YMCA East Hampton RECenter

The Cheshire Community YMCA operates a health and wellness unit and learning center. It also offers aquatics, fitness, sports, day care and teen programs. Located in Cheshire, Conn., the organization additionally offers a range of family-oriented programs. The Cheshire Community YMCA s staff members serve more than 500 children of ages 3 to 12. Its aquatics program includes swim lessons for people of all ages. The organization additionally conducts field trips and other group interaction activities. Founded in 1965, the Cheshire Community YMCA is a part of the Southington-Cheshire YMCAs, which also operates a health and fitness center and gymnasium and manages a group of more than 500 volunteers.

Southampton Youth Services Inc was formed in November 2000, in response to a long-standing need for a multi use athletic facility in the Town of Southampton. SYS and Southampton Town have joined forces to make this vision a reality. Our mission is to provide all of the residents and visitors to our town with a world-class athletic facility featuring world-class equipment and world-class services. Our goal is to be the best sports and recreation facility in the United States. In June of 2003, SYS dedicated the new 55, 000 square foot Southampton Town Recreation Center. Since then, a broad array of activities has flourished within the Center, from 6 AM through 11PM, seven days a week, year-round. For a complete description of Programs and Services, please visit our website, www.sysinc.org. Squash in the Hamptons, the first significant expansion of SYS, is a grass-roots initiative of Hamptons-area squash enthusiasts young and old, players, parents, coaches. The Board of Southampton Youth Services, Inc, the creators and administrators of the Southampton Town Recreation Center, have embraced our project. Additionally, the United States Squash Racquets Association and the Metropolitan Squash Racquets Association have been constant sources of guidance and support. The vision of Squash in the Hamptons is to offer opportunity in our great sport to all residents of the Hamptons. While there is a large and growing constituency of keen players already present, there are no publicly accessible squash courts on the south fork of Long Island. Junior squash in the U.S. has been growing by double digits over the past ten years. Few other sports can make that claim. The USSRA reports first time participation in junior tournament play through their Future Stars Program is up over 325% since 2000. Local schools, both public and private, and community youth groups will soon be able to offer squash as a sports alternative. New adult players in the Hamptons will be drawn to our game by its intense action and by the fact that Forbes Magazine has recently published a study naming squash #1 of The Top Ten Healthiest Sports. An important community service we are planning is the creation of a squash-centered youth-mentoring program, based on the hugely successful Boston Squashbusters model, for economically disadvantaged or at risk children of the area.

YMCA of Pawtucket Inc. is a health and human services organization, serving the community through several wellness and social programs. Located in Coventry, R.I., the organization offers several programs to encourage people to act on character-development principles. It also provides programs to build self-esteem, strengthen positive values and establish healthy behaviors. Additionally, the organization conducts several group exercise classes and aquatic programs on mobility/flexibility, social events and volunteer activities. YMCA of Pawtucket Inc. also provides child care and babysitting services to members.