Chris

Posted on: Tuesday, March 25th, 2025

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Classes

Our Spring LIVESTRONG at the YMCA classes will begin the week of March 31st.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a no-cost, 12-week program designed for cancer survivors and their families seeking to regain health, build strength, and connect with other cancer survivors. Participants work with staff trained in supportive cancer care to safely achieve goals such as building muscle mass & strength, increasing flexibility & endurance, and improving confidence & self-esteem. By focusing on the whole person and not the disease, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is helping people move beyond cancer in spirit, mind and body. 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.

A cancer survivor is defined as anyone who has been diagnosed with a form of cancer in their lifetime.

Check out the locations, dates, and times of the upcoming LIVESTRONG at the YMCA classes.

Bernon Family Branch, Franklin

45 Forge Hill Road
Franklin, MA
Day & Time: Mondays and Wednesdays: 6:15pm-7:45pm
Day & Time: Wednesdays and Fridays: 10:45am-12:15pm

Invensys Foxboro Branch

67 Mechanic Street
Foxboro, MA
Day & Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10:30am-12:00pm
Day & Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 6:00pm-7:30pm

Hurley Family Branch, North Attleboro

300 Elmwood Street
North Attleboro, MA
Day & Time: Mondays & Wednesdays: 10:30am-12:00pm

Participants receive a free family membership to the Hockomock Area YMCA during the program.

Cancer survivors are encouraged to contact Jackie Robison, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Director, at 508-772-1310 or jackier@hockymca.org for more information and to enroll. For additional information, click here.

When there’s the Y, there’s a way to learn about healthier living.

Inspiring Stories from Cancer Survivors

From gaining physical strength to finding encouragement along the way, community members share their journeys at the Y.

Posted on: Thursday, June 20th, 2024

Operation Backpack

For the last 8 years, our YMCA Backpack Drive has provided school supplies and backpacks for children in communities across the Hockomock area, filling them with hope for a brighter future as they start the school year. The children in our community need us now more than ever.

Having access to proper supplies is an integral part of a student’s success. Together we work to make sure that kids have the tools they need to start the upcoming school year off right. If you are in a position to help, we will be so grateful. Please donate to the 9th annual Hockomock Area YMCA Backpack Drive.

New supplies and backpacks are requested now through August 9th.

Supplies that are needed include:

backpacks for elementary, middle school and high school age students
lunch boxes for all age students
pencil boxes for all age students
binders
notebooks
folders

WAYS TO HELP:

Order items from our Amazon wish list

Your items will be sent directly to our YMCA.

AMAZON WISH LIST

Donation bin locations

Items not shipped to us directly from the above Amazon link may be dropped off at collection sites at our Hockomock Area YMCA lobbies during normal business hours. If donating at our Mansfield Arts & Education Center, please do so when dropping off or picking up your camper.

Host a Neighborhood Drive

If you have a high traffic business location and would like to host a bin or are willing to collect supplies from your neighborhood, please contact backpacks@hockymca.org.

Make an online donation

A donation of $50 will cover the cost of one fully stocked backpack. Please visit hockymca.org/give to complete a secure monetary donation of any size. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and all donations are tax deductible.

Volunteer to Assemble Backpacks

We are eagerly recruiting volunteers to help sort and stuff backpacks. Click on the link below to reserve your volunteer spot! Many hands make light work and we are grateful for your interest in helping. Adults are welcome to bring their supervised children. Students, you may also plan to bring community service forms for signing.

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

Sponsor our Backpack Drive

Our goal is to provide 3,000 fully stocked backpacks to students residing in each of the 15 towns served by the Hockomock Y. Community members who would like to sponsor the Backpack Drive are asked to contact Patrick Murphy at 508-643-5262 or patrickm@hockymca.org. Sponsorship levels are varied: click here.

SPONSOR THE DRIVE

The Backpack Drive is a collaborative effort made possible by the YMCA staff, program participants, partners and neighbors to provide kids the confidence that comes when boys and girls are able to go to school prepared. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Posted on: Monday, June 10th, 2024

Rediscover Summer

OUR OUTDOOR POOLS & SPLASH PARKS ARE OPEN

Splash into Summer with your Hockomock Area YMCA!

You and your loved ones can enjoy the perks of a Y membership. Take advantage of indoor and outdoor pools, state of the art wellness facilities, summer camp & summer session classes, friendly and helpful staff, and much more!

