HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA

Posted on: Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

An Update on our Family Pool Club @ Park Terrace

Dear Hockomock Area YMCA members and our community,

I’m in touch today to share that while we had hoped to make significant progress with the rebuilding of our Family Pool Club @ Park Terrace since the fire in May, it will not be possible to open this summer.

Please know that our YMCA team is fully committed to rebuilding this community centerpiece in Plainville with an opening in June 2025.

Due to the significant fire damage to the main clubhouse building, it resulted in a delayed removal of debris which was completed in December. Currently, plans are in process for construction to begin on the new clubhouse featuring modern amenities. We are committed and excited for the Club’s rebuild and creating the best member experience possible.

Be sure to follow us on our pool club website or our pool club facebook page to stay up-to-date on our construction progress and reopening plans. You can also email our pool club membership team with any questions at poolclub@hockymca.org.

As we rebuild, our Y is appreciative of the support provided throughout the community, and by those who registered for our inaugural season before the fire.

We look forward to welcoming you in 2025 for a truly special grand reopening. Thank you for your time and understanding.

Sincerely,

Jim Downs
CEO, Hockomock Area YMCA

Posted on: Thursday, January 4th, 2024

February Vacation Programs & Care

When School Is Out, the Fun Is In during February Vacation.

WHEN: FEB. 19 – 23, 2023

We believe that all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. That’s why, through Y programs, children are cultivating the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, socialization, better health, and achievement.

Our experienced staff takes the right steps to ensure your child’s safety and happiness during an action-packed day!

Vacation Week Details:

Program Days: Monday, February 19 through Friday, February 23.
Full Day programs: 9:00am – 4:00pm each day with options for pre-camp (7am-9am) and post-camp (4pm-6pm) at our 3 main branches.
Families can choose which day(s) they wish their child to participate.
Full day camps, please pack a full lunch with water bottle and snacks. Some camps will swim so please check the program description for more details on when to pack a bathingsuit and towel.
Check out our field trip information in our registration portal today for all the fun we have planned.
Program offerings will differ from each branch.

Note for our Voyagers Trips only (ages 11-14): Registration closes at midnight on Sun 2/11/24! Trips leave daily from the North Attleboro Y as follows… Mon (2/19) Scale new peaks with Rock Spot Climbing; Tues (2/20) Bounce into fun at Altitude Jump Park; Wed (2/21 FULL) Sled into fun at Nashoba Valley’s snow tubing paradise; Thur (2/22) Score big at Fun and Games’ new generation of arcades; Fri (2/23) Discover history through hands-on activities at Concord Museum.

See you at the Y for fun this February school vacation!

Posted on: Monday, January 1st, 2024

Golf with Legends

Our Legends Golf Classic

Monday, July 8, 2024

We are happy to hold this event and raise critical funds that support our YMCA’s Integration Initiative providing programs and services for children and adults with special needs and their families.

Our YMCA is partnering with TPC Boston for our 15th annual Legends Golf Classic, raising critical funds to support our Integration Initiative for children and adults with special needs and their families. This event will feature 18 holes of memorable golf, pairing foursomes with New England sports legends and creating a priceless experience for golfers.

Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to hear from family members describing the impact you are making by partnering with the Hockomock Area YMCA and supporting our innovative Integration Initiative.

SPONSOR NOW

EVENT DETAILS

10:00am Registration / Check-in
11:00am Putting Contest
11:15am Shotgun Start (Lunch on the Course)
4:30 p.m. Reception / Dinner / Live Auction
TPC BOSTON, 400 Arnold Palmer Blvd, Norton, MA

For sponsorship or event inquiries, please contact Patrick Murphy at 508-643-5262 or patrickm@hockymca.org.

Posted on: Sunday, December 31st, 2023

New outdoor tree-climbing elements at our Franklin Y

New outdoor tree-climbing elements have been added at our Bernon Family Branch as an enhancement to our outdoor challenge course in Franklin. The new climbing elements were funded by a generous donation from longtime Y supporters Paula Rooney and Gerry Shaw, and will be used extensively in spring and summer 2024 with youth participating in the Y’s Before & After School Care and Summer Camp programs, as well as local school groups visiting the Y.

In late August, we installed Monkey Hardware systems on trees on at the Franklin Y, each providing a different climbing level of accessibility. These kits effectively turn the trees into climbing walls and are paired with the TRUBLUE iQ auto belay system. The TRUBLUE auto belays allow climbers of all ages and skill levels to climb heights safely. Rather than pulling the young climber upwards, they allow climbers to ascend the tree on their own power, while providing rest as needed during the climb with its catch and hold technology. Once the climber has reached the top of the climb they have chosen, the auto belays use magnetic braking technology to lower the climber back down slowly and safely to the ground.

