NEWS & UPDATES
the Foxboro Y

All that’s happening at the Foxboro Y.

Posted on: Tuesday, August 9th, 2016

New LIVESTRONG Classes to Begin at the Y This Fall

Soon the Hockomock Area YMCA will offer LIVESTRONG classes that will begin in Fall, 2016.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free 12-week program designed for cancer survivors and their families seeking to regain health, build strength, and connect with other cancer survivors. Our goal is to help participants build muscle mass and muscle strength, increase flexibility and endurance, and improve functional ability. Certified YMCA fitness instructors give personal individualized instruction and are trained in the elements of cancer, post rehab exercise, nutrition, and supportive cancer care. The program meets twice a week for 90 minutes, using traditional exercise methods to ease you back into fitness and help participants improve confidence and self-esteem.

Check out the locations, dates, and times of the upcoming LIVESTRONG classes!

Bernon Family (Franklin) Branch

45 Forge Hill Road
Franklin, MA
Day & Time: Tuesday & Thursday, 11:00am-12:30pm beginning on September 20th

Invensys Foxboro Branch

67 Mechanic Street
Foxboro, MA
Day & Time: Monday & Wednesday at 10:30am-12:00pm beginning September 12th

North Attleboro Branch

300 Elmwood Street
North Attleboro, MA
Day & Time: Tuesday and Thursday 6:00pm-7:30pm beginning September 13th

In 2010, the Hockomock Area YMCA was one of the first ten YMCAs in the country to launch this life changing initiative, partnering with the LIVESTRONG Foundation to help cancer survivors begin the journey toward recovery with the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program. On average, 120 participants graduate from the program annually at the Hockomock Area YMCA. A recent survey at the Hockomock Area YMCA found that ninety-nine percent of LIVESTRONG at the YMCA participants said that the atmosphere of the Y supports them in their pursuit of health and well-being.

Cancer survivors are encouraged to contact Jackie Robison, Program Coordinator, at 508-772-1310 or JackieR@hockymca.org for more information and to enroll. For additional information, click here.

Posted on: Wednesday, July 20th, 2016

Craft Night at the Garden

Families, individuals, and groups of all ages, get ready it’s craft night at our Mansfield Community Garden!

Come check out this beautiful community space while making new friends, unleashing your creativity, and soaking up the splendor of summertime. At the end of the night, take home a handmade one-of-a-kind mason jar lantern. We think they make a great addition to home and garden.

Details

Where: Mansfield Community Garden – located across from 386 Essex Street, Mansfield, MA

When: July 27 (6:00 – 8:00 pm)

  • cost: $25 to cover supplies (and in support of the community garden)
  • hosted by Cindy LeBlanc of Arts & Laughs Paint Parties
  • register by July 22 at Member Services at the Foxboro Y. Or call 508-543-2523

contact: Marykate Bergen marykateb@hockymca.org

Posted on: Monday, July 18th, 2016

Our Camps Voted Best in the Region

Thank you for voting us a favorite through Wicked Local Readers Choice Awards!

#1 Regional Favorite for Summer Camp!

We appreciate your votes and remains steadfast in our cause to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

We strive to make this the best summer ever! We believe we provide a place for youth and teens to belong, try new things, and make lifelong friends. Camping teaches self-reliance, a love for nature and the outdoors and the development of attitudes and practices that build character and leadership. Our days are invigorating and we are having an amazing summer through hands-on learning.

We also received accolades for our Hockomock Area YMCA branches in the following Wicked Local Readers Choice Award categories:


Invensys Foxboro Branch Accolades

  • #1 Day care/Preschool
  • #1 Health Club/Yoga Studio

North Attleboro Branch Accolades

  • #1 Health Club/Yoga Studio
  • #1 Gymnastics School

Bernon Family Branch, Franklin Accolades

  • #1 Gymnastics School

To learn more about Wicked Local Readers Choice Awards 2016, click here.

Posted on: Wednesday, July 13th, 2016

Transition to College – Student/Parent Workshops

Ok – you got in! You have the dorm room, supplies and some new clothes. You’ll be leaving pretty soon to take the next huge step in life. In collaboration with Dean College, our Y is excited to offer support as you head to college.

