NEWS & UPDATES
the Franklin Y

All that’s happening at the Bernon Y.

Posted on: Thursday, July 28th, 2016

Announcing the start of our fall Weigh to Change Program

We are excited to announce that all 3 of our branches will now offer a 10-week weight loss program called Weigh to Change following the success of our Foxboro spring program where 31 members lost a total of 267 pounds and 318.5 inches. Our fall program begins September 12th and will run through November 19th.

Meet Jed Neureuter, winner and one of our success stories from our spring program. He lost a total of 30 lbs. and 43.9 inches. Here is his story:

“As a result of the Weigh to Change program, I feel great! If I were to sum it up, the program was all about education for me. Now I know how to eat well and exercise properly.

The nutrition component was eye opening. The Styku scans, calorie counting, nutritional food recommendations and supermarket tours were all learning opportunities…I now know better what, when and how much to eat.

The personal training component has me hooked on exercise to complement my improved diet. I learned what Burpees and Pilates are, and even how to Spin. With Michelle, I learned how to do TRX and a new meaning of “sweet sixteen” among several others. The Y staff personalized my workouts and kept them interesting, introducing new exercises, stretching, foam rolling and the Sprint 8. I’ve experienced just about every exercise contraption the Y offers and I’m not longer intimidated to try the group exercise classes.

I know how to eat well, how to exercise properly and realize it’s just the start. The Hockomock Y has put together a great program framework and a great supportive team. I couldn’t be happier to have been part of this program.”

Come to one of our Weigh to Change Information Sessions & Learn More!

Bernon Family (Franklin) Branch
45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin, MA 02038

Days & Times:

  • August 30, Tuesday @ 6:30pm
  • OR September 3, Saturday @ 10:00am

Invensys Foxboro Branch
67 Mechanic Street, Foxboro, MA 02067

Days & Times:

  • September 1, Thursday @ 6:30pm
  • OR September 10, Saturday @ 9:00am

North Attleboro Branch
300 Elmwood Street, North Attleboro, MA 02760

Days & Times:

  • September 1, Thursday @ 6:30pm
  • OR September 10, Saturday @ 8:00am

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 throughout the ten weeks with personal training, nutrition guidance, group work outs, and friendly challenge competitions.

Specifically the Weigh to Change Program includes:

  • Weekly individual 30-minute personal training session
  • Individual nutrition counseling with nutritionist
  • Minimum of three weekly group training sessions
  • Weekly nutrition and physical challenges
  • Two Nutrition workshops
  • Styku 3-D body scan
  • Entry into the Foxboro Y 5K Race on October 9th

The cost of the program is $499 for Hockomock Area YMCA Members and $749 for Hockomock Area YMCA Program Members (over an $800 value).

REGISTER ONLINE FOR WEIGH TO CHANGE

Read about the Franklin Y’s trainer

Read about the Foxboro Y’s trainers

Read about the North Attleboro Y’s trainer


Posted on: Monday, July 25th, 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: Wednesday, July 20th, 2016

Back To School Open House

With the school year soon upon us, it’s a great time to visit your YMCA branch for some final summer fun! Please join us for a Back to School Open House hosted by our School Age Child Care program, which we call School’s Out. With a bounce house, cookout and raffles, there is sure to be plenty to do.

School’s Out provides quality, affordable state-licensed child care for kids in kindergarten through middle school: both before and after school. This includes school vacation and professional development days.

Come meet our welcoming professional staff! Since registration can also be completed during this event, we encourage you to bring your questions and we look forward to meeting your family.


Invensys Foxboro Branch

Open House: Wednesday, August 24 6:30-8:30 pm

67 Mechanic Street, Foxboro
Before & After School Program Details
Questions? Contact Sarah at 508-772-1304 or sarahm@hockymca.org.


North Attleboro Branch

Open House: Thursday, August 25 6:30-8:30 pm

300 Elmwood Street, North Attleboro
Before & After School Program Details
Questions? Contact Sara at 508-643-5252 or saraw@hockymca.org.


Bernon Family Branch

Open House: Friday, August 26 6:30-8:30 pm

45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin
Before & After School Program Details
Questions? Contact Ashley at 774-235-2736 or ashleyk@hockymca.org.


To learn more, visit the Youth Development section of our website.

We hope to see you at our Back to School Open House!

Posted on: Wednesday, July 20th, 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: Friday, July 15th, 2016

Transition to College – Workshops for Students and Parents

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


Note: if you’re not a YMCA member, you may register at our member services (508-528-8708). Topics covered: 8/9 Successfully Adjusting to New Challenges in College; 8/16: Staying Safe, Healthy and Strong. Once you register for one night, you are automatically registered for the following week’s session.

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: Friday, July 1st, 2016

Where Community Comes Together

At our Y, more than 1,000 children each day are enjoying their “Best Summer Ever” at our summer camps designed to give kids an opportunity to belong to a community of their own.

Our entire camp staff embrace their responsibility as role models, dedicated to providing all campers with positive influences and urging and inspiring inclusion to create a safe place to learn and grow.

Our camps are nurturing environments providing campers the opportunity to be happy and successful, develop self-esteem, learn life skills and engage in positive social behaviors.

At Camp Wapawca at our Invensys Foxboro Branch, Damien is enjoying his second year of camp. He came to us last year very nervous and not wanting to leave his mom. Within a short time, he was embraced by all his fellow campers and counselors and now loves coming to camp.

Damien’s confidence continues to grow and he is known for his extravagant and creative costumes for our weekly contest on Friday mornings.

At our Bernon Family Branch’s Camp Wiggi, a parent met with staff prior to camp regarding her son Dylan and our ability to meet his needs related to cystic fibrosis.

After his first week we received a note that read, “Dylan came home super happy after his first experience with summer camp. Great and awesome counselors, very organized, are making sure the kids have great experiences. We love being part of this branch.”

At our North Attleboro Branch’s Camp Elmwood, Alexis, a camp counselor, reflects on her experience, “I love camp because it allows me to have an impact on children’s lives while having fun. It has changed my life and helped me decide what to do for the rest of my life.”

Another camp counselor, Graham, says, “My favorite thing about camp is seeing how excited the kids are each and every day! This is my first year as a counselor and it is honestly the best summer I’ve ever had.”

Please click on this link for a short video that will provide you a glimpse of a typical day at summer camp at our Y.

I hope you enjoy this special time of year with your family as much as we enjoy seeing the smiles on the faces of kids experiencing their best summer ever.

Ed Hurley
President, Hockomock Area YMCA



July news from the office of President Ed Hurley

Stay connected: check out our camp facebook pages today!

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

HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA

300 Elmwood Street
North Attleboro, MA 02760
 508.695.7001

MEMBERSHIP
COMMUNITY
CAUSE
CAREERS

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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

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