“From their decades in leadership at Dean College in Franklin to their contributions as Board members of our Hockomock Area YMCA, Paula Rooney and Gerry Shaw have a long history of supporting youth and families in the Franklin community,” said Jim Downs, Hockomock Area YMCA CEO. “Our Y staff and members are so appreciative that they continue to find new ways to enhance operations at our Y and help us provide an even better experience for the youth we serve.”

The Monkey Hardware and TRUBLUE auto belays have received rave reviews from Y summer campers. “These new elements have brought the kids together in a new way that I have not seen in a long time. When a camper was climbing their whole group would be watching and cheering them on to reach the top,” said Ashley Dumas, Youth Program Director at the Bernon Family Branch. “It gave the kids something to work towards and accomplish. It was amazing watching the campers challenge themselves to make it higher than they did last time or try a harder climb.”

Our Hockomock Y is grateful for this generous donation made possible by Paula Rooney and Gerry Shaw. The Franklin Y’s camp and playing fields also feature Gramdma’s Place, an outdoor pavilion with weatherproof tables and seating, which was built with funds donated by the Rooney & Shaw family.

Registration for the 2024 Summer Camp Season begins January 12, 2024!

Register Now for Summer Camp 2024

Posted on: Friday, December 29th, 2023

Stronger Together: Team and Personal Training Programs

Stronger Together is our Y’s latest team training and personal training program

A premier personal training program that takes place at our Bernon Family Branch in Franklin. Workouts are completed in a private, dedicated space used for Stronger Together clients only on the second floor of our Franklin Y.

Start with an assessment to learn about the program: Stronger Together programs start with a free Starting Point Session. The 60-minute session allows our trainer to learn about your goals and challenges, observe your movement quality and create the perfect plan for you!

The Starting Point Session will include:

Finding out more about you: your goals, limitations, and health history.
Giving you a tour of our dedicated Stronger Together personal training area.
Assessing movement patterns with a Functional Movement Screen to help find the right exercises specifically for you.
Go through a light workout so you can experience the different tools we use during Stronger Together workouts.
Provide recommendations on a program that suits your goals, time and budget.

All of this information will be used to help create your training program and keep you injury free along the way!

BE HEALTHY. BE STRONG. BELONG.

What is Stronger Together?

Stronger Together is powered by Alloy®, a premier personal training system helping people look and feel their absolute best. Alloy’s programs are tested in real facilities, and created by degreed exercise physiologists, doctors of physical therapy, registered dietitians and other behavioral specialists.

Team Training is a 45 minute workout perfect for those who want coaching from a personal trainer every time they come to the gym and enjoy the dynamics of group workouts. We offer 3 great options for Team Training – Foundations for beginners, Afterburn for advanced metabolic training and Industrial Strength for a true strength training option – and members can do unlimited sessions each month. $94 per month.

Personal training is perfect for clients with specific goals, injuries and those who do not prefer to work in larger groups. We can accommodate nearly all fitness levels and health issues in this setting. For those with more experience in fitness, we program more advanced exercises, which require more hands-on coaching. We begin to introduce lower repetition ranges and focus on those with strength goals. Also, we work on corrective strategies to help clients improve their movement restrictions. Team Training is included in all one-on-one personal training programs as a way to supplement the workouts. Options include up to 4, 8 and 12 sessions per month, and cost ranges from $190 to $444 per month.

Workouts are scheduled appointments to make sure you stay on track with getting started. Track your progress and communicate with your trainer with a custom mobile app. You’ll schedule your monthly personal meetings to discuss basic nutrition coaching, goal-setting and strategy. These personalized sessions are designed to keep you on track… so you can be on your way to reaching your goals.

Tailored to your goals, time and budget: our monthly programs allow you the most flexibility in scheduling workouts and finding a program that’s works for you.

Special Offer!

All of our Hockomock Y members have $50 personal Y Bucks to use towards any Stronger Together personal training program. Certain restrictions may apply.

How to Get Started:

Contact our Fitness & Personal Training Director Chris Raymond at chrisr@hockymca.org or 774-235-2732 to get started with us today. Let’s get Stronger Together!

Posted on: Friday, December 29th, 2023

Weigh to Change Program

Our Weigh to Change program offers a great opportunity to support and guide you in your quest to look and feel better, year round.

Registration with us today.

The Weigh to Change program offers support and education in both areas of fitness and nutrition. By combining physical training and better nutrition, participants will benefit in the most successful way to achieve weight loss. Participants will be challenged through personal training, nutrition guidance, group workouts, and friendly challenge competitions.