View each branch’s outdoor pool & splash park* schedule:

FOXBORO

FRANKLIN

NORTH ATTLEBORO

*Splash Parks at our Foxboro and Franklin locations

Hockomock Area YMCA active members can visit any branch facility including our indoor and outdoor pools and our splash parks in Foxboro and Franklin.

Members are welcome to bring guests with guest passes.

Please note: photo ID is required at every visit for non-members ages 18+. Day passes and reciprocal member usage permitted for use of our outdoor pool at our North Attleboro Y.

Day passes and reciprocal member usage are not permitted for use of outdoor pool and splash park at our Foxboro and Franklin Ys.

Not a Y member? You can join today and rediscover summer with us Click Here.

Invite your friends to free community days at the Spier Family Splash Park (in Foxboro) on July 13th & August 10th from 9:30 – 11:30am.

Posted on: Thursday, April 11th, 2024

Calling Camp Counselors

We’re Recruiting!

Spring is here, and that means Summer Camp is up next. We’re now in the process of hiring amazing Summer staff.

If you know a responsible teen or young adult who would enjoy providing leadership and a little structure for younger kids (out in the sunshine), please give a shout. A camp counselor job can be an enriching and rewarding experience (and it pays!).

Our YMCA has so much going on this summer, and we need you!

Our Jobs Portal

Posted on: Friday, July 1st, 2022

Preventing Diabetes is Possible. We Can Help

Diabetes is a serious condition that causes blood sugar levels to rise higher than normal. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Currently, diabetes affects more than 29 million people.

Prediabetes may be reversible; diabetes has no cure.

The Hockomock Area YMCA runs a Diabetes Prevention Program designed to support adults that are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and reduce their risk for developing the disease. Classes currently enrolling for the Fall. Virtual & in-person options are available.

This 1-year program, consisting of 25 sessions, provides a welcoming environment where participants work together in a small group to learn about healthier eating and increasing their physical activity. The classroom-based program is facilitated by a Y-USA trained facilitator at the Hockomock Area YMCA which has facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro and Franklin.

To learn more about the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program and other Prescription for a Healthy Lifestyle Programs, please contact donnah@hockymca.org or call 508-643-5271.

Individuals are encouraged to assess their risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by taking a simple test at YMCA.net/diabetes.

Through this assessment, visitors can also learn how lifestyle choices and family history help determine the ultimate risk for developing the disease. Several factors that could put a person at risk for type 2 diabetes include race, age, weight and activity level. If a person is at risk, a diabetes screening conducted by a physician can confirm a diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is helping to improve health through their Prescription for a Healthy Lifestyles program which includes the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program. These supportive, small group physical activity programs are making a positive difference in the lives of individuals diagnosed with or at risk of a chronic disease.

Making lifestyle changes that contribute to weight loss and healthy living can decrease the risk for type 2 diabetes. Among these are:

Eat fruits and vegetables every day.
Choose fish, lean meats and poultry without skin.
Aim for whole grains with every meal.
Be moderately active at least 30 minutes per day five days a week.
Choose water to drink instead of beverages with added sugar.
Speak to your doctor about your diabetes risk factors, especially if you have a family history or are overweight.

Posted on: Friday, January 1st, 2021

Out of School Time Support

Out of School Time Program Helps Families with Hybrid & Remote Education

With local schools operating hybrid or remote, the YMCA will fill the gaps to ensure kids have safe places to learn during the school day. Out of School Time (OST) provides full day in-person learning assistance and additional enrichment programming for grades K-6.

Spots remain at all sites.
For questions on the OST program, call 508-643-5290 or email schoolsout2@hockymca.org.
To register for the OST program, please do so at the links below. You may also register by phone by calling our YMCA Welcome Centers are also available to speak to you during branch hours. See phone numbers and addresses at website footer.
Reminder to please email or drop off in person paperwork that will have been emailed to you following your online registration, which will need to be in our hands before your student can participate on Day 1 of his/her YMCA virtual learning support.
Bus details for our Foxborough Public School families – if you choose to bus to/from the Y, this year there is a limitation in place which does not allow you to select a second drop off or pick up location, which you may want to use on days not at the Y. We apologize for this inconvenience imposed on us by the bus company.