Learn how to stay strong, healthy and confident throughout your college years. Break-out sessions offered in two formats, one for parents and another for students with input from counselors, college officials, current college students and recent grads.

Parents, how can you best be there for your young adult on this journey? You can prepare for college through the Teen Transitions program, which offers mentoring and guidance to young adults currently enrolled in high school

“The transition to college can be very challenging for new students and their families. The first few weeks and months can be an emotional roller coaster,” said Cindy Kozil, Vice President of Enrollment & Retention at Dean College. “Parents ask us how they can best support their son/daughter during this transition. We offer specific recommendations, strategies and tips to make the experience easier, less stressful and more enjoyable for all involved.”

At the workshops, you’ll also learn about resources that are available at college campuses to help make the entire college experience as positive as possible.

The workshops are free and open to the public. We encourage all students and their parents just beginning college and anyone seeking more information about the college experience to attend.

Thriving at College:
Your First Weekend & Beyond

Details

Where: Franklin High School – Lecture Hall, 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA
When: August 9 and 16 (6:00 – 7:30 pm)

Topics of Interest include:

  • Separating from life-long friends
  • Leaving behind a boyfriend or girlfriend
  • Creating new friendships
  • Thriving under academic and/or social pressure
  • Managing freedom and a schedule that’s unlike high school

Pre-Register for Chance to Win $100 Gift Card

PRE-REGISTER NOW


Thriving in College: Your First Weekend and Beyond workshop series: sponsored by the Hockomock Area YMCA Bernon Family Branch and Dean College, with support from State Representative Jeffrey Roy, the Franklin Public Schools, Community Impact, New Hope, Riverside Trauma Center and the S.A.F.E. Coalition and part of the Teen Transitions program – a collaboration between our YMCA and Dean College, offering mentoring and guidance to young adults currently enrolled in high school.

Posted on: Wednesday, July 13th, 2016

Youth Leadership at the Y

Through our leadership programs, the Y makes sure that every child has an opportunity to envision and pursue a positive future, and to take an active role in strengthening community. Our Leaders Clubs develop youth ages 12 to 18 as leaders while fostering a culture of service. Learn about the experiences these teens have had at our Y:

Lindsey DeRusha, a 2016 King Philip Regional High School graduate, began her journey with the Hockomock Area YMCA at age 11. The Y soon became her second home. Lindsey was a Counselor-in-Training, and later a camp counselor. Lindsey has been part of the Invensys Foxboro Branch’s Leaders Club for four years, serving on the Executive Board for three years. This year she was the Club President. Lindsey is most proud of her role in the “Be a Star” project. Leaders from all over the region planned and provided a senior luncheon, helped at an elderly housing community, and assisted at food pantries, homeless shelters, and domestic abuse centers. “I am proud of who the Y has made me and who it’s let me be,” shares Lindsey. “I try to positively impact everyone I meet. It’s through the Y that I have learned to do that.” Lindsey was this year’s Youth of the Year for the Invensys Foxboro Branch.

Samantha Bellavance, a 2016 graduate of Franklin High School, is another model of someone who cares and gives back to their community. She describes herself as a “Y lifer,” since she started going to the Y at age 3. Active in the Y’s Leaders Club, Sam has spent an astonishing 2,000 hours performing community service. She was also active in the School’s Out program, where she was a group leader for the before and after school child care at the Y. This year’s Youth of the Year for the Bernon Family Branch, Sam credits the Y for helping instill in her important values, asserting that “I learned to focus on others. I was inspired to be honest and super respectful. I don’t know what my life would be like without the Y.”

Lindsay Robinson, the North Attleboro Branch Youth of the Year, serves to be another example of a young Y member with both leadership skills and compassion for others. A North Attleboro resident, Lindsay’s first experiences at the Y came when she was a child. Her passion for gymnastics began at our Y and she has progressed to become an exceptional gymnast earning many accolades for her dedication and skill. “I’m most proud of the life skills I’m learning at the Y. They take an interest in me and encourage me to reach for success through hard work,” beams Lindsay. Recognized as a leader in the gym with a strong work ethic and friendly demeanor, Lindsay has also earned a reputation outside the gym for giving back to her community. Last year, Lindsay organized a leotard resale campaign for her Bat Mitzvah project to raise funds for our Y’s Reach Out For Youth and Families Campaign. Lindsay has also donated time to many other causes like Lenore’s Food Pantry, Clean North Attleboro, and our annual ROFY Flip Fest.