Specifically the Weigh to Change Program includes:

45-minute personal training sessions
Individual nutrition consults with our nutritionist
4 Nutrition/Wellness workshops
Weekly group training workouts
Group step challenges
Styku 3-D body scans to help track progress
Social event or outing with other program members and monthly virtual welcome meetings for those who are new to meet other members and go over the monthly schedule
Facebook group page to help stay in touch and share tips and advice with other program members

REGISTER HERE FOR WEIGH TO CHANGE

Become one of our Weigh to Change success stories…you will be so glad you did!

Words from some of our participants:

“With the help and guidance of the Y staff, I lost 12 pounds during the 10 weeks! I still have 50 pounds to go but the big difference now is that I know I CAN do it. And that feeling is priceless!”
– Jennifer S., Milford resident

“This program is so comprehensive combining both physical workouts and nutrition. I am amazed…I lost 35 pounds and 8 inches off my waist in 10 weeks! Weigh to Change is incredible; I wholeheartedly recommend it!”
– Kevin S., North Attleboro resident

“I originally set a goal to lose 10 lbs and complete a 5k race. Well, I have run my first 5k and have now lost a total of 23 lbs and 28 inches in 10 weeks. The reason this program is such a success compared to all of the other programs I have tried before, is because Weigh to Change is the entire package. I learned so much about exercise and nutrition and how to believe in myself again!”
– Connie W., Foxboro resident

Posted on: Thursday, December 21st, 2023

Pedaling for Parkinson’s Program

Research conducted at the Cleveland Clinic has demonstrated that riding an indoor, stationary bicycle at a rapid pace can reduce Parkinson’s Disease (PD) motor symptoms by as much as 35%. Fast pedaling is not a cure for Parkinson’s, but it can change the life of someone living with the condition. Our YMCA is excited to be a provider of Pedaling for Parkinson’s (PFP) Program and support those living with PD in our communities and beyond.

The goal of Pedaling for Parkinson’s (PFP) is to reduce PD symptoms and improve quality of life in those diagnosed by following a cycling protocol.

The PFP Program:

Participants ride a stationary/indoor cycle bike for 1 hour each class. This includes a 10 minute warm up at 60 RPM, followed by 40 minutes at 80 to 90 RPM, and a 10 minute cool down, with resistance. Class session will also include tracking heart rate, exercise frequency and cadence/intensity. The program is held 5 times a week for 60 minutes and is taught by certified Indoor Cycle Instructors. (We encourage participants to attend 3 times a week for maximum program benefit but not required.) Instructors have also completed the Pedaling for Parkinson’s training and Parkinson’s Disease Training for Fitness Professionals through the American Parkinson Disease Association.

New Program! Move Forward is a 30-minute class for individuals with Parkinson’s combining strength training, balance and stretching for. Each weekly class will include various exercises to help improve balance, mobility, strength, endurance, cognition, and flexibility.

All exercises are modified to accommodate all needs and abilities. This program is an add-on to our already successful “Pedaling for Parkinson’s” (PFP) program. PFP is an evidenced informed program to help PD patients achieve an improved sense of well-being and is offered at all Hockomock Area YMCA branches.

Our next session begins soon- Enrolling now

Move Forward* offerings denoted.

Here are our offering days, times and locations to fit your schedule:

Mondays at 10:30am* at our Foxboro Y

Mondays at 11:00am at our Foxboro Y

Tuesdays at 5:30pm* at our North Attleboro Y

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00pm at our North Attleboro Y

Wednesdays at 10:30am* at our North Attleboro Y

Wednesdays at 11:00am at our North Attleboro Y

Thursdays at 11:00am at our Franklin Y

Thursdays at 6:00pm* at our North Attleboro Y

Through support of the Parkinson’s Foundation and the APDA MA Chapter, enrollment is at no cost to participants. We encourage you to try all 3 class times to meet and learn from our entire team of instructors.

Participants must meet the following criteria to participate in the program:

30-75 years old
Have a clinical diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease
Complete and submit a signed consent
Obtain clearance from a medical provider
Be willing to take part in monitoring and data collection
Wear wrist heart rate monitor (Provided by YMCA) to every class

Other recommendations:

While not required, padded cycle shorts and comfortable shirts are recommended
Please bring a water bottle
Clip in shoes are not required but may be helpful

To enroll or for more information, please contact Donna Higgins at donnah@hockymca.org or 508-643-5271.