VIEW A RECORDED PARENT MEETING On Sept. 15, we held a parent information Zoom call. Please watch for commonly asked questions, responded to by Association VP of Childcare Services Kim Jennings. CLICK HERE TO WATCH INFO MEETING (ALL SITES) OR… CLICK HERE FOR NORTH ATTLEBORO RECORDED MEETING OR… CLICK HERE FOR MILFORD RECORDED MEETING

OST full day programs – and full or half day in Foxborough – will take place at the YMCA (Foxboro and North Attleboro locations) and at the former St. Mary’s School in Franklin. We offer 3 or 5 day options running from 7:00am – 4:00pm with optional extended care available until 6:00pm. We will also run Before & After care at some school locations where we historically ran our successful YMCA Schools Out Programs (see far bottom of this page for Before/After). We intend to serve as many families as safely possible, because we know the need is great.

YMCA staff will assist students in their school assignments using their own Chromebook and headset, assist with questions during remote learning, and help to keep them on track as they connect with their teachers online. During class breaks and after school work is completed, the Y team will engage students with enrichment and physical activities.

Safety is our top priority, and the Covid safety protocols we’ll use are based on procedures developed for our successful Summer Camp and Emergency Child Care programs that allowed us to safely provide care for over 700 kids during the past six months. Please contact us with questions about our safety procedures.

Schools Districts We Serve

We have partnered with the following school districts to serve children in grades K-6: Bellingham (through grade 7), Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Milford, North Attleboro, Plainville, and Wrentham Public Schools. In order to keep cohorts together from area schools and just to keep safety at the forefront, we are asking students in Bellingham and Wrentham to choose the Franklin OST site. If attending from Plainville’s public schools, please select from our North Attleboro enrollment options.

Additionally, this programming is available for pre registration for K-6 students outside of the public school system or those living in other towns in need of care. After online enrollment, please email schoolsout2@hockymca.org to share pertinent information that we should know that wasn’t included in the registration questionnaire.

General Information by Location (and last bullet: Extended Care)

FOXBORO:
OST half day at the Foxboro Y runs: 9:00am – 12:00 pm or 12:00pm – 3:00pm 5 DAYS (cost $105 per week)
OST full day at the Foxboro Y runs: 7:00am – 4:00 pm 3 DAYS (cost $180 per week)
OST full day at the Foxboro Y runs: 7:00am – 4:00 pm 5 DAYS (cost $300 per week)
FRANKLIN:
OST at St. Mary’s (formerly BFCCPS on Main St.) runs: 7:00am – 4:00pm 3 DAYS (cost $180 per week)
OST at St. Mary’s (formerly BFCCPS on Main St.) runs: 7:00am – 4:00pm 5 DAYS (cost $300 per week)
NORTH ATTLEBORO:
OST at the North Attleboro Y runs: 7:00am – 4:00pm 3 DAYS (cost $180 per week)
OST at the North Attleboro Y runs: 7:00am – 4:00pm 5 DAYS (cost $300 per week)
EXTENDED CARE ‘TIL 6PM ** THIS IS AVAILABLE ALL SITES**
Runs: 4:00pm – 6:00pm 3 DAYS (cost $30 per week or free to Hockomock Y members – not offered in Mansfield)
Runs: 4:00pm – 6:00pm 5 DAYS (cost $50 per week or free to Hockomock Y members)

Before/After care to support 1/2 day classes at Foxborough’s Public Schools is also available, including support from the town’s school buses!
Where: @ The Foxboro Y – 5 DAY (2 DAY Ahern School). Runs: 7:00am – approx 8:30am and in the afternoon, runs: approx 3:00pm – 6:00pm (school buses picking up and dropping off at the Y).

Our registration link for all OST and extended day options is below (in capital letters), but the link for Foxboro Y’s AM/PM + bus option is here: click to enroll. Ahern families, click here to enroll 2 day option.

Note: use promo code BEFOREANDAFTER if your signup includes care beyond full day or half day. This will allow you to avoid paying our registration fee twice – for any child you have already enrolled in OST. We should also point out that a 5% discount for siblings is in place – and will be applied automatically upon the start of the billing cycle. To be clear, sibling discount will not appear during your pre-registration, however it will be applied by the Y office before your first bill is due.

Currently, we are accepting $50 deposits.

