Image – Page 16 – Hockomock Area YMCA

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!

Posted on: Sunday, June 5th, 2016

Run, Walk, Roll for Charity in our Franklin 5K on June 26, 2016

NO CHILD SITS ON THE SIDELINES.

THE 12th ANNUAL FRANKLIN 5K
RUN ∙ WALK ∙ ROLL

SUNDAY
JUNE 26, 2016

9:00 a.m. REGISTRATION
10:00 a.m. RUN · WALK · ROLL

Remington Jefferson School
628 Washington Street Franklin, MA

Cost: $25 until June 10 | After June 10 registration is $30

REGISTER TO RUN

All proceeds benefit the Hockomock Area YMCA Reach Out for Youth and Families financial assistance program and the YMCA’s Integration Initiative, a program serving children with special needs.

The YMCA is pleased to announce the return of the Franklin 5K walk/run family event, which will be held on Sunday, June 26. Now in its twelfth year, this fun community event supports programs for children with disabilities at the Y.

The race will take place at Remington Jefferson School and the scenic surrounding neighborhood at 628 Washington Street in Franklin. Free activities for families will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The race, formerly called Run for Bob, was started by Kris and Kayla Biagiotti in memory of Kayla’s dad Bob Biagiotti and his belief that no child should be left on the sidelines. Kris continues her advocacy through this event. Inspired by Team Hoyt, Kris and Kayla (The K Girls) achieved the incredible accomplishment of being the first mother/daughter team to finish the Boston Marathon in 2013. But it was not easy. Kris and Kayla were 50 yards from the finish line when the first bomb went off, and instead of raising their hands in victory, they were forced to shield themselves from flying shrapnel. A month later, they got to cross the finish line and receive their medals at The Franklin 5K. The race has raised more than $80,000 over the past several years to benefit children with special needs.

“The Hockomock Area YMCA is to be commended for creating such a wonderful program for the youth in the communities it serves,” said Dick Hoyt upon receipt of the Legends Award in 2012 at the Y’s Legends Ball, the annual gala at the Hockomock Area YMCA raising funds for the Integration Initiative. The initiative was born 12 years ago at the Hockmomock Y out of an emerging need in our community to provide inclusive programs for children with special needs and their typically developing peers.

Register today at hockymca.org. Cost is $25, but will increase to $30 after June 10. Medals will be awarded to the top 3 men’s and women’s finishers from several age categories and all participants will receive a finisher medal. On the day of the event, walk-in registration will be offered starting at 9:00am. Pre-event bib pickup will be offered. The 5K will start at 10:00am.

Free family activities include: Kids Fun Run, inflatable obstacle course, refreshments, games, DJ entertainment, and more.

Thank you to event sponsors, who make the Franklin 5K possible: Ashworth Awards, Bay State Physical Therapy, Design Elements for Business, and the Rodman Ride for Kids.

Posted on: Sunday, June 5th, 2016

Time for a Staycation? Our Splash Park is Now Open at the Franklin Y

Just in time for summer! We are pleased to announce the brand new Rockland Trust Family Splash Park, dedicated on June 16, 2016 at our Bernon Family Branch.

This expansive water feature, adjacent to our existing outdoor pool, will provide families with lifetime memories and opportunities for quality time together. An exciting new addition, the Splash Park will provide entertainment for the entire family while adding to the value of summer camps, child care and after school programs.

Come check out The Rockland Trust Family Splash Park — an ideal spot for parents with both younger and older children, as the younger ones will be able to use the park while the older ones use the pool.

If you’re not a member of the Y, be sure to inquire about a guest pass at the front desk (photo ID required).

Posted on: Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

Healthy Kids Day Wowed Everyone

The Hockomock Area YMCA really is WHERE FAMILIES CONNECT.

What a fun day we had on May 14 at Healthy Kids Day. Our annual event promoting healthy lifestyles, Healthy Kids Day was a great day for fit family fun. Read about our most successful Healthy Kids Day yet, held at Patriot Place with additional sponsors Stop & Shop and Norwood Hospital.

On Saturday, May 14, 2016, the Hockomock Area YMCA celebrated Healthy Kids Day with a free community event that encouraged kids to be active and provided families with options and methods for living healthier lives. More than 500 families participated. The event was held at Patriot Place in Foxboro at NRG Plaza, located outside The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon. Community partners helped make the event a success include Healthy Kids Day event sponsors Norwood Hospital, Patriot Place and Stop & Shop.

Read the news coverage by the Sun Chronicle

Posted on: Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

Summer Food Program Kicks Off in Milford, Serving Free Lunch for Kids

MILFORD SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM

The Milford Area Humanitarian Coalition is pleased to present the Milford Summer Food Service Program, sponsored by the Hockomock Area YMCA in collaboration with the Milford Public Schools Food Services team. Join us at these locations:

Memorial Elementary School, 12 Walnut Street
The Milford Youth Center, 24 Pearl Street
Trinity Episcopal Church, 17 Congress Street

The program’s goal is to make healthy food easy to access for kids and teens, while including some fun activities.

Free lunch for all kids ages eighteen and under between 11:30am and 1:00pm, Monday through Friday, beginning June 23 and ending August 30, 2016.

No advanced sign-up or paperwork required to enjoy a meal. Free and open to all!

A snack will also be served at the Milford Youth Center from 3:00pm-3:30pm.

Kids must remain onsite while eating the meal/snack, and each site will offer fun, interactive activities.

Find out more about the program and follow its activities this summer on Facebook: MILFORD SFSP on Facebook.How can you make a difference? Simply help us spread the word!

Posted on: Thursday, May 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

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	508.408.7970