Posted on: Tuesday, December 12th, 2023

Personal Training Made Easy

When you sign up for personal training, you won’t have to keep worrying about how many training sessions you have left to try and meet your fitness goals. Instead of counting down your remaining sessions, you can simply focus on your workouts and progress at your own pace knowing your time is locked in with your trainer for as long as you want.

We have 3 monthly draft options available. (Partial months would be prorated)

Four 45-minute Personal Training sessions per month for $220
Eight 45-minute Personal Training sessions per month for $440
Twelve 45-minute Personal Training sessions per month for $660

The billing cycle will occur each month, and will draft on the 1st of the month to be consistent with our already-established youth programming.

To learn more about our personal training program, to register, and to select a trainer, please fill out an online form below and a member of our Health & Wellness Team will reach out to you to help. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you meet your fitness goals.

BERNON FAMILY BRANCH YMCA
45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin, MA
Contact: Chris Raymond – Phone: 508-528-8708 / Email: chrisr@hockymca.org

** COMPLETE THIS INTAKE FORM FOR FRANKLIN PERSONAL TRAINING **

INVENSYS FOXBORO BRANCH YMCA
67 Mechanic Street, Foxboro, MA
Contact: Meredith Walsh – Phone: 508-543-2523 / Email: meredithw@hockymca.org

** COMPLETE THIS INTAKE FORM FOR FOXBORO PERSONAL TRAINING **

HURLEY FAMILY BRANCH YMCA
300 Elmwood Street, North Attleboro, MA
Contact: Bobby Pacuk – Phone: 508-695-7001 / Email: bobbyp@hockymca.org

** COMPLETE THIS INTAKE FORM FOR NORTH ATTLEBORO PERSONAL TRAINING **

Posted on: Tuesday, December 12th, 2023

North Attleboro Indoor Pool Renovation

Make A Splash with Us in our Renovated Indoor Pool!

Our brand-new Aquatics Center is now open!

It’s brighter, more welcoming and efficient, and more accessible to people of all abilities. Whether you’ll be joining us for lap swim, open family swim, water group exercise or swim lessons, we can’t wait to welcome you back in the water this holiday season. We look forward to seeing you there!

Hear from our Executive Director Mike Mahoney with an exciting announcement!

Renovations to our Indoor Pool is part of a series of renovation projects in our branches to enhance the member experience, as part of our Y’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

What to Expect:
A newly constructed pool deck with new tile work
Brand new poured stairs to allow for easier access into and out of the pool for people of all ages and abilities
Increased natural sunlight with the addition of several large windows and enhanced lighting to brighten the Center
Newly constructed walls with fresh paint
Two new individual locker rooms in the family locker room hallway
New pipes and drainage system to maximize the efficiency of the pool
New HVAC system to ensure proper air flow and air temperature regulation in and around the pool area

Check our website for our real-time pool schedule

Pool Schedule

Swim lessons are also available!

View & Register for Swim Lessons

Posted on: Monday, December 11th, 2023

#YMCASkiClub is back in action!

The Hockomock Area YMCA really is WHERE TEENS THRIVE.

What a great time youth ages 11-16 will have this winter as YMCA Ski Club returns to spend Fridays or Sundays on the slopes of nearby Wachusett Mountain! Our club is escorted by our Director of Outdoor Education Ken and his volunteers. This group shows their passion for the program by coming out, skiing with the kids, and ensuring the safety of all. Developing friendships with new kids from different towns and being active makes this a great time for all.

All skills are welcome to participate in Ski Club 2024! Rentals and lessons are available through Wachusett. Our Friday club runs January 5 – February 9; Sunday club runs January 7 – February 11.

Participants will travel by bus to Princeton, MA where they will ski and board at Wachusett Mountain. The ski area offers progressive group lessons and equipment rentals, along with a great variety of trails to accommodate beginners to experienced outdoor enthusiasts.

Registration is now open!

Secure Transportation from your local Y — we leave the Y at 2:30 pm, returning by 9:30 pm. Transportation costs $190 per member of the Hockomock Area YMCA or $380 per non-member.

REGISTER FOR TRANSPORTATION

After registering for transportation, you will receive the code and link to purchase discounted lift tickets, as well as rentals and lessons if desired.

Ski Club is a great gift idea for anyone who wants to get outside this winter no matter their experience level! Space is limited. For more information, contact Kenf@hockymca.org or call 508-643-5290.

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
HURLEY FAMILY BRANCH	300 Elmwood Street North Attleboro, MA 02760	508.695.7001
MANSFIELD ARTS & EDUCATION CENTER	40 Balcom Street Mansfield, MA 02048	508.339.3066

NEWS & UPDATES
HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA

An Update on our Family Pool Club @ Park Terrace