Following enrollment at the link below, please keep an eye out for our email with required next steps*.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME + OPT. EXTENDED DAY

Site-specific registration links are also available for your convenience: Foxboro | Franklin | Mansfield | North Attleboro

MORE CARE – FOR DAYS YOU’RE AT SCHOOL:

Many students in our service area will be able to access YMCA Before & After Care on site at their school. This is offered at a number of schools we have partnered with in the past and is available on the two days of learning taking place at school. Hours: Before School starts at 6:00am and runs until the start of the school day and After School starts at the end of the school day and runs until 6:00pm. Note: use promo code BEFOREANDAFTER to avoid paying our registration fee twice – for any child you have already enrolled in OST.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW FOR BEFORE/AFTER CARE

School-specific links: Bellingham AM/PM | North Attleboro AM/PM | Wrentham AM/PM | Foxboro AM/PM + bus – details: see “Extended Care” (above bullets)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of our members and the community, offering programs and services to all regardless of ability to pay. Part of that mission is a financial assistance program to those who need support and for those that qualify. Download our financial assistance brochure pdf: here.

Use promo code VOUCHER$50 at the above links if you are using a state voucher
Use promo code ROFY$25 at the above links if you currently receive a Hockomock Area YMCA scholarship

Questions, please contact us at 508-643-5243 or schoolsout2@hockymca.org.

* Included will be forms that you must complete and return to your local Hockomock Area YMCA. Though they may have been responded to in the online pre-registration, the forms must be completed in their entirety. Thank you and we wish your students success in the coming school year!

Posted on: Saturday, September 1st, 2018

New Fall Programs

Kids will get back to school soon, and it’s time to think about what Fall activities they’ll be doing. Besides the staple programs at our YMCAs, such as Swim Lessons and Fall Soccer, check out these new ones. The Youth Development Program Guide has all the details. Registration is now open.

NEW THIS FALL
Dance Recital Session
Kids Run Club (for ages 5-7 and 8-10)
Be Strong (for ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-18)
Gym & Swim (@ the Franklin Y for ages 3-6)
Sports Prep Classes (preschool age kids)
Confi-Dance (@ the Foxboro Y)

NEW STEM CLASSES & ARTS CLASSES
Music Together (@ the Franklin Y)
Pop Culture Cooking (@ the North Attleboro Y)
STEM Mashup (for ages 3-5)
STEM: Lego Robotics, Kitchen Science, Rockets and Roller Coasters, Rocketry, Electrify (for Grades 3-7)
Technology Club (@ the Franklin Y)

NUTRITION & HEALTHY EATING CLASSES
“What’s For Dinner?” Meal Planning Workshop (@ the North Attleboro Y on August 28)
Simplify your meal planning this fall. Discover new tools to get organized and build a meal plan. Create a meal plan for your personal family dynamics and receive advice on navigating the grocery store. Demos, sample meal plans, recipes, and more. For more info, contact North Attleboro Branch Nutrition Director, Jocelyn @ jocelynl@hockymca.org.

Healthy Chef (@ the Foxboro Y)
Our new Healthy Chef Class introduces kids to nutrition, food safety and delicious recipes that are easy to prepare. Kids will learn the importance of healthy eating and they will build on their cooking skills weekly and eat their yummy creations at the end of each class! All classes run in the Foxboro branch, and the recipes are chosen and tested by our on staff Nutritionist, Lauren. For more info, contact Foxboro branch’s Nutrition Director, Lauren at laurenhynes@hockymca.org.

Register Today! Classes begin the week of September 10. (For the Foxboro Y, classes begin September 9.)

Posted on: Tuesday, August 28th, 2018

The Foxboro 5K –
September 28

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2019

Details coming soon!

Location: Patriot Place (2 Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA)

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 Annual Campaign.

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

EVENT DETAILS

coming!

Posted on: Friday, June 29th, 2018

Honoring George Johnson Jr.

It is with a sadness hard to describe that I share with you the passing of our dear friend and beloved colleague George Johnson, Jr.

The impact George leaves behind at our Hockomock Area YMCA will never be forgotten. To know George was to know kindness, to know George was to witness goodness, to know George was to see caring and concern, and to know George was to experience the best and purest elements of friendship and camaraderie.

George has been a vital and enthusiastic member of our YMCA family for the past 31 years. George loved our YMCA and our Y sure loved him back.

His presence and contributions endeared him to members and staff alike. George did it all in his Y career including impacting lives in the following departments and program areas: membership, childwatch, fitness centers, sports and aquatics, school age childcare, summer camp, teens, facilities and our Integration Initiative. Any of us who got to see George teach a swim lesson told you all you needed to know about the capacity of his heart and his willingness to share that big heart with others.

But it was in each of our own personal interactions with George that are the hallmark of how much we cared about him and how George was able to express how much he cared about us.

Because isn’t it in this mutual caring we get to experience every day that best describes his legacy?

