, create new interests, and bring more families from Gothenburg and surrounding communities.”
For Chris, success in his new role won’t simply be measured by how many kids sign up for a program. It’s about knowing the kids and families who walk through the YMCA doors, creating programs that give every child a place to belong, and being one more caring adult they know and trust. As he brings his experience, enthusiasm, and community-focused approach to the YMCA at Gothenburg Health, Chris hopes to help create a place where every child and family feels connected. Because sometimes a YMCA program is more than something to do—it can be the place where a child finds a team, meets a mentor, discovers a new interest, or simply realizes that someone noticed them and cares.