To learn more about teen leadership opportunities, click here.

Posted on: Tuesday, July 12th, 2016

Race for a Cause in the 10th Annual Hockomock Area YMCA Triathlon – July 24

THE 10th ANNUAL HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA TRIATHLON

SUNDAY
JULY 24, 2016

8:00 a.m. START TIME

Lake Pearl Luciano’s
299 Creek Street, Wrentham, MA 0209

REGISTER NOW

This friendly sprint triathlon returns for its tenth year! The race is welcoming to beginners, youth/junior triathletes and paratriathletes. All proceeds benefit the Reach Out for Youth and Families Campaign. The Y is proud to be the first paratriathlete-friendly race in New England beginning in 2013 and continuing to this day.

Fast Facts

1/4 mile SWIM, 9 mile BIKE, 3.1 mile RUN.

Swim is in a calm lake, with an in-water wave start.
Bike and run provide moderate hills through Franklin, Norfolk, and Wrentham.
Centrally located and easily accessed grass transition area.
Free tech tee and finisher medals. Top 3 finishers in each category will also be recognized with place medals.
Club competition with trophy to first place team. Club members are also eligible for individual medals.

CATEGORIES/AGE GROUPS

Youth: 10-14 (with the permission of the Race Director)
Junior: 14-19
Age Groups (Male & Female, 20 years+)
Clydesdale (Male 200+ lbs)
Athena (Female 165+)
Paratriathletes
Relay Teams (Male, Female, Mixed): 2 or 3 person teams allowed

Posted on: Tuesday, July 12th, 2016

Ready for Summer Camp?

MEET ME AT THE Y
FOR THE BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

Summer Camp is here! We have finalized our plans and are well prepared so that every kid will enjoy camp. Parents can help their campers by doing a little planning too. Here’s some guidance about what we suggest kids bring to camp (and what they leave at home).

PLEASE label all items – including lunch

Suggested Items for All Camps

When preparing for a camp day, it’s helpful to remember how active kids are at camp. They need to be comfortable and to have a few food options:

Comfortable Clothes to move and play in. Campers will get messy so consider bringing a change of clothing
Swimsuit & Towel – if you are participating in a camp that has swim time
Closed Toe Shoes (No Sandals or Flip Flops Please)
Water Shoes – if your camper does not want wet sneakers (Toes need to be covered)
Sweatshirt or Light Jacket for cool or damp days
Lunch, Snacks, & Drinks.
Please be sure to provide choices that are healthy, fulfilling, and non-perishable (there is no refrigeration at camp). Children will eat and drink more than usual because they are so active throughout the day. Half-Day campers will need snacks and drinks only.
Water Bottles with Water (no glass please)
Sunscreen and Bug Repellent.
A Bag to carry your belongings and a plastic bag for wet clothes

Suggested Items for Rainy Days

On bad-weather days, it’s a good idea to send a little extra to camp. It helps keep them comfortable if we get stuck out in the weather:

Raincoat or Poncho
Umbrella
Extra shoes/socks
Changes of clothes (including underwear)

What NOT to bring to Camp

PLEASE leave valuable personal items at home.

Campers should not bring or wear any valuable, personal articles such as expensive footwear, watches, jewelry, phones, personal music devices, electronic games, trading cards, key chains, toys, etc. Children are not permitted to use these items at camp. Do not bring sporting equipment unless it is approved by the camp counselors and/or to be used at a specialty sports camp. The Hockomock Area YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Thanks for partnering with us to give your child the Best Summer Ever! We look forward to sharing amazing new adventures with you and your children this summer.

Posted on: Monday, July 11th, 2016

Martha is Awesome

Martha does her work with delight. She smiles often.

Martha does her work with delight. She smiles often.

Martha does her work with delight. She smiles often.

Martha does her work with delight. She smiles often.