George Johnson Jr. leaves a lasting and very powerful legacy at our Y and in all the members and staff whose lives he touched.

George comes from a large family that he was proud to be part of. But he always said – and in the last month loved to share with his family and friends – he had two families. He would tell everyone his second family was his Y family.

George made it a point to visit my office nearly every morning since I joined our Y in 1993. The mornings I wasn’t there did not stop him from coming by later or the next day. But it is in the mornings I was there that will forever be the basis of my memories of George. The conversations, the ribbing, the sports talk, the family talk, and the friendly wagers (he always seemed to win the coffee)…like all of you who knew George, that is what I will miss the most.

To those of you that didn’t know George, please know that our Y lost a special, dear friend. He will be deeply missed. But he will never be forgotten. All of us who loved George will ensure that his legacy is passed on to future generations.

We will also be setting up a time here at the Y when anyone who wants to gather will be welcome to come and share thoughts and stories about our friend George.

In 2016, I was honored to present George with the Marge Kraskouskas Legacy of Caring Award at our annual staff recognition luncheon. And at last year’s luncheon George offered the opening thought. He talked about his two families and he ended with a quote that I share with all of you. It is a quote that captures the essence of what George meant to so many of us and to so many Y families through his passion and his compassion:

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a child.”

George, you are important in all of the lives of anyone who had the pleasure to know you. And you are forever part of the fabric and spirit of our Hockomock Area YMCA.

Sincerely,

Ed Hurley
President, Hockomock Area YMCA

Posted on: Thursday, February 8th, 2018

New YMCA Swim Lessons Curriculum

This winter, our YMCA is updating our swim lesson program, so expect to see a great new look and simpler class names. The latest evolution of Y Swim Lessons accommodates varying abilities and will foster a sense of achievement as swimmers progress between levels. Through this approach, advanced swimmers flow more easily to higher levels while swimmers who need more instruction can learn at their own pace. This results in more confident swimmers who stick with lessons and develop a love for swimming that can last a lifetime.

Our Youth Program Guide explains everything and provides a schedule for all the new classes, but here’s a quick overview. In our updated curriculum, there are three general categories of Y Swim Lessons:

SWIM STARTERS: Baby & Toddler Lessons with Parent
Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills. Parents are coached to guide their child toward greater water independence while learning about the importance of supervision.
Swim Starters classes are Stages A, B, C.

SWIM BASICS: Fundamentals of Swimming
Students develop basic swimming competency and learn personal water safety. They begin by developing comfort in the water, then work on proper body position and control. While developing fundamental techniques, swimmers increase stamina for longer distance swimming.
Swim Basics classes are Stages 1, 2, 3.

SWIM STROKES: Refining Stroke Technique
Having mastered the fundamentals, swimmers build on stroke technique, including all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues, and swimmers learn about competitive swimming and how to incorporate exercise swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Swim Strokes classes are Stages 4, 5, 6.

Each Swim Lessons category has three stages or levels that are designed for swimmers of every age and ability.

SWIM STARTERS BABY & TODDLER LESSONS WITH PARENT

Parent/Child
6 Months – 3 Years

Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills. Parents are coached to guide their child toward greater water independence while learning about the importance of supervision.

A / WATER DISCOVERY

Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.

B / WATER EXPLORATION

In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

C / WATER INDEPENDENCE

Parents work with their children to develop comfort in underwater exploration by learning self rescue techniques. This class is geared for children not ready to be independent from parents.

SWIM BASICS FUNDAMENTALS OF SWIMMING

Everyone
Ages 3 and up

Students develop basic swimming competency and learn personal water safety. They begin by developing comfort in the water, then work on proper body position and control. While developing fundamental techniques, swimmers increase stamina for longer distance swimming.

1 / WATER ACCLIMATION

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation for a student’s future progress in swimming.

2 / WATER MOVEMENT

In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.

3 / WATER STAMINA

In stage 3, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

SWIM STROKES REFINING STROKE TECHNIQUE

Everyone
Ages 5 and up

Having mastered the fundamentals, swimmers build on stroke technique, including all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues, and swimmers learn about competitive swimming and how to incorporate exercise swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

4 / STROKE INTRODUCTION

Students in stage 4 develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.

5 / STROKE DEVELOPMENT

Students in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.

6 / STROKE MECHANICS

In stage 6, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

In the coming days, we’ll provide some helpful resources to make sure everyone in your family will know how to choose the right Swim Lesson class, and if you have any questions please stop in at your local YMCA or give us a call.

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