YMCA SOUTHCOAST
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Mission & History

Kids hanging out.

Our Cause
At the Y, strengthening community is our cause. Every day we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn and grow.

Who We Are
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
YMCA SOUTHCOAST’S Mission: The improvement of the spiritual, mental, social, educational and physical conditions of all persons.

YMCA SOUTHCOAST History
YMCA SOUTHCOAST has been working to provide health and social services to thousands of youth, families and individuals throughout the Southcoast region for nearly 150 years.

Timeline

  • 1867, thirty men of the County Street Methodist Episcopal Church met to form the New Bedford YMCA
  • 1889 the Y moved to 147 William Street and offered a broad range of fitness, social, & educational programs
  • 1972 a new Y facility is built on South Water Street
  • 1963 the Y purchased Camp Massasoit, a 25-acre day camp in Mattapoisett
  • 1992 Camp Massasoit was substantially renovated for year-round operation as a Youth and Family Center and becomes the Mattapoisett YMCA branch
  • 1998 the New Bedford YMCA expanded with the addition of the Musser Youth and Family Center 

 

  • 2001 the Dartmouth YMCA and Camp Metacomet opened on the site of the former Children’s Museum
  • 2004 the Gleason Family YMCA in Wareham opened
  • 2005 30 acres of woodlands were acquired for a future day camp in Rochester, Massachusetts and YMCA Southcoast merged with the Fall River YMCA, founded in 1857
  • Our service area now includes 17 communities from the greater Fall River area to the Cape Cod Canal. Last year over 35,000 people were served in our programs and membership services.

2012 Camp Brochure 

Register your child for camp now and spread out your payments through the spring.


Program Guide

Here's a glimpse of our programs being offered February through June. 

Our Mission

The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.