Posted on: Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

Run for a Cause in the Foxboro 5K Fun Run on October 9

THE FOXBORO 5K Run • Walk

SUNDAY
OCTOBER 9, 2016

9:15 a.m. Kids Fun Run (1 Mile)
10:00 a.m. Race Begins

Invensys Foxboro YMCA
67 Mechanic St. Foxboro, MA

REGISTER TO RUN

Our Kids fun run kicks off a great community event, which includes our 5K Run/Walk, family activities and a DJ. All proceeds support the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Reach Out for Youth and Families Campaign – the primary vehicle in subsidizing the cost of after school and physician intervention programs for children.

We’ll run in memory of Michael Baker, Linda Cavossa and Jackie Thomas.

EVENT DETAILS

8:30am – Walk-In Registration & Pre-Reg. Bib Pick-up
9:15am – Kids Fun Run (1 mile ) Ages 4 and up
10:00am – Race Begins
10:00am-12:00pm – Family Activities and D.J.

Register before August 9th to receive a T-shirt. All Kids Fun Run participants will receive a cotton T-shirt. Runner’s bag, medal and bib will go to all runners in this official timed race (ages 4+).

Posted on: Thursday, June 9th, 2016

Welcome to our New Website

Because your membership at the Hockomock Area YMCA is important to us and we strive to invest in your experience with us, we hope you will enjoy our new website!

A little bit of background

Because our YMCA is so active — from strengthening community, organizing community events & initiatives, and leading swim lessons, camp, yoga & so much more — there is a lot of information to organize. Our strategy is to place community collaborations and mission focus on our main page and create NEW branch-centric pages.

Branch sites have been added

We are privileged to serve nearly 30,000 members in 15 communities. However, we understand you most likely want to know about events and schedules at your local YMCA. With the new website, each branch has its own section of the website. Our Four Branch locations are easily identified at the top navigation area (look for LOCATIONS ), taking you to a dynamic home page with the most up-to-date, relevant information for that branch community.

What you will find at your branch page is exciting! Our intent is to improve members’ daily experience through the addition of:

digital schedules
blog-style presentation of what’s newsworthy at your local YMCA
comprehensive program pages detailing what’s offered year round
a vibrant and welcoming experience
online contact forms
areas set aside for sharing philanthropic impact and how to get involved

Schedules to help you plan your everyday visits

By moving to digital schedules for our categories (Group Exercise, Pool, Gym, Friends & Family) we are pleased to be able to share the most up to date calendar of what’s happening both in and outside of our Y. The icons located mid-page will bring you to a day by day calendar to help you better plan your YMCA visit. There is also a calendar icon at the top to show weekly views of the calendars. Additional facility hours and our holiday hours are also available here.

How to find Programs and Activities?

You can use the shopping cart icon () at the top menu to quickly get into online Registration, where you can view and sign up for active programs. However, you can also browse under PROGRAMS in the top menu, where you will find links to all programs and activities, even if they only run at certain times of the year or if they do not require registration. They are organized under our Y’s area of focus: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, and SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Since we offer so many Free Member Benefit Programs and Drop-in activities, we wanted to make information about them more accessible on the website. Please browse around under PROGRAMS to find them.

Contacting Us Online

CONTACT US

You will see we have contact forms on many pages of our new website to help better communicate with you and provide the answers you need. We look forward to hearing from you.

Go ahead, click around.

We appreciate your feedback on the new website and hope you will let us know if there is any way we can help you. We hope your experience with our new website will be one that helps you take advantage of a community that encourages fun, friendships and endless possibilities!

HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA

300 Elmwood Street
North Attleboro, MA 02760
 508.695.7001

MEMBERSHIP
COMMUNITY
CAUSE
CAREERS

HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA LOCATIONS

BERNON FAMILY BRANCH

45 Forge Hill Road
Franklin, MA 02038

 508.528.8708

INVENSYS FOXBORO BRANCH

67 Mechanic Street
Foxboro, MA 02035

 508.543.2523

NORTH ATTLEBORO BRANCH

300 Elmwood Street
North Attleboro, MA 02760

 508.695.7001

MANSFIELD ARTS & EDUCATION CENTER

40 Balcom Street
Mansfield, MA 02048

 508